One, Two and Three Liter Soda (Pop) Bottle Planters - Step 1
April 13, 2009 Updates worth reading.
For Growing and Education Rather Than Decoration
These sub-irrigation (aka "self-watering") planters are as good as any you can buy, make that better than you can buy...and they're free.
Think of them as "plumbing" for plants rather than decoration. Read much more about how to use and conceal them here.
Made from repurposed (recycled) plastic soda (pop) bottles, they are both functional and educational. You can see exactly how sub-irrigation (capillary action) works as well as the status of the soil and root system.
A 1 liter bottle planter is roughly equivalent to a 4" grower pot, the 2 liter planter close to a 6" grower pot in volume and a 3 liter planter in the range of a 6 to 8" grower pot.
The first step is to remove the label.
Update: I now use a hair dryer, moving it quickly over the label to avoid melting the plastic.
Fill the bottle with very hot water. I heat enough water (not to a boil) on the stove to fill two bottles. Wearing oven mitts, and using a funnel I fill the bottles in the sink. If the water is hot enough, it will almost instantly melt the label adhesive.
Update: Using very hot (not boiling) water heated on the stove, I shrank a 2-liter bottle to about 1-liter size. Amazingly, the bottle was still in perfect proportion and shape. I have a feeling the manufacturers are tinkering with the plastic (probably reducing the wall thickness). I need to do some more water temperature testing and will post the results.
Make a vertical cut with scissors (or a sharp knife) down through the label and it will peel off leaving no label residue other than some of the adhesive. You can easily remove this with Goof Off, Goo Gone or peanut butter.
Note that if the label doesn't peel off easily, the water was not hot enough.
Comments and faves
bcerezo, ebrakim, kittymorgan, kandkrose, and 39 other people added this photo to their favorites.
sheydin (60 months ago | reply)
Hallo, ich bin der Administrator der Gruppe Non Intentional Design, und wir würden uns freuen, wenn Du dies zu unserer Gruppe hinzufügen würdest.
Kit and Ian (59 months ago | reply)
We just want to comment on what a fantastic project this is. Very professional and everything is explained perfectly. We will keep you up to date on our indoor irrigation projects. Thank you again!
GreenScaper (59 months ago | reply)
Kit & Ian...many thanks for the positive feedback. I appreciate it very much. Sorry for the slow acknowledgment. .
senorita_muzina (52 months ago | reply)
Thank you for this neat idea! I'm trying to put these together with spider plants for each child in my son's kindergarten class and have a question. I started them about a month ago, and when I was inspecting them today, I noticed what looked to be like snot on the inside of the bottom. I used a cotton wick. How do I keep the inside of the bottom planter from getting "scungy"?
GreenScaper (49 months ago | reply)
I just noticed this comment senorita muzina. I have not idea what it is that you are referring to. I've never seen anything like what you've described in all the years using these planters. Send me a photo and i'll try to determine what it is.
Flegeance (49 months ago | reply)
I just built a 2 liter pop bottle planter they are perfect. I have to find more pop bottles, they work great. I have found a dollar store with vinyl tile. I have 4 buckets ready. I bought 4 tumbler cups at a dollar store for.... a dollar, and I am using 1 gallon milk jugs to hold up the vinyl. So far I have spent 1 dollar and all I need for the 4 buckets is the vinyl.
How do I post pictures here or do I have to use photo bucket or something.
I have also built 3 earth boxes and have everything I need to build one more. I am looking for one more tub to build it your style.
I can build these boxes extremely cheap; It is the Miracle grow potting mix that is so expensive.
j.kimcarrel (48 months ago | reply)
Great job! I use yogurt containers to turn my plant cuttings into nice plants.
chiefofsf (46 months ago | reply)
There has been some discussion in the past that these plastic bottles give off chemicals when reused. Are there any concerns that some of the chemicals from the plastic wil get into the plant? Thanks.
GreenScaper (46 months ago | reply)
Hi chiefofsf, What discussion are you referring to? Please be specific with your sources when you post information like this. I research regularly and have no concerns.
dcwebguy (43 months ago | reply)
This is great! I'm going to try this with some plants I want to grow, known as Chenopodium Aristatum, seafoam, zeeschuim, wormseed, as soon as I find out when to grow these seeds and if they will in zone 7.
maddogandnoriko (21 months ago | reply)
I am going to start some seeds today with this!
cgiambri (18 months ago | reply)
Cleaver and amazing! Wow.
grow!studio (16 months ago | reply)
Your project makes me happy, i love it, thanks for share it :)
Kareemel (13 months ago | reply)
Glad I seen a post on Facebook about the pop bottle growing thingy, yep I do agree cleaver and amazing! Oh, almost forgot come by to my new Facebook Store(i'm Excited 1st one) facebook.com/epichealthyjunction I got Moringa Oils, powder and tea!
the orange penguin (13 months ago | reply)
I would like to use your photos for a power point to us in my classroom.
I teach the unit Ecosystems at the end of each school year. :)
theabeeit (10 months ago | reply)
www.rosybluhandmade.com/2012/03/05/diy-gunk-r emover-easy-...
Check out this link for how to get of that annoying sticker residue. It really works! I know from experience. It's just olive or grape seed or coconut oil and baking soda and maybe a little lemon essential oil. It works just like goo gone!