I’ve had six empty glass Coke bottles sitting on my kitchen counter since late last summer. Every time my husband suggested that they get recycled, thrown out, or just moved off the counter, I would tell him that I was RIGHT in the middle of a craft that required those six glass bottles to be on the kitchen counter, and that I just needed another week. Just oooooone more week.
When the mister and I left for a quick weekend get-away and returned to wilted vegetable seedlings and limp bulb stalks, I finally figured out how to use my bottles: Watering “Globes” for my garden!
It’s not glamorous, but recycled bottles work JUST as well as Aqua Globes
only they are free. To make your own recycled bottle watering “globe,” take an empty glass bottle, fill it with water, and slam it down into moist soil! If you see bubbles rapidly forming, or the water level changing at ALL, the bottle-mouth may not have sealed against the soil, so pull the bottle out, re-fill it, and try it again.
only they are free. To make your own recycled bottle watering “globe,” take an empty glass bottle, fill it with water, and slam it down into moist soil! If you see bubbles rapidly forming, or the water level changing at ALL, the bottle-mouth may not have sealed against the soil, so pull the bottle out, re-fill it, and try it again. Out of six bottles I filled and jammed into my potted plants, one of them needed to be re-filled and re-stuck into the dirt. This seems to work best when the soil is already damp, so water before you go out of town, and then add the water bottles to the planters. And since they *are* glass, be careful when you are pushing the bottles into the soil. If the soil is hard, or there are loads of rocks in your medium, there’s a chance the bottle could break, so consider using heavy work gloves if you are concerned.
And if you have an extremely thirsty plant, or are going to be gone longer than a few days, use a Martinelli’s or wine bottle- the bigger the bottle, the deeper drink your plants will get.
This is super smart. And delightfully puzzling for people walking by the garden. “Lush, but not *that kind* of lush”
I have done that to it works great I also use a sparkling water bottle was a blue bottle with a very long neck and some plants live on the sparkling water they will grow better when you use a soda water bird of paradise loves soda water and I’m sure there’s other plants out there that would love it too but also yes my husband drink Pepsi I used it I was a Coke drinker and I used it those bottles are great spreading they’re nice to look at. Never had a wine bottle. When I moved after my husband death I lost my sparkling water bottle so thank you for reminding me to use the bottles I will be getting the sparkling water bottles hopefully the store still has them.
Sorry about the spelling of sparkling water
This is SUCH a good idea. I’m definitely going to try it.
what an awesomely amazing idea! thanks for sharing it!
Can this work for plastic bottles as well?
i was thinking the same thing. Anybody???
I’ve tried this with plastic bottles. Best too if you still have the cap. Just punch a hole on the cap, and the water will drip through that.
I’ve been saving some beautiful olive oil bottles. My husband keeps asking are you sure you want to save all of these? Finally, my chance has come.
Thank you!!
Lovely idea! Time to paint some water bottles for lovely water globes.
This is a great idea. I use upturned plastic bottles with the bottom cut off as watering vessels (rather than drip waterers like these) for plants like tomatoes that need a LOT of watering. They’re best when you just can’t get enough water into the top of the plant pot at once, and don’t have time to wait around for it to soak it up!
I love the idea. What is the chance that this will over water the plant? Will the water be syphoned out only as much as needed?
FINALLY a use for all the pretty olive oil bottles I’m, er, saving (not hoarding… )
This is a great idea. So glad I came across it!
absolutely brilliant!!!!
Thanks for sharing this idea! Summers around here are so hot–this is just the trick!
I just placed 2 dozen wine bottles around my yard. I already have a irrigation system, but this seems like a better solution for later winter where I only have a small amount of lettuce growing.
http://blog.holyscraphotsprings.com/
Thanks for all the comments!
@a.b. “lush garden” LOVE IT!
@lamckin plastic works well for drip systems like @Kat mentioned, but they may collapse if you stick a plastic bottle in the soil.
@ouvyt I don’t think there’s too much concern about overwatering. If it seems like the plants are too wet, let the plants dry out for a few days before re-filling the bottle.
@CherishedHearts Vintage I love the idea of painting the bottles!
@Mikey Sklar! Glad you were inspired! Did you link back to me?
Thanks again everyone! Happy gardening!!
xoxo
radmegan
very very very good idei
Very cool! Thanks Ms. Rad
I’m going to try this out with giant glass lemonade bottles in my fire escape garden this summer. It gets really hot out there during the day, so this could make for much, much happier plants!
Awesome tip – thanks Megan! – they are definitely going to be a part of my watering routine from now on =)
Such a great idea! I made my own today and blogged about it {with praise to you for the original idea of course} 😉
http://tinyurl.com/diyaquaglobe
Hmm, a use for the 100+ liquor bottles in my kitchen NOT being used for the gin still…
Hey there – you were featured in Missouri Organic Recycling on Facebook and now have me as a new subscriber!
http://www.facebook.com/MissouriOrganic
Super fab idea!
I had to share on my blog:
http://www.esbechic.com/1/post/2011/04/coke-bottle-watering-globe-diy.html
What a great idea. I need this when I go on vacation. Thanks
does it works with plastic bottle?
This is awesome.I use Corona bottles.Thank you !
I love this idea and am going to use it. Especially since we don’t have an outside tap so don’t have a way to water the garden with a hose. Thank you.
Great idea I’m going to do this for my container garden as they are always thristy. Thanks.
I’ve posted on this http://www.nzecochick.com/2011/10/beer-bottle-water-planters.html
This is great. i love coke eversince I knew it
Love it!!! The decorative bottles =art work
Do Does the WATER heat up enough that it germinates the soil with warmth and moisture, and the glass add as a heating lamp?
It serve as an alternative. It does work actually.
So awesome!!! Love it! Thanks for sharing!!! I have pinned this and will totally try it!
The coke bottles are old tech for watering flowers, we did this in AG class back in 1995.
This is fantastic… I’ve been wondering for a while if this would work but couldn’t find anything online and haven’t had the time to try it. Going to pull all of our wine bottles out of the recycling tonight!
The layout is what really caught my eye, then the i looked at the writing and i think you did a very nice job. Good work:)
This is what I call a really good thought. It enables recycling and increasing the efficiency of the product. Similarly we can also recycle our water to make a better use in a garden. If you are interested in knowing some simple procedures of recycling water with existing hydroponic systems in your garden then check this recycling water procedure.
Thanks radmegan,ive been using Corona bottles. Now my plants speak to me in Spanish !!Ole
People, stop using plastic on your food, you don’t want food with leeched chemicals. Glass is clean.
can anyone explain why my bottle empties out right away, like within minutes of inserting into the soil. What am I doing wrong?
May i use it in my violets?
I got a freesia plant for Easter and am really bad with plants so this is super great advice! I know I need to water 2 to 3 times a week. I am not sure exactly how much that would be, so I will figure this out on my own. Thank you for the advice!
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I have been reading your posts regularly. I need to say that you are doing a fantastic job about watering houseplants. Please keep up the great work.
Its become very handy to use best 330ml water bottle for outing rather than buy a expensive one.
self-watering is a cool way to save your expensive indoor plants especially when you are not at home. I love your thoughts on such a topic keep writing amazing knowledge you have and share it with others.
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Now my coke bottle found a new life and give new life with this method thanks a lot for this unique info.
Tagged creative reuse d-i-y acqua globes d-i-y watering globes glass bottles wine bottle watering globes
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Your site looks great Mani! Good luck with everything.
Thank for sharing your creative idea.i will follow you for make my coca battle become watering globes.
Great solution to a simple problem we have here down under – thank you from Australia