For those of you who have asked about making pots from plastic pop bottles, here's a quickie photostory that tries to show how we (Tanya and Jim'll) do it. We pinched the original idea from another website called Topper's Place, but this is our slightly modified take on the idea that works for us.
Step 1 - tools required
We use scissors to do the cutting on normal two litre pop bottles and a bradle for drainage hole piercing. I've also used one of my big sharp serrated knives on larger bottles but Tanya isn't allowed to play with them.
Step 2 - Removing corporate branding!
First off we remove the label. This makes it easier to cut the bottle up and looks neater. It also removes the evidence of addiction to sugar laden pop - you can claim it was all organic elderflower cordial.
Step 3 - Cut the bottle in
First thing to do is cut the bottle in half around the middle. With two litre pop bottles this is quite easy with scissors as you can just squeeze the bottle flat and cut across it. For the larger, squarer cordial bottles you might find a knife easier (or at least use one to make the initial hole and then use scissors if you aren't comfortable using a sharp knife on plastic bottles).
Step 4 - Start cutting a watering slit
Now start to cut a slit down the bottom half of the bottle. This is what will let you insert the top half of the bottle into the bottom half and also lets you pour the water in. Don't go right down to the bottom as you'll want to leave room for the water reservoir in there.
Step 5 - Round the bottom of the slit and back up the other side
We usually cut a round bottom to the watering slit (easier with the scissors) and make it an inch or so wide. No accurate measurements involved in the manufacture of these pots though so go with what works for you (after all the "raw material" is free so you can afford a few experimental, learning attempts!).
Half way there…
So you should now have your bottle in two halves with a slit cut in the bottom half. Incidentally the bit of plastic that you cut out from the slit can be kept and used as a plant label if you have some waterproof markers.
Step 6 - Piercing drainage holes
We want to allow excess moisture to drain out of the top half of the bottle where the plant will be growing and back into the reservoir (especially if the watering slit is too awkward to use for some reason and it ends up getting top watered as with a normal pot). We use a bradle and pierce five or six holes outward around the neck. The idea of piercing from the inside out is that the little "spurs" of plastic won't get in the way of water trying to drip out into the reservoir. Note the use of a bit of cork in the photo - Tanya wanted to just pierce the bottle and not her hand!
Step 7 - Assemble the pot
The two halves are now ready to assemble into the finished pot - simply put the top half upside down inside the bottom half! The watering slit means that the bottom half expands slightly to allow the top to fit snuggly - without the slit the top half wouldn't fit.
The finished pot
That's it - this is the finished article!
Plant it up and watch things grow!
Here's the finished article with some compost and a plant growing in it. We've found that the water reservoir can last for a week or so before needing to be replenished for several different types of seedling. This means they are great for helping to keep your plants alive during week holidays, trips away, etc.
