Happy nests launches worldwide with planters
Let's all join to make the world greener one plastic bottle at a time.
Our first project together, bring green into your home, figuratively and literally. Upcycle a plastic bottle into a planter. Make one for yourself and give one as a gift this holiday season to a friend or a neighbor. Spread the green.
What to put in my upcycled planter
Which plants should you grow? Where should you grow them? How to grow your own herb garden in your upcycled planters. Find out below.
How to make an upcycled planter
Have a passion for gardening but don’t have the place and equipment for it?
Make planters from upcycled plastic bottles, situate them anywhere in your house, and make your very own indoor garden or outdoor garden. All you need:
- Plastic bottles of different sizes
- Scissors
- Soil
- Seeds/ plant
- Decorative Items
- String or wire (if hanging)
Steps:
- Clean the bottles thoroughly
- Mark a rectangle in the middle of each bottle and cut it off
- Make a few small drainage holes opposite the rectangle
- Decorate if you desire
- Fill the bottle with soil (if soil falls through the holes line the bottom with mesh or tissue paper)
- Add your seeds or plants to the soil and water them.
- They’re ready! Decorate them as you wish and hang them. Don’t forget to water them
What plants should i grow?
Indoor #1 in India Snake plant
Indoor plant #3 in India The lucky Bamboo plant
Indoor plants #2 in India Money plant
This ornamental plant also works as an excellent air purifier. An easy-to-maintain indoor plant that thrives in low light, it absorbs toxins and chemicals from the air and converts carbon dioxide into oxygen.
credit: https://www.livspace.com/in/magazine/10-easy-grow-indoor-plants-in-india-list
Indoor plants #2 in India Money plant
Indoor plant #3 in India The lucky Bamboo plant
Indoor plants #2 in India Money plant
This is one of the most popular Indian plants, which is easy to grow in both soil and water. The money plant improves air quality in the house.
credit: https://www.livspace.com/in/magazine/10-easy-grow-indoor-plants-in-india-list
Indoor plant #3 in India The lucky Bamboo plant
Indoor plant #3 in India The lucky Bamboo plant
Indoor plant #3 in India The lucky Bamboo plant
Ideally placed by a window for indirect sunlight, the lucky bamboo can be grown in both clear water (which needs to be changed every 2 weeks) and in soil. With some efficient pruning, this plant can also be shaped in a variety of organic forms for decorative purposes.
credit:https://www.livspace.com/in/magazine/10-easy-grow-indoor-plants-in-india-list
Outdoor plants #1 in India Bougainvilleas
Outdoor plants #1 in India Bougainvilleas
Indoor plant #3 in India The lucky Bamboo plant
This hardy, floriferous and immensely showy plant is disease and pest free. Hence, it is ideal to be a balcony plant. This plant comes usually in purple or in red color and is usually regarded as one of the highest quality plants in terms of aesthetics and beauty due to its rich content of color and fragrance.
Light:This needs direct sunlight of at least 5 hours per day to bloom.
Water:Water supply should be sparingly provided for this plant.
credit: https://plantdecors.com/blogs/plants-for-balcony-garden/
Outdoor plant #2 in India Mogra
Outdoor plants #1 in India Bougainvilleas
Outdoor plants #3 in India Begonias
Mogra or Jasminum sambac is an evergreen shrub that is grown throughout the tropics. Jasmine bears dark green foliage and white flowers. Flowers bloom at night only and are very fragrant.
Outdoor plants #3 in India Begonias
Outdoor plants #1 in India Bougainvilleas
Outdoor plants #3 in India Begonias
This plant has gorgeous flowers and can grow in small pots. It needs good soil and proper care. With the beautiful flowers, the balcony garden can become appear lively. This plant is a big investment for your balcony garden.
Light:This plant cannot tolerate direct sunlight. Partial sunlight is best for this plant.
Water:Water is harmful to this plant. Hence well-drained soil is preferred.
Temperature:Begonias grow well in partially lit up spaces.
credit:https://plantdecors.com/blogs/plants-for-balcony-garden/
How to take care of your plant
Get the right plant.
No matter how positive your vibes are, you can’t grow an orange tree in Alaska. Some plants are doomed at your doorstep, not because you lack green instinct, but because they’re a bad fit. Even if miniature roses look great, they wilt if they stay indoors. Ask your local garden center for a plant that will bloom in your climate and with your lifestyle. If you’re terrible at remembering to water your plant, snake plants will cherish your neglect
Let there be (not too much) light!
Expert gardener Marie Iannotti explained the subtleties of the labels, “full sun, partial sun, dappled sun, and shade” for The Spruce. "Full sun" could mean a backyard, but "partial sun" could apply to areas with blinds or hallways. If your apartment never sees the sun, shade lovers like ferns will prefer your cave style of living.
Change is bad.
Plants are sensitive to change. They’re slow to adapt to new environments, so if they’re doing fine, changing the lighting or the height of the plant is a no-no. Remember if you’re planning on growing a giant plant baby to start it off in a location where it will fit when it gets big.
If you need to transfer your plant to a new location or apartment, SFGate suggests easing the plants’ transition by "slowly allow[ing] them to be exposed to the elements, until you leave the plant outdoors overnight and move it to its new location permanently." When you finally get into a good routine, hire a plant-sitter to keep it up when you’re out of town.
The plant chooses the pot.
Choosing the right size and type for your plant container will help it grow in the right direction, literally. Like snails, plants outgrow their homes. Lauren Dunec for Houzz warns that in too-small pots, plants’ “growth will be stunted, roots will become pot-bound, and the soil will dry out quickly.” When a plant’s roots grow out of its drainage hole, or it’s overflowing on top, it’s time to move up. Another option is to add large rocks at the bottom of the pot to allow water to filter through more freely. Never combine different plants in one pot.
Use the good dirt.
Common dirt could contain weed seeds, fungi, or pests. Potting soil from your local garden center contains a mixture of materials that can include peat moss and organic matter, suggests certified Garden Designer Madaline Sparks for Real Simple. When you pot your plants, make sure the dirt is slightly moist so the roots can begin working.
Cut the dead stuff.
To keep leaves growing, The Flower Shop Network says you must trim dead ends. The process of pruning using scissors, pruning shears, or your hands can even be therapeutic. Bid goodbye to anything that’s brown or spotted. A layer of dust on forgotten leaves blocks out sunlight, so regularly spritz plants with water and wipe down with a dry cloth.
Don’t over-water your plants.
According to HGTV’s Basics Guide, this is the most common mistake beginners make. Some plants, like succulents, only need watering once a month. Parlor palms and creeping fig like their soil as dry as possible. Avoid drowning by reducing hydration in the cold winter months. For proper watering technique, water the base, not the leaves, to stimulate growth. Test the water for a lukewarm temperature; cold water can shock and damage the roots .
Content Credit to: https://www.insider.com/how-to-take-care-of-plants-2018-7#dont-overwater-your-plants-7