In our current times, reusing, recycling, and upcycling materials is crucial to reduce pollution. Mindful consumption brings greater satisfaction than mindless spending, don’t you think? To help you with that, we’ve prepared 10 ways to repurpose household items for indoor gardens!
Egg Carton Seed Starters
Start a magical journey with a cozy egg carton seed starter! This ingenious idea saves egg cartons from landfills while creating an ideal environment for seeds to sprout. Each compartment offers perfect space for seeds to grow their first leaves.
The seed starter ensures a strong start for your seeds, acting as a natural seed tray to keep them organized and prevent crowding. As they germinate and grow into seedlings, the carton provides perfect support, allowing each young plant to thrive.
To create your own egg carton seed starter, cut off the lid and fill each cup with a quality potting mix. Gently water the soil, keeping it moist but not soaked. Plant seeds at the appropriate depth and spacing, then place the starter in a warm, bright location for sprouting.
Regular watering will transform these tiny seeds into thriving young plants. They, in turn, will bring life and beauty to your home or garden! Ideal seeds for this method include tomatoes, peppers, and sunflowers. Egg cartons are also a great way to grow microgreens as they don’t need a lot of space and are harvested early.
Tin Can Herb Garden
Enhance your kitchen with a charming tin-can herb garden! This idea brings both beauty and benefits. Repurposing tin cans as planters promotes sustainability, reducing waste while providing a lovely home for basil, mint, and thyme - perfect for culinary delights!
The tin-can herb garden suits small spaces perfectly. Hang them on walls or place them on windowsills, allowing sunlight and ventilation. This DIY approach guarantees organic, healthier herbs, enabling you to control soil quality and pesticide use.
To create your garden, collect and clean tin cans, add drainage holes, and fill them with well-draining soil. Plant herbs, water them adequately, and keep them in a sunny spot for four to six hours daily. Your kitchen will bloom with fresh herbs for flavorful dishes!
Plastic Bottle Planters
Plastic bottle planters are a wonderful, eco-friendly way to nurture plants indoors. They reduce plastic waste while providing a cost-effective solution for growing herbs, flowers, or small vegetables, adding an eco-friendly touch to your home decor.
These planters function well as pots, offering enough space for healthy root growth. Transparent bottles allow easy monitoring of soil moisture and plant health. Their lightweight design makes them easy to hang or move around, maximizing sunlight exposure. You can also add some creativity to the project by painting or decorating the bottle as you see fit.
With good drainage, they prevent waterlogging and promote healthy roots. Plus, since the bottles are free, it’s budget-friendly and environmentally conscious.
To create your own, take an empty plastic bottle, remove the cap, and wash it thoroughly. Carefully cut the bottle in half horizontally using scissors or a craft knife. Make drainage holes in the bottom half. Fill with potting mix, plant your seedling, and water lightly. The top half acts as a protective dome, creating a mini greenhouse for optimal growth.
Place it in a sunny spot, water as needed, and enjoy a green home. Try spider plants, pothos, and baby’s tears in these charming planters!
Shoe Organizer Wall Garden
Transform that unused shoe organizer into a stylish wall garden! This smart concept declutters shoes and adds a touch of nature indoors. The organizer’s pockets become individual plant homes, ensuring each one thrives without crowding. The fabric also keeps moisture in, preventing plants from drying out.
Having a shoe organizer wall garden is both space-saving and a unique decor element. It brings a fresh, inviting green feel to your home, enhancing the atmosphere. Indoor plants improve air quality, reducing stress for you and your plants.
To make one, pick a fabric shoe organizer with multiple pockets. Hang it on a sturdy wall using hooks or nails, or use one that hangs on a door. Fill pockets with suitable potting mix. Plant herbs, succulents, or low-maintenance greens. Water appropriately to avoid over- and under-watering. Strawberries, lettuce, and radishes are just a few delicious options to grow!
Mason Jar Terrariums
Mason jar terrariums are like mini-greenhouses made for lazy gardeners. How? They provide a cozy home for thriving plants indoors! They bring beauty and tranquility to your living space, like self-sustaining rainforests with retained moisture and sunlight for healthy growth.
To create one, start with small rocks at the bottom for drainage. Follow it with activated charcoal for freshness. Then, add potting soil before placing moss, ferns, nerve plants, or even air plants. Mist with water, seal the jar and place it in a well-lit spot. But keep them out of direct sunlight though!
Citrus Peel Planters
Add zest to indoor gardening with citrus peel planters! These eco-friendly plant-homes bring color and freshness to your space. Plus, repurposing citrus peels as planters reduces waste and enriches plants with nutrients as they decompose.
We love to grow thyme, rosemary, succulents, or wildflowers in these organic peel planters without extra cost or plastic waste. We consider it a win-win-win situation for me, you, and the environment!
To create your citrus peel planter, save orange, lemon, or lime peels after enjoying their juicy goodness. Clean them, poke a small drainage hole, fill them with potting soil, plant your seeds or seedlings, and watch your mini garden flourish!
Cereal Box Planters
Got cereal boxes piling up? Don’t toss them out! Repurpose them into homes for your plants! These eco-friendly planters offer proper aeration and drainage, preventing waterlogging and root rot.
Your plants will thrive in this breathable environment, leading to healthier growth and vibrant foliage. Plus, it’s a pocket-friendly and sustainable solution to brighten up your indoor space with fresh greens.
To make your cereal box planter, cut the top off an empty cereal box and fold the open end to form a bottom. Line the inside with a plastic bag or parchment paper to keep the cardboard dry. Fill the box with potting mix and plant small vegetables or herbs like lettuce, spinach, or radishes.
Place the planter on a sunny windowsill, and water regularly, letting excess water drain out. Watch your mini indoor garden take shape, delighting you with greenery and the joy of recycling!
Wine Cork Succulent Planters
Transform wine stoppers into adorable succulent planters for charming indoor gardening! These tiny vessels are perfect homes for succulents, ensuring they thrive with proper drainage and aeration. It’s a wonderful eco-friendly way to repurpose waste and reduce landfill impact.
To make your wine cork succulent planters, hollow the center using a small knife or screwdriver, leaving enough depth for the succulent. Fill them with well-draining soil and gently plant the succulent securely. Display these little gems on a sunny windowsill or a well-lit spot indoors.
Remember to lightly mist every few days or water sparingly when the soil feels dry. These quirky planters bring a touch of green and inspire delightful conversations while providing a cozy home for succulents like hens and chicks, sedum, and echeveria.
Teacup Garden
Welcome to the enchanting world of teacup gardens! They make charming centerpieces or eye-catching room additions. Perfect for small indoor plants like African violets, spider plants, or succulents, wouldn’t you say? The porous ceramic material ensures proper drainage, preventing root rot and providing just the right space for roots to thrive.
Maintaining teacup gardens is easy with minimal care. Regular watering and occasional plant fertilizer keep your greenery healthy. Place them near a window with indirect sunlight to provide adequate light without harming delicate leaves.
To create your teacup garden, choose teacups of varying sizes and patterns for a unique touch. Add small stones at the bottom for drainage. Fill with well-draining potting soil, leaving space for your chosen plant.
Carefully transplant the plant, ensuring snug placement of its roots. Find the perfect spot to display this charming teacup garden and enjoy nature’s magical beauty within a teacup!
Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starters
Extend the life of your toilet paper rolls with a simple and eco-friendly DIY: toilet paper roll seed starters! The biodegradable cardboard tubes act as containers, supporting healthy root growth and stress-free transplanting for young seedlings.
As the plants grow, the cardboard naturally breaks down, enriching the soil with nutrients. Moreover, reusing these rolls reduces waste and promotes sustainable gardening practices. Do you want a good tip? Adding some compost to your soil helps quite a lot and leads to healthier, stronger growth. A little bit goes a long way here.
Creating the seed starters is a breeze. Gather empty toilet paper rolls and cut each in half using scissors. Fold about an inch at one end to form a bottom. Fill the rolls with potting soil, leaving enough space at the top. Plant the seeds at the recommended depth and spacing. To catch excess water, place the seed starters in a tray.
Gently water the seeds, keeping the soil moist but not soaked. Find a warm, sunny spot like a windowsill to position the tray. Once the seedlings grow stronger, directly transplant them, along with the cardboard rolls, into the garden soil. Try starting with cucumbers, zucchini, and marigolds for great results!
