From the page: The plastic bag deserves a second life
Idea 8
Lining for pots and seedlings
Lining pots with plastic is an old nursery growers' trick: they line baskets and germination trays to retain moisture where soil would drain away. The plastic holds water without blocking excess from escaping through the holes, protecting the root from both waterlogging and quick drying.
What you need
- Clean plastic bags
- Pots or cut bottles
- Scissors
- Soil or substrate
- Seedlings or seeds
How to make it
-
1
Open the bag and line the bottom and sides of the pot, leaving the drainage holes visible or lightly covered, so water drains slowly but still drains.
-
2
Leave some plastic folded inward at the rim, which keeps the soil from touching the pot and losing moisture through the walls.
-
3
Place a layer of small stones or shards at the bottom, creating an air reserve that keeps the roots from rotting.
-
4
Fill with soil and plant normally, pressing lightly to settle.
-
5
Water slowly and observe: if the water takes too long to drain, pierce the plastic more at the bottom.
Finishing touches
In clay pots, which "drink" water through the walls, the lining makes watering last almost twice as long. Paint the outer plastic or use colored bags for a discreet finish.
This is one of the ideas from the full page — see all the possibilities.
This page feeds the collective knowledge 🌱 — every discovery makes the next answer better.