CasaSugar

DIY: Self-Watering Recycled Vase

CasaSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 08:30:22 -0700

This DIY will show you how to make a planter from nearly all recycled (and free) products which will pretty much water itself. Without giving them much attention, you can grow your own herbs, flowers, or other plants. You can continue to re-use the planter, or simply recycle it when you're finished. If you don't like the look of the plastic bottle on your windowsill, you can always cover a recycled tin with some decorative paper, and slip in the planter for a look that's more your style.

Supplies:

1 plastic soda bottle (2 or 3 liter)
Newspaper, aluminum foil, or a bit of a black plastic bag
Twine
A drill or hot wire (to make a hole in the bottle cap)
Certified organic potting mix
A sharp knife (to cut the bottle)
Seeds

To learn the steps, read more

Here's how, compiled from here and here:

Cut the bottle. Cut the empty soda bottle in two (the cup and the reservoir), so the bottom part is bigger than the top. When inverted (i.e. when the bottle neck is inside the bottle), there should be about 2" of clearance between the neck and base, so that wick can dangle in the water. Do some measuring ahead of time, and mark your bottle with a guide before you cut.
Bore holes in the cap. Make one hole just large enough to thread the twine through, and several other smaller holes just for drainage.
Assemble the wick. Cut three lengths of 15" of twine. Line up the lengths. Tie them together in a knot 3" up from one end. Then, thread those 3" of the lengths of twine through the hole that you bore in the cap, so the knot rests on the inside of the cap. Those lengths will dangle in the water, drawing water up into the soil from the reservoir to feed the plants.
Line the interior of the cup. Since roots do better in darkness, you'll want to line the interior of the cup (where the dirt goes) with either newspaper, aluminum foil, or some black plastic bag. Newspaper is best (biodegradable), but just use what ever you have. Make it flush with the sides of the cup, putting it all the way in. Then, poke a hole in the bottom for the wick to come up.
Setting the wick and add soil. Screw the cap onto the bottle neck, pull the wick up so it hangs over the edge of the bottle. Figure out how much soil you'll need to fill the cup. Add 1/3 of your soil to the cup, keeping the wicks running straight through the middle. Then, coil one of the lengths of twine on top of the soil, around the other 2 lengths in the middle. Add another 1/3 soil and repeat. Then, fill the cup with the rest of your soil, keeping the last length of twine running up the middle. Spreading these coils throughout will help to distribute the moisture better.
Plant your seeds. Read this How-To for instructions.
Add water. Add water to the reservoir, but don't let it touch the cap.
Let it grow!

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Source and Source

Casa Verde: New Soap, Old Bottle

CasaSugar — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 12:00:32 -0700

We've seen some pretty innovative repurposing of plastic bottles lately, like that self-watering vase and Michelle Brand's ethereal lights, room dividers, and light shades made from the bottoms of soda bottles. But, what's so wrong with reusing them for their original purpose - storing liquids? Absolutely nothing. New Soap, Old Bottle, which sells new liquid soap packaged in old plastic soda bottles, plastic water bottles and glass beer bottles, is onto this. They buy name-brand liquid soaps and cleaners by the barrel, too, like 409 and Windex, so not only do they cut costs, but you know what to expect from the product (though it would be even cooler if they used eco soaps and products in the bottles). This business strategy helps clean up the environment in more ways than one - if only they would wash my dishes for me. Oh, and don't worry, each bottle is cleaned, sanitized, and processed before reuse. I also like that each bottle isn't slapped with a company's logo; it makes me feel like less of a sheep being herded by commerce.
Source

Link Time!

CasaSugar — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:00:06 -0700

Savor some hip stencils.- Simply Stated
This Spring, try hanging vases.- AT:SF
Check out these adorable succulent pots.- Shelterrific
Celebrate casual beds.- Door Sixteen
Weave a paper Easter basket.- Craft
I love these reclaimed dining room chairs.- CraftyNest
Try a self-watering container garden.- Re-Nest