Utilizing empty soda bottles for this task ties in completely to my approach of sustainable crafting– utilizing what you have– to develop a vertical garden. And the best part is that they are complimentary! We’re not soda drinkers, however we discovered a whole box of empties in our neighbour’s blue bin on choice up day (well organized in a Pringles box!) and wisked them away to make our hanging garden.
Step 1: Gather Products
Together with the soda bottles, you’ll also need:.
- 1/8 ” galvanized aircraft cable wire
- cable television ferrules to crimp the wire
- a wire cutter and cable swage tool
- metal washers (# 6)
- S-hooks (3/4 “)
- a cork back metal ruler
- piece of metal strapping
- marker
- loop turner (or other long, thin item)
- masking tape
- wood burner with a pointy suggestion
- aquarium gravel
- waterproof clear caulking or epoxy putty
- soil, and
- plants naturally!
Step 2: Select Plants
I used a mix of succulents and Himalaya mix potted plants from Ikea. At $3.99 each, they’re a real bargain and I was grateful to be able to find them at this time of year!
Step 3: Eliminate Lable and Procedure
I used 5 bottles for my hanging garden, however you could make as numerous as you like. When the weather gets much better outdoors, they would make a fantastic hanging screen on a massive scale too!
To start, get rid of the lable from the soda bottle. I used the lable to cut out a rectangular piece measuring 5 1/4 ” x 3 “. I folded the lable in half lengthwise and marked the centre of each side.
Step 4: Mark Corners and Holes
I applied the lable back onto the bottle through the middle of where it was glued. I discovered that with the mix of the glue residue and static cling, my specific lable stuck actually well.
Mark the 4 corners with the black marker and ration no less than 5/16″ from the centre on each side and location two more dots on the bottle.
Step 5: Apply Metal Edge
Get rid of the lable. Apply two pieces of masking tape to a metal ruler and place on the bottle lining up 2 of the dots you marked with the black marker. The metal ruler need to be put on the outside of the line you’re going to cut– it will give you a cleaner line when utilizing the wood burner.
Step 6: Use Wood Burner to Cut
I utilize a wood burner to cut through the plastic (you could also cut the plastic with an X-acto knife rather). Make certain you’re using the tool in a well ventilated area; doing this action outdoors is perfect. Also ensure sure you have a heat-proof surface area to leave it on while you work– and to be safe in case you forget to disconnect it! I leave mine on stand with a metal tray beneath it.
Place the suggestion starting at the area you marked earlier and use the edge of the ruler to direct the wood burner along until you’ve reached the 2nd dot at the opposite end. Get rid of the ruler then move it to the other side and cut through the bottle in the very same manner.
Step 7: Cut Sides
I utilized a scrap piece of metal strapping and bent it into a curve around the bottle. I used it in the same way as the metal ruler to guide the wood burner and cut the plastic on the much shorter end of the bottle. Once all 4 sides of the rectangle are cut, you can eliminate the inner piece of plastic, but don’t toss it (we’ll use it later).
Step 8: Make Holes
Take the idea of the wood burner a make a hole through the two dots you marked 5/16 out of the centre of the lable. Just hold the tip for a second or you’ll make the hole too large; it just requires to be big enough to pass the aircraft cable through.
Step 9: Mark Bottom Holes on Both Sides
With the bottle facing best side up, insert the long loop turner through the hole directly down until it reaches the bottom of the bottle (you can even substitute a piece of spaghetti!). Mark the spot with the marker and do the same for the other side. Turn the bottle upside down and burn a small hole through the two areas you marked.
Step 10: Cut Aircraft Cable
Now we’re ready to construct the hanging system. Measure out two 12 ” pieces of airplane cable for each bottle and cut with wire snips.
Step 11: Loop One End & & Crimp
Place the wire through one end of the metal ferrule, bend it into a loop and insert the same end into the opposite of the ferrule. My loops were about 1/2″ in length. Location the ferrule into the swage tool and squeeze it tight to seal it on both ends of the metal.
Step 12: Finished Wires
You’ll wind up with wires that appear like this:.
Step 13: Hand Swage How-To
This video demonstrates how to hand swage (it’s not needed to use the thimble displayed in this project):.
Step 14: Thread Washer and Wire
Thread a washer through the wire so it rests on the loop you just made. Place the wire through the hole in the bottom of the bottle and through the leading hole. Make a loop in the top of the wire using another ferrule as you did in the past and secure it with the swage tool.
Step 15: Plug Drain Holes for Indoor Use
Continue with the remainder of the bottles until every one has actually two wires threaded through the holes with washers on the bottom to support the weight.
If using outdoors, make sure to include a couple of more drainage holes in the bottom. For indoor settings, I would suggest including a drop of waterproof clear caulking or epoxy putty to cover the bottom 2 holes (from the within) so you do not get water leaking through and leaking down the wires. The epoxy putty will be easier to work with since you can roll it into a tiny ball and squish it around the holes. If utilizing caulk, to control it from oozing excessive onto the wires, you can squeeze some out onto a plastic cover and utilize something like a coffee stirrer to apply it around the holes on the within the bottle. Make sure the wires are sitting tight against the bottom of the bottle (you might tape them as they dry if you need to) and let the caulk or epoxy dry according to the package instructions prior to moving onto planting.
Step 16: Planting and Installation
Put down some plastic on your table surface area to catch the mess if doing this inside! Gather your plants and planting materials (soil, gravel, scoop). Be sure to acquire a soil ideal for your plants; here I’m utilizing cactus soil for among the succulents.
Step 17: Include Gravel for Drain
Keep in mind the plastic piece you saved from the middle of the bottle? I used it to confine the soil to the middle area of the bottle (so I might conserve on the quantity of gravel I needed to use), however you can choose not to use it if you prefer and fill the whole container out to the sides. Cut the plastic in half along the width and insert it into the bottle so the concave part surrounds the wire (facing inward).
Put a layer of fish tank gravel in the bottom. This is optional, however it assists with drain. If you’re doing this job for outdoors you can skip the gravel altogether and simply add more holes in the bottom of each bottle for drainage), (Note that.
Add a layer of soil to offer the roots something to become.
Step 18: Include Plant Material
Lift the plant out of its container and work loose the majority of the soil around the roots. Plant in the bottle and surround with more soil to secure. When you water the plants, don’t overfill the soil or it will clean over the edges.
Continue planting the rest of the bottles until they’re all done. Now you’re all set to hang!
Step 19: Carry Bottles to Setup Site to Put Together
I put all the ended up bottles into a cardboard box and moved them to the cooking area. If you don’t have a curtain rod, you can substitute eye hooks and screw them into the wood trim the very same width apart as the wire holding the bottle (approx. We used 3/4 S-hooks as ports.
Step 20: Set Up Using S-Hooks
My husband hung each bottle, one at a time, connecting them as he went with the S-hooks in between until he reached the bottom.
More Gardening Ideas & Resources
Step 21: Reveal
It’s difficult to get a good picture with the backlight from the window, so I attempted closing the binds, however I can attest that the hanging garden looks spectacular in the kitchen! You could alter the configuration and adapt this idea for any window; simply add a couple of more columns and stagger the plants.
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