Reuse in the Garden

Plastic bottles are usually thrown away after one use, but what if we could turn them into something useful? In this activity, Scouts will make their own hanging or self-watering bottle planters using recycled plastic bottles. It's a fun way to learn about sustainability, reusing waste, and basic gardening, while getting hands-on with tools and creativity.

What you'll need

• 1 or 2 litre plastic bottles with caps (recycled)

• Scissors or stanley knife (with adult supervision)

• Nail or metal skewer (to poke drainage holes)

• Seeds, seedlings or cuttings

• Potting mix (dampened to reduce dust)

• String or rope (avoid jute—it rots)

• Cotton rope (optional, for wick in self-watering version)

• Textas or markers (for decorating and naming)

• Face masks, goggles and gloves (especially when handling potting mix)

Safety

Always wear a mask and eye protection when dispensing potting mix. This reduces the risk of inhaling potting mix dust by dampening it before use if it is dry.  All participants must wear masks when handling the potting mix.

Activity

1. Prepare the Bottle

   • Lay the bottle on its side and cut a rectangle out of one side to make an opening

   • On the opposite side, poke small holes for drainage

2. Add String for Hanging (Optional)

   • Poke holes in the top ends and thread string through to hang the planter

   • Or tie string around the outside of each end if you don’t want to poke extra holes

3. Decorate

   • Use textas to decorate the bottle and write your name on it

4. Fill with Potting Mix

   • Add damp potting mix to the bottle

   • Check for drainage—add more holes if needed

5. Plant Your Seeds or Seedlings

   • Choose plants suited to your climate and season

   • Gently water after planting

6. Hang and Care

   • Hang in a spot with sunlight

   • Water regularly and monitor how well the soil drains

7. Optional Extension – Self-Watering Version

   • Cut a bottle in half

   • Thread cotton rope through the cap to act as a wick

   • Fill the bottom half with water, invert the top with wick and soil into it

   • Watch how it draws water up into the soil

   • See YouTube video for instructions 

Change the challenge level

Easier

• Pre-cut bottles or work in pairs

• Focus only on planting and decorating

Harder

• Design and test multiple planter styles

• Track and compare plant growth over time

• Research the waste hierarchy and run a reuse awareness project

Reflection