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Reuse a 2-Liter Plastic Bottle to Grow Plants Indoors

SAFETY FIRST: Ask an adult to help with tools you haven't used before.

You don’t have to wait for the right season to plant your flower and vegetable seeds. Grow plants indoors any time of year with this easy project.

Click here for a PDF version of these instructions.

What You’ll Need

  • A two-liter plastic bottle
  • Scissors
  • Push pin
  • Rocks or gravel
  • Potting soil
  • Seeds of your choice
  • Small amount of tape
  • Adult supervision

What You’ll Do

Greenhouse Step 1Step 1: Remove the label from the bottle. If the label doesn’t come off easily, fill the bottle with warm tap water until the water rises above the label. Let stand for 10 or 15 minutes. The label should peel off easily.

 

Greenhouse Step 2Step 2: Measure four inches down from the plastic bottle cap. Draw a line and cut off the bottle top at this point.

Place a thin layer of small rocks or gravel in the bottom of the bottle for drainage. Fill halfway with potting soil.

Following the instructions on the seed package, plant the seeds.

Water just a sprinkle — too much and you’ll drown your plants.

 

Greenhouse step 3Step 3: With a push-pin, make several holes in the top of the bottle cap. (It’s easier than it sounds.) Screw cap onto cutoff top of bottle. This is now the lid of your greenhouse bottle. Carefully place on top of the bottle, securing it with a small piece of tape on one side.

 

Greenhouse step 4Step 4: Set the bottle in a sunny place and wait for your seeds to sprout. When they get about an inch high, remove the bottle top and let the plants grow until you are ready to transplant outdoors or into another pot.

Note: Single-serving-size plastic bottles work equally well, only you can’t get as many plants in them. For these smaller greenhouses, measure down 3 1⁄2 inches from the top instead of 4 inches.


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19 Comments on Reuse a 2-Liter Plastic Bottle to Grow Plants Indoors

  1. Do you need a clear bottle, or could I use a green one from like 7UP?

  2. I had my kids do this at our last den meeting, and my son’s seeds are sprouting beautifully! We couldn’t punch holes in the lids, so we just loosened them, and it seems to be working nicely. We used Juicy Juice bottles. So, we’re reusing materials while earning our World Conservation Badges! This was a great, simple project that we can do over and over again.

  3. wise turtle // April 1, 2012 at 9:56 pm // Reply

    this is the best project and my mom isnt screaming at me this time thank you

  4. Awesome IM DOING A SCIENCE PROJECT AND THIS IS PERFECT! THANK YOU

  5. It’s good for winter gardening

  6. good tip, really works

  7. good tip, works very well and it’s cheap.

  8. i forgot, it is very simple and thats good

  9. i am trying it right it right now. i think it will work good

  10. Scout for Life // April 21, 2009 at 2:06 pm // Reply

    Gengen

    beleive it or not but that is not sweat it is a raincloud. This makes a tiny ecosystem I learned that in biology A

  11. It sweats on the inside and makes water

  12. im gunna try it on saturday and if it works ill grow trees and everything with it!

  13. DOES C&M tea jugs work?

  14. Sweeet! im gonna try it 2-day

  15. HOw culd it work Its impossible

  16. of course it works!! a little mini greenhouse..I have 3!!

  17. Sounds cool and i believe it. I have tried tried something similar to this and it worked very well.

  18. Sounds cool and i believe it. I have tried something similar to this and it worked very well.

  19. do not believe a word of it ….. what kind of seed? I want a tree seed??

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