How to Make a Hanging Herb Garden Using Recycled Soda Bottles

by Mike Lieberman on August 14, 2009 · 17 comments

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The idea of the hanging garden planter using a soda bottle came after my unsuccessful attempts at upside down vegetable gardening.

One of my readers, Craig Stanton, left a comment saying that I should put the cap back on and grow the vegetables out of the top. That seems so obvious, but I didn’t think of it at all and they’re also easy to make.

These hanging garden planters are a great low cost way to start your own home vegetable garden. You can hang them in a window, on your balcony or anywhere that gets sunlight. I was able to put them on the rails of my fire escape garden.

    Here’s what you’ll need to make one:

  • Tools and materials 2L soda bottle
  • Duct tape
  • Razor
  • Hole puncher
  • Thick twine or thin rope
  • Drill or something to poke hole in bottle cap

    Instructions on how to make a hanging herb planter:

  • Use razor to cut off bottom third or so of soda bottle.
  • Wrap duct tape around the bottom part of the soda bottle. Make sure that half of the duct tape is on the bottle and half is above it.
  • Cut slits about 2-3″ apart in the duct tape and fold over.
  • Punch two holes about halfway down the duct tape. Cut two more on the opposite side.
  • Cut string and thread through two of the holes form the outside in. Do the same on the other side.
  • Drill hole in soda bottle cap to allow for drainage and screw back on.

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  • AnitaAvalos

    brilliant!

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  • http://michellereneesgardening.blogspot.com/ Michelle Renee

    Have you thought about doing a how to on making soda bottle planters? They seem easy to make but a video would be helpful. thanks.

  • Mike Lieberman

    Absolutely. I'll have it done before the end of the month. For right now, you can make this http://www.urbanorganicgardener.com/2009/07/mak… but put the cap on it and drill a hole through the cap.

  • http://twitter.com/containergarden Kerry Michaels

    If you put a little square of plastic window screening over the bottom hole, you would have great drainage – that way you don't even have to drill a hole, just leave the top off.

  • Mike Lieberman

    Another great idea. Thanks for the tip. Most of the windows in NYC apts don't have window screening though. It's our form of a thermostat. :-)

  • Mike Lieberman

    Another great idea. Thanks for the tip. Most of the windows in NYC apts don't have window screening though. It's our form of a thermostat. :-)

  • Padraigan

    What I tried this year Mike, is to cut the pop bottles about three quarters of the way up but not right through. Take the cap off also. I planted stuff in little pots that would fit into the bottom of the bottle. You could then open the top and water the plants. When the top was down it acted like a little greenhouse. When the plants got bigger, I just opened the top and left it open.

  • Mike Lieberman

    Love the idea. Thanks.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000032359549 Jesse Mabry

    brilliant!

  • Mike Lieberman

    Thanks. They worked out great.

  • Asileon

    Could you possibly put a small rock and maybe 1/2″ of sand instead of the screening or cap?

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    I’m sure you can.

  • Ama

    great, but not sure you want to put duct tape near food/plants, i think theres some bad chemicals in most tapes

  • http://www.UrbanOrganicGardener.com Mike Lieberman

    Thanks for the heads up.