Homemade plastic bottle top cloches!

**lettucegrow!** · 13-03-2009, 05:33 PM

I 've started saving all our bottles to do the same thing. It looks a brilliant idea, recycling and saving loads of money. Those shop bought cloches are all really pretty but they're expensive,aren't they. Happy growing!

**selfraising** · 13-03-2009, 05:50 PM

I also used them like that last year. The smaller 500ml bottles, I cut the bottom ends off and sunk them in the soil next to my plants and watered that way so the water went straight to the roots.

**Gwen11ian** · 13-03-2009, 05:53 PM

I use the full height of the bottles, just removing the bottom (which are saved to use under pots on the windowsill). I leave the bottle top off for ventilation. Then I cut two slits about a centimeter apart near the bottom, then repeat the procedure on the opposite side. Two chopsticks (left from takeaways) are then inserted into the slits to anchor the bottle to the soil. They work great, and are a great way to recycle (and save money!).

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**windowsillqueen** · 14-03-2009, 09:53 AM

For some reason, I hadn't thought of using the full size bottle - I'm definately going to do this with my cucumber and courgette plants which are getting too tall for their cloches already.

Also, having just got yet another ticking off by my husband for muddy water stains all over the window sills, I love the idea of using the bottoms for under my plant pots - Brill!

**Pieman** · 16-03-2009, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the tip on the plant pot bases! Staring you in the face really!!!!!

**Two_Sheds** · 17-03-2009, 06:14 PM

Originally posted by windowsillqueen View Post

got yet another ticking off by my husband for muddy water stains all over the window sills

me too.
I use old hummous tubs as saucers on my window sills.
When I remember

**farreste** · 17-03-2009, 06:42 PM

Gotta' love the versatile plastic pop bottle! Mine have not only provided a suitable cloche for my chilli plants over the years, but they've also prevented the cats eating the leaves of the plants. :-?

**Jillyreeves** · 17-03-2009, 07:42 PM

I use washed out plastic trays as saucers on the window sill , they type you get so many different foods in, meat, vegetable etc.

**Creemteez** · 17-03-2009, 09:21 PM

Can anyone give me a good use for the screw lids from a pop bottle? They are the only thing I can't think of a use for on the lottie. Bird scarers? Cane toppers? Anyone?

**Gwen11ian** · 18-03-2009, 08:41 PM

Legs to keep pots up off the patio to encourage better drainage?

**ardroil** · 18-03-2009, 08:48 PM

i like that one, i now have to remember to keep the bottle tops!

**Shaun the Sheep** · 18-03-2009, 09:41 PM

Originally posted by Creemteez View Post

Can anyone give me a good use for the screw lids from a pop bottle? They are the only thing I can't think of a use for on the lottie. Bird scarers? Cane toppers? Anyone?

Make lots of little holes in the bottle top (I use a skewer heated in the gas flame) and then put it back on the bottle filled with water. It makes a good spray for watering seedlings.

**cookie** · 24-03-2009, 05:44 PM

I cut my bottles in half and use the top as a cloche and the bottom as a plant pot with a few holes cut in the bottom. I also use cleaned meat trays/mushroom trays/fruit punnets from the supermarket (as long as they're deep enough) as seed trays or for holding bottle bottom pots (as above) in my mini greenhouse. In fact, everything gets vetted before it gets chucked in the recycling box just in case I can use it for something!

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Homemade plastic bottle top cloches!

Homemade plastic bottle top cloches!

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