diy cloches

[janeyo]

Hi I drink a lot of coke (I know it's a terrible habit) and always recycle the bottles. I was wondering if I cut the bottom off if I coudl use them as mini cloches? Has anyhone done this? And maybe I could use the top bit of the bottle too?

thanks, janey

[Seahorse]

I use mine as mini cloches with good results. You can also use them cut up as root trainers... I'll see if I can find a link with better details!

[Seahorse]

Here's what Eden had to say in a previous thread:

"I had a go at making my own root trainers out of empty 2 litre pop bottles. Cut off the top and bottom so you are left with a tube, then cut this from top to bottom, then again on the opposite side so that you are left with 2 curved pieces of plastic. Gently roll one up, and pop an elastic band to the top and bottom of tube to hold in place. When you have filled them all up stand in a tray and place a large elastic band round all of them to keep them standing upright. I grew sweet peas in them and it worked fantastic. When it came to planting them out I slipped the elastic bands off and gently unrolled the tube and they were popped straight in the ground. I gave all the tubes a quick swish in a bowl of warm soapy water and them stored them away, I've used them every year since. It's amazing how many bottles you can collect from friends etc, with 2 'root trainers' per bottle it's a pretty good saving!"

Whole thread here:

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ner_11409.html

[snake the squadie]

i have done it with good results and have used the bottoms as plant pots(cut little holes in it)

[Cutecumber]

I've used them as beer traps for slugs!

Just a warning, though, that plastic is tough and unforgiving and edges get very sharp once you start to work with it... a stanley knife is ideal but please be careful and wear some tough gloves and/ or make sure the bottle is held securely when you cut into it.

It makes me whimper just to think about it!!

[wiccanlou]

I think thats a great idea I've been thinking of doing something similar, just cutting the bottom off and using the top bit cause i can always unscrew the top bit if its too hot for the plants. I was thinking of cutting the two litre bottles length wise to use over geminating seeds in my bed too.

[janeyo]

Thanks, I feel so much better about drinking all that (diet) cole now! Off to experiment with some bottles.

janeyo

[Tracey]

I was thinking of cutting the two litre bottles length wise to use over geminating seeds in my bed too.

What a great idea

[helly]

Hi, I used them last year to protect my sunflowers peas and corn from slugs. I cut the top and bottom off and popped them over worked great.

[samw04]

would this work with coloured plastic bottles as well coz we only drink cider in our house.

[Hans Mum]

dont know about the cider bottles (would the light be affected?) but the clear bottles are fab & you can sink them quite far down to discourage mice...& when youve finished with them they can go straight into the recycling bin so you dont have to store them
i just ask peeps at work when i want them to start saving them again for me (about now)

[Two_Sheds]

I use 2litre pop bottles as cloches...but cut with scissors not a knife for safety's sake. Use the top off (no lid) as cloche, then when you take it off the plant, invert it (top down) in the soil next to plant, to water into: the water goes straight to the roots that way.

[Sirius]

As an absolute beginner, and having read the thread about recycling household stuff for use in the garden, I retrieved my coke bottles (yes, like Janyo I drink faaaar too much of it, but hey!) from the recycling bin and put them on the work table till I decided exactly what to use them for. Now I have lots of great ideas, thank you for sharing everyone

[Peter]

Also good for water conservation.

Cut the BOTTOM off, discard the cap.
When planting water hungry plants, e.g. squash, sink a bottle cap end first about half to two-thirds of it's length near to the plant.
Poke a cane into the soil through the cap hole and put a safety thingy on the top of the cane.

Cane helps you find the bottle amoungst the leaves.

Bottle lets you put about 2L of water right down to the roots without soaking the surface of the soil or mulch, from where the water would evaporate.

PS Bottle colour is irrelevant.

[moggssue]

I used clear 2l water bottles last year as mini cloches for my baby lettuces etc - also helped keep the slugs off. Did the watering thingy as well in my growbags with toms and it worked fine.