Every year, an estimated 500 million plastic plant pots are used by gardeners worldwide. The sheer volume of discarded pots can quickly accumulate in sheds, greenhouses, and gardens. But instead of tossing them, savvy gardeners find creative and practical ways to reuse these pots. Here are ten ingenious ways to give your old pots a second life, saving money, resources, and contributing to a healthier garden.
1. Create Plant Collars
Cut off the bottom of a plastic pot and use it as a protective collar around seedlings. This simple solution shields young plants from cold winds, pests like pill bugs and earwigs, and even excessive rain. A few cut-up pots can go a long way in nurturing your plants.
2. Give Tomatoes Extra Support
Larger bottomless pots can be placed around the base of tomato plants, filled with soil, and used to encourage additional root growth. The surrounding potting mix gives the plant more stability, helping tomatoes anchor better and access more nutrients and moisture, all while providing extra support.
3. Organize Garden Tools
Repurpose plastic pots as storage containers for essential gardening tools like pruners, twine, or labels. Attach them to convenient spots in your greenhouse or garden shed to keep your workspace tidy and organized.
4. Save on Potting Mix
Large pots can be heavy and expensive to fill with potting mix. For plants with shallow root systems, such as herbs or lettuce, reduce the amount of potting mix needed by placing a smaller pot upside down at the bottom of the larger one. This trick makes containers lighter and saves on costly potting soil.
5. Build a Bug Hotel
Transform larger pots into bug hotels by filling them with dry natural materials like bamboo canes, straw, and leaves. These cozy shelters help beneficial insects, like ladybugs, overwinter in your garden, providing natural pest control when spring arrives.
6. Control Earwigs
Earwigs can be beneficial by eating aphids but are often a nuisance when they munch on young shoots. Prevent them from damaging your plants by stuffing a pot with moist straw, placing it atop a bamboo cane. Earwigs will hide in the straw, and you can easily relocate them to other areas of the garden.
7. Limit the Spread of Invasive Plants
Some plants, like mint, tend to spread aggressively. To control their growth, plant them in a pot and sink it into the ground, leaving the rim exposed. This strategy restricts their root system, keeping them contained and easier to manage.
8. DIY Plant Labels
Repurpose plastic pots into plant labels by cutting them into strips. These homemade labels are a cost-effective way to keep track of your plants, and you can reuse them each season by erasing old markings.
9. Protect Plants from Cold
During unexpected cold snaps, use a plastic pot to insulate seedlings or tender plants. Stack two pots together to trap air and create a simple insulation barrier that helps protect against frost. Add extra materials like burlap for additional warmth if needed.
10. Get Creative
Old pots don’t just serve practical purposes—get creative and turn them into garden art. Paint or decorate them to create unique displays, or craft fun figures like flowerpot people to add a whimsical touch to your garden. Let your imagination run wild!
Bonus: Reuse as Pots Again!
If you can’t find another use for your old pots, simply reuse them for planting! While black plastic pots are hard to recycle, reusing them reduces the demand for new ones. Share your extra pots with fellow gardeners, donate them to local nurseries, or advertise them online.
Keep Your Pots Clean
Before reusing your pots, it’s important to clean them thoroughly to prevent the spread of pests and diseases. Scrub them with dishwashing liquid and a brush to remove debris, and consider soaking in a mild disinfectant solution for extra precaution.
By rethinking how you use plastic plant pots, you can reduce waste, save money, and enhance your gardening efforts. Whether for practical use or creative projects, there’s no shortage of ways to repurpose pots around your garden.