Hanging upside down plants are all the rage now! When they came out on TV everyone wanted one but the container looked confusing and of course they only tell you enough to make you want it and not all the details! Well it is very easy to make your own now and here are some interesting ways:
First I will show you how I did mine this week. Probably the easiest way, if I do say so myself!
Using any plastic container, first cut an X along the enire bottom of the container. This is like any holder of this type; you push it in to hold, and then it keeps it's shape without coming back out. (Do not go over the edge up the side or it will want to fold outwards and the plant will fall out!) If you just left the X as it is the plastic would cut into your stem, so we want to trim the points off in the center to make an opening.
I made knotted holders for most of mine (left) so that they look nice, but support the bottom as well as the sides. It's not quite macrame, but if you don't want to do it this way I have also made one that is simply poking the string thru and hanging it! (Use 3-4 strings, 2 is not enough) I am hoping the container is strong enough for this hanging method! The wet soil does get quite heavy! If you do try the knotted method, make sure you leave the bottom open.... If you make it like a regular hanger with the knots in a tassle at the bottom it will be in the way of your plant and look silly : P
I loosened the soil of the plant to make it easier for inserting in the X without damaging the roots. When they come out of the little plastic tray of 4 seedlings they are formed into little rectangular cubes; you know the ones.... Trying to do it with that big clump isn't easy and it would end up falling apart anyway! So free the roots from all the loose soil and then gently shove it all thru the hole by pushing the flaps of the X in. Then you have only the stem thru the hole (left) and the roots on the inside. (right)
Then just fill it up! When it is full of soil you will want to add water. The soil is loose so make sure you do this outside or over the sink! Put a lot of water in so that all the soil gets really wet! It will start to pour out the bottom of the container but that's ok for now. Once all the soil is wet it will be packed better and it won't drain like that later. (theoretically; I wouldn't suggest hanging it over something important, just in case!) If you put the lid on loosely or poke holes in it, the soil will retain most of the moisture and then you can just spritz it when you think it needs some water! Hang it in the amount of sun it needs, depending on what plant it is and watch it flourish!
I like this hanging method because it stops the need for staking the plants or the risk of them drooping and breaking under the weight! I have yet to see how well these containers will do under the weight of fruits/veggies, but time will tell! This will also hopefully solve 2 problems for me; 1. I have very bad soil in my back yard that I try to fix every year! (and the neighbours fence blocks the sun so area is limited) and 2. Indoor plants tend to get eaten by my cat!
I love to plant and sometimes get impatient and ahead of myself, so I didn't even bother decorating these containers :) of course you could paint them, put covers on them or anything you can imagine! Here are some other examples (I might try these) for you to try and let your gardening imagination go wild! (these are good for basement apartments and other places where floor space is limited or doesn't let enough light in!)
Using old pop/water bottles ~ I am defo trying this container next since I am about to start wreaking my good food containers! These are good for outside and the bottom of the bottle is cut off and inverted with holes poked in them to catch water like a basin and filter it through the soil
Here are some that look pretty! She used cans with plastic lids, like powder tins. Putting an X in the lid like I did, the removing the metal bottom, poking holes in it and then taping it back on afterwards
I love this idea! The flowers are cool, but imagine having fresh herbs growing right in your kitchen and yet out of the way! they look nice and would smell great! I would cover them in matching tea towels to go with the kitchen decor!
