Make a Mini Greenhouse from Soda Bottles

Do you have some extra soda bottles kicking around? You can turn them into mini greenhouses and fill your home with some low-maintenance greenery.

You will need a large soda bottle, the two L kind, or larger. Remove the label and wash it out thoroughly so the bottle won't be sticky when you start to work with it. You will want to choose a bottle that is nice and clear and hasn't been too scratched up, so you can see your plants.

Use a serrated bread knife or scissors to cut the soda bottle about 4" up from the bottom. This piece will be the base for your greenhouse. Cut the top part about 2" below the cone part of the bottle. This will be the top part of your greenhouse. Keep the lid on and discard the extra middle bit of the bottle.

In the base of the greenhouse, put a handful of gravel, about ½" or so. This is for drainage. Top with a couple inches of potting soil and you are ready to plant your mini greenhouse.

Now, you will need either seeds or seedlings of some small flowers such as forget-me-nots or something similar. You can also plant non-flowering seeds, or even some small vegetables. The choice is yours. Plant the seeds or seedlings in the soil of the greenhouse base and water lightly.

Once you have planted what you want in your tiny greenhouse, you will reattach the top. Squeeze it slightly so that the top part of the greenhouse fits inside the base. This is so that when the water runs down the sides it will end up inside the greenhouse, not all over your windowsill. You can use tape to help keep the top in place.

Your new greenhouse can be placed anywhere that you have plenty of sun, such as a table top or windowsill. The water that you added to the soil will evaporate in the heat and condense on the top part of the greenhouse. These water droplets will roll back down into the soil and keep the cycle going. You shouldn't need to water your plants very often, as they will keep themselves healthy by producing the gases needed and sucking up the recycled water.

With so little care needed, you might want to plant several more mini greenhouses and fill the entire windowsill with them. You could also give them as gifts. This is an ideal project for children to do as a group, too, whether as a family or in class.