Lately, I’ve been living in a small apartment and I was wondering “what kind of plants can be planted in plastic bottles?” Planting in plastic bottles is not only a great way to grow your own food, but it’s also upcycling. Using plastic bottles for container gardening is the ultimate upcycling project.

Growing plants, herbs, fruits, and flowers in plastic bottles allows you to reuse waste materials. And in my book, that has some environmental value.

Which plants can you grow in plastic bottles?

You can grow vegetables, herbs, fruits, and flowers in plastic bottles. As long as it is a small plant and doesn’t require a large space, you can plant it in a plastic bottle.

You can plant many different fruits that do well in plastic bottles, like strawberries, but not watermelons.

In plastic bottles, you can grow succulents, small herbs and even small flowers, as long as you provide them with the required water, space to grow and nutrition.

Try experimenting with strawberries, spinach, basil, sage, and oregano to understand what you can do with plastic bottles for planting.

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Which plants can be grown in bottles?

You can grow small plants, fruits, vegetables, and herbs in bottles.

What kind of herbs can I plant in plastic bottles?

You can easily create your very own fresh herb garden out of plastic bottles. It’s wonderful to have such easy access to fresh and free herbs.
That way, you don’t have to worry about putting basil or some other herb on your shopping list because you know that you have it all just a few steps away.

And because different herbs have different moisture needs, growing them in plastic bottles is an easy way to control soil moisture. Of course, growing herbs in plastic bottles will also keep aggressive spreaders, like lemon balm and mint, under control and away from garden beds.

Here are some of the best herbs for plastic bottle gardening:

  • Basil
  • Chives
  • Mint
  • Parsley
  • Coriander
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
  • Sorrel
  • Lemon Balm
  • Oregano

What herbs grow well together in plastic bottles?

Moisture-loving herbs such as basil, tarragon, and cilantro grow well together in plastic bottles. You can grow parsley with other moisture-loving herbs, but it will die back after two years because it is a biennial.

And for a wonderfully aromatic pairing, try growing lemon thyme and lemon verbena in the same plastic bottle. The combination of the two herbs will smell divine.

Can I grow basil in plastic bottles?

You can grow basil in plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are perfect for growing basil. Basil can be a wonderful addition to your plastic bottle garden. What makes basic wonderful is that you can grow it indoors and outdoor. However, keep in mind that basil is super sensitive to the cold.

Don’t use common soil for your basil when planting in plastic bottles. You should only use potting soil. If you want, you can start from seed or plant store-bought basil.

Alternatively, you can pick some green basil cuttings put them in a plastic bottle filled with water. In just a few days, basil roots will appear. Next, you can transfer the cuttings to a plastic bottle filled with potting soil. Water your herb and place the bottle at the sunniest place in your house.

Can I plant thyme in plastic bottles?

Thyme is one of the easiest herbs to grow in plastic bottles. This herb is not only easy to grow, but it doesn’t take up a lot of space in your herb garden. A plastic bottle as small as four inches in diameter is enough to plant thyme.

Although you can grow thyme indoors, you need to ensure it gets plenty of light. Besides plenty of bright light, thyme requires average watering, average temperatures, and average soil.

This versatile evergreen shrub can be planted together with other small flowers and herbs. Mix some sand or pebbles into the soil. You can plant thyme any time of the year and enjoy this herb all year long.

Can I grow rosemary in plastic bottles?

You can grow rosemary in plastic bottles. Make sure the bottle has at least one drainage hole. Use loose, good-quality potting soil with a slow-release fertilizer.

The best is to sterilize your plastic bottles before planting. A rosemary plant requires at least six hours of sunlight, so keep that in mind as you position the plastic bottle.

The simplest way to grow rosemary is to regrow from a store-bought plant. Water the rosemary plants when you feel the soil is too dry.

Can I grow oregano in a plastic bottle?

When you grow herbs in plastic bottles, you can’t miss Greek oregano. Oregano is one of the easiest and fastest-growing herbs. They are super easy to grow in plastic bottles, indoors and out.

You can start growing oregano from seeds, divide them in spring and summer, and plant them in a separate plastic bottle.

Growing Greek oregano from cuttings is another option. Take a few cuttings and put them in a bottle full of water. After about one week, roots will appear, now transfer them in a plastic bottle with good quality potting soil.

If you are just starting planting oregano, the best option is to buy one plant and multiply them. This will save you the hassle of seed sowing.

Can I plant strawberries in plastic bottles?

You can plant strawberries in plastic bottles successfully. Strawberry plants are ideal for plastic bottles, given their compact size and quick-growing habit.

There are several major advantages to growing strawberries in plastic bottles. First, you can move plastic bottles to track the sun. Planting in plastic bottles allows you to move strawberries under cover in winter to force an early crop.

And if you don’t have a sunny spot in your house or apartment, don’t worry because you can grow this delicious fruit under artificial light.

It means you can grow strawberries at any time of the year, from summer to winter. Remember to use good quality potting soil in your plastic bottles.

Can I grow spinach in a plastic bottle?

You can grow spinach in a plastic bottle indoors and outdoors. It’s an easy plant to grow in a bottle that’s at least six to eight inches deep.

For growing spinach in plastic bottles, use high-quality potting soil. Make sure the soil texture is loamy and crumbly. Spinach requires soil that drains easily. Waterlogged soil will kill spinach.

Spinach is easy to grow indoors because it doesn’t require a lot of sunlight. A windowsill is an ideal spot if you want to grow them inside, especially since direct sunlight can be harmful to these plants.

Can I plant parsley in plastic bottles?

Growing parsley in plastic bottles is easy if you know the basic requirements. As long as your plastic bottle is at least 6-8 inches deep, you can grow parsley as an annual. However, if you are growing parsley as a biannual, you need a little bit more depth, like 10 inches.

You can grow parsley in plastic bottles year-round indoors. Make sure you choose a partially shaded but sunny location. Parsley grows well in partial sunlight. Water parsley regularly and evenly, but do not overwater.

Can I grow sage in plastic bottles?

You can grow sage in plastic bottles. It’s economical and time-saving to grow sage indoor and outdoor. However, Sage requires a lot of sunlight, so make sure you place the bottle planters in an area with plenty of sunlight.

Because sage prefers well-drained soil, it’s perfect for plastic bottle gardening. In addition, this evergreen shrub performs well in containers.

It can be a challenge to plant sage by seed. So, you should grow it from cuttings to make your life easier. Clip a small cutting from the tip of a stem and plant it in sterile sand. You can expect to see roots in about six weeks.

Wait until the soil is dry before you water sage. A little water goes a long way with this drought-tolerant plant.

Can I plant lettuce in plastic bottles?

You can plant lettuce in large plastic bottles. Lettuce is ideal for small place gardeners. You can start growing lettuce from seed or seedling. But, the best way to start is with storebought lettuce.

Just cut a two-inch section from the bottom part of the lettuce and place it in a half-cut water bottle.

In less than a week, roots with appear. When that happens, plant it in a plastic bottle with a professional soil mix. Lettuce is a sun-loving plant. So pick a nice bright spot with a lot of sunlight.

Because lettuce has shallow roots, it responds well to consistent watering. Lettuce needs at least 4.00 cm of watering in a week.

Can I grow mushrooms in plastic bottles?

Mushrooms grow fast in plastic bottles. So if you can establish the perfect growing conditions, you can grow mushrooms in plastic bottles. Growing mushrooms is a great way to diversify your vegetable garden. Mushrooms do well in small areas.

Any plastic bottle between eight and twelve inches deep should work for growing mushrooms. Mushrooms need dark, so make sure you park your container in a shaded, cool, and moist area.

Your basement could be a great place to grow mushrooms. But, if your home doesn’t have a basement, an unused closet or room could work too. Check to make sure the temperature of the space doesn’t go above 60 Fahrenheit.

Can I grow spring onions in plastic bottles?

You can grow onions in plastic bottles as long as there is rich, well-drained soil, enough water and sunlight (10-14 hours a day), and a bit of fertilizer (ammonium sulfate or ammonium nitrate). Onions take about 110 days to grow to maturity, but they can be harvested when they are about pencil size, which takes about 70-days.

If you want to plant onions outside, make sure the soil temperature has reached at least 60 Fahrenheit.

Onions require full sun and good drainage. Water your onions when the topsoil feels dry to the touch.

Can I grow radish in plastic bottles?

You can grow radish in plastic bottles. Different shapes and sizes (white round, red round, long pink, etc.) make radishes a must for container gardeners. You can’t go wrong with radishes if you are a first-time container gardener.

Since radishes are small, they can be adapted to grow in plastic bottles. However, I recommend using a bottle at least six inches deep. Having such a depth will guarantee the proper formation of the roots.

Radish required loose, fertile, and well drained potting soil. Since radish is a quick crop (only 23 days from start to finish), make sure to use a good potting medium, to begin with.

Is it safe to grow plants in plastic bottles?

It is safe to grow plants in plastic bottles as long as they are good grade.

It’s safe to grow plants in High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

HDPE is frequently used, and it is a safe plastic container. This type of plastic if not known to transmit any chemicals into food. And it is considered a low health risk.

It’s safe to grow plants in Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

These single use plastic bottles are food safe. They are used for soda, water bottles, peanut butter jars, Mason jars, etc. Currently, there are no known health issues with PET bottles, so it should be safe to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs in them.

It’s safe to grow plants in Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE)

There are no health risks associated with LDPE, so you can use it to grow plants.

Why grow plants in plastic bottles?

Every second, about 1,000 people open a plastic water bottle in the United States. That means each of us use more than 150 plastic bottles every year. Even though I try to limit the number of plastic bottles I use I know I use more than I should.

Growing plants in plastic bottles is upcycling. It’s an opportunity to breath new life into an item that is almost always discarded after a single use. Plastic bottles allow you to grow your own food in an environmentally friendly way.

How does growing plants in plastic bottles work?

You can grow plants in plastic bottles in two different ways:

  • Plant in the plastic bottle as you would in a normal planter. With this method, you just add water as needed.
  • Use plastic bottles for a basic hydroponic system called “wick system.” The wick system uses a water reservoir to feed and water the plants instead of soil.