Easy Solutions for Potting Large Plants

I was getting ready to transplant a plant from a pot it had out grown.  Now, because I don't want to re-plant it anytime soon, I decided to put it into a large pot.  You know the problems with large pots?  They take a large amount of potting soil!  Okay, that's a, "Well, duh."  But, the large amount of soil makes them very heavy if they need to be moved.

The easy solution?  Use less soil! 

How?  by using empty water bottles in the bottom 1/3rd of the pot.  You were either going to recycle them or throw them away, so why not recycle them into the bottom of the big pot?  They take up a lot of room, allow the soil to breath and water to drain.  For plants it doesn't get much better than that.

• Keep the water bottles caps on and just put them into the bottom of the pot.  
• Fill it about 1/3rd full with the bottles.  
• Then, add soil.  
• Wet it so it gets between the bottles.  
• Add more soil and the plant.  
• Finish by adding a bit of fertilizer and more soil.  
• Water well.  

Check soil level the next day and add a bit if it has settled.  You will use much less potting soil. The planted pot will be much lighter to move.  The plant will be healthier because the roots can breath.  (The roots will grow around the bottles.)  Everything and everybody wins!

Could not be more simple and you are recycling.  And, go ahead - you can move it even after just watering it.

Helping the Earth and yourself - does it get any better?