I’d like to talk about making hanging planters out of empty plastic milk jugs and soft-drink bottles. It’s a quirky little craft project that my flatmate introduced me to last summer, when we were trying to spruce up our tiny balcony garden on a shoestring budget.
The materials you need are remarkably basic. Apart from the plastic containers themselves, which would otherwise just end up in the recycling bin, all you really need is a craft knife, some sandpaper to smooth any rough edges, acrylic paint, and a spool of sturdy jute twine. You also need a handful of gravel for drainage, some potting compost, and a few small cuttings, like spider plants or trailing herbs.
The process is surprisingly straightforward. You start by slicing off the top section of the bottle and poking several small drainage holes through the base. After buffing down the cut rim so nobody scratches themselves, you give the exterior a couple of coats of paint. We ended up painting ours with colourful pastel geometric designs. Once that dries, you punch two holes near the top rim, thread the twine through, tie secure knots, and you’re ready to fill it with soil and plant the cuttings.
What makes this activity so appealing is that it gives a second lease of life to single-use plastics that are normally discarded without a second thought. It’s incredibly satisfying to take something that is essentially rubbish and transform it into functional home decor in under an hour. Beyond that, it encourages people to be more resourceful, proving that you don’t need to spend a fortune on fancy homeware to brighten up your living space.