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How To

How to Create a Bottle Garden

Contributor
By Paul Bright
eHow Contributing Writer
(1 Ratings)

The coolest thing about a bottle garden is that you can create an entire world of foliage inside a see-through container on your desk. Bottle gardens are also a great way to grow plants without making a dirty mess since everything is self-contained.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  • Wide glass bottle and cork
  • Gravel
  • Small plant
  • Small fork with a long shaft or a fork with a wire hangar wrapped around it
  • Spoon with long shaft or wire hanger
  • Paper
  • Charcoal
  • Soil mix or compost
  • Spray bottle with water
  1. Step 1

    Make a funnel out of the paper and pour fine gravel down to the bottom of the bottle. Make sure you have an even base about 3/4-inch thick.

  2. Step 2

    Pour a thin layer of crushed up charcoal on top of the gravel layer. Charcoal is great because it absorbs smells and impurities that can occur in a bottle garden. Add a layer of compost over the charcoal layer. Spread it even using your fork with the long shaft.

  3. Step 3

    Dig a hole in the middle of the mix for each plant. Place your plants in them and use your spoon tool to pat down compost around each plant.

  4. Step 4

    Spray your bottle garden with water but don't soak it. Spray the sides of the bottle to wash down any compost sticking to the glass.

  5. Step 5

    Place the cork on the bottle and remove it every half day or so until you find a perfect balance of moisture and air. Too much misting that doesn't clear up means your bottle garden needs more air. No condensation at all means not enough moisture. Once you find that sweet spot, all you have to worry about is pruning your ever-growing plants!

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