Q&A for How to Build a Vertical Garden from Soda Bottles

Return to Full Article

Coming soon

Add New Question

Question

On the funnel bottle do you also put a hole in the cap, or is it removed?

Community Answer

Yes, the funnel bottle has a cap with a hole in it. One professor suggested filling the funnel bottle with a handful of sand to help filter the water.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 20
Question

Would this be good for cantaloupes or other melons?

Community Answer

No. The fruit is too heavy and will pull the structure down. Similarly, pumpkins and other large varieties of squash also won't do well in a vertical garden. These types of plants prefer to sprawl over long, horizontal distances rather than vertical.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 15
Question

Could I grow strawberries this way using bigger bottles?

Community Answer

You certainly could; you could use the same format but use gallon milk jugs. Each one can have three or four strawberry plants in it, just cut more "windows."

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 16
Question

Do you put holes in all of the other caps except for the first one? How does water get to other bottles?

Community Answer

You don't put the caps on the bottles except for the first one and the top funnel bottle (which also has a hole in it.)

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 10 Helpful 15
Question

How does the water get to all of the bottles?

Community Answer

This system uses gravity to water all of the bottles in a chain reaction sort of way. The tower is made from three different types of bottles. The watering bottle at the top drains through a tiny hole in the cap into the tower bottles in the middle, which have soil and no caps. Each of those drain through the open cap holes into the tower bottles below it. Finally, the lowest tower bottle drains into the base bottle, which has a cap on the bottom to keep the soil in, but also has a few holes on the sides to allow for proper drainage so your plants do not drown.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 4
Question

Is there any concern about chemicals leaching out of the 2 liter bottles?

Megan16

Community Answer

You're right, chemicals might leach into the soil and poison the plants. If you're concerned, line the bottles with something.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 2
Question

What was the substrate? Peat based?

Megan16

Community Answer

It doesn't matter, use the soil that suits the plants you're going to grow.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 2
Question

What can I do with excess marigold flowers?

Megan16

Community Answer

Turn it into compost. Basically, you let it rot and then mix it into the soil of other plants. It gives them nutrients. Go to the article on How to Compost for more information.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
Question

What can I grow, apart from lettuce and herbs?

Community Answer

Anything small that won't overflow the bottles with roots or break it due to weight. If you scroll down to tips, it has a list of great suggestions.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1