The Unlikely Item That Can Save Your Plant Liners From Drying Out

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For some gardeners, budget-friendly coconut-fiber planter liners are the secret to perfect hanging baskets. They can be composted, don't alter the pH of the growing environment, and offer plants potassium and other nutrients. The downside is that they dry out fast when the weather's hot or windy. When they stay parched for too long, the plants that rely on them for hydration may perish. Before you trade coconut liners for a product that holds moisture better, try a hack that can save your plant liners from drying out. If you know any babies, the item you need may already be in your house. This marvel of engineering — and horticultural success, apparently — is a disposable diaper.

The basic idea is to unfold the diaper and place it in the bottom of a coconut-lined planter basket, with the liquid-absorbing side facing you and the plastic side facing the ground. Any brand and size will do as long as the absorbent material is in good working order. When the plants in the basket receive lots of moisture, whether it's from a thunderstorm or an overzealous watering session, the diaper will soak it up and save some for a not-so-rainy day. During hot, dry, or breezy weather, the plants' roots draw upon the stored liquid in the diaper's absorbent core. As an added bonus, the coconut liner doesn't experience as much wear and tear, so you may be able to use it for an extended period of time. Plus, you don't have to water your plants constantly, which can save you time. That said, diapers won't help save the environment, so you may want to consider some alternatives as well.

You might want to think twice about using disposable diapers in your planters if you purchased coconut liners for their eco-friendly properties or want to make more sustainable choices in general. Though these diapers are great at locking in moisture, they take hundreds of years to break down in landfills. You should only use them with decorative plants, as they can contaminate soil with chemicals you wouldn't want to eat. Fortunately, you only need one diaper to save your coconut-lined planter from dehydration. To minimize your carbon footprint, you could cut a single diaper into pieces to distribute among several hanging baskets. If you don't have a diaper and want to avoid buying a whole bag of them, look for another item with an absorbent layer and a moisture-resistant bottom. A large foam wound dressing with an adhesive backing — the type you might use when recovering from surgery — meets the requirements.

If you'd rather avoid the diaper route altogether, you have a few options. Placing small stones at the bottom of the planter basket can help keep the coconut liner damp while promoting proper drainage. Or, try adding perlite to the growing medium in your planter basket. If you're wondering how perlite helps your garden, it holds moisture, which helps your basket garden's soil and liner stay healthy. Some gardeners use gel beads, such as Orbeez, in a similar way. These squishy orbs soak up lots of liquid during watering sessions and then release it slowly, providing consistent moisture to plants nearby. As they keep the soil damp, they're likely to keep your coconut planter liner damp as well.