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Creative Ways To Repurpose Jars In Your Garden
By MARLENE RIDGWAY
Hydroponic Garden
You don’t need soil to make a hydroponic garden. Start with an empty jar, paint or tape it to protect it from light exposure, and fill it halfway with water.
Use net pots to keep plants from sitting in water, and change the water regularly to prevent root rot. Add nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus via spray or premade solutions.
Plant Cuttings
To propagate, cut below a leaf node, place stem in a water-filled jar, and keep leaves out of the water. Replenish water until roots are 2-4 inches, then pot it.
If you’re propagating houseplants that don’t need drainage, you can pot them in glass jars. This method is cost-effective, strengthens plants, and makes monitoring roots easy.
Dry Herbs
Slender jars or bottles with narrow openings simplify herb drying. After harvesting, cut stems near the ground, remove bottom leaves, and stand them in a jar to dry.
Keep the jars in a dry place with minimal sunlight, as condensation or moisture could encourage mold growth. Once dried, strip the leaves from the stems for easy storage.
Hanging Jars
This hack requires a jar and an 18-inch rope. Create a loop with the rope, cross it to form a smaller loop, and place the jar's bottom where the rope crosses.
Hang jars to free up space for plants and cuttings. You can also plant in your hanging jars if you use species that don't need drainage — water sparingly to avoid root rot.
Mini Greenhouse
To make a mini greenhouse, place a wide-mouth jar over the seedling or soil where you planted the seed, creating ideal growing conditions similar to a cloche.
The jar keeps the environment warm, retains moisture, and protects seedlings from pests. Remove the jar daily to water, or keep it in place and water the surrounding soil well.