When you have a ton of plants in the home like I do, you begin to look at every possible container as a home for a plant. Though I went for a long time without eyeing my colander as such, I soon recognized that it makes a ridiculously fine planter, particularly for herbs and salad greens, which have a high turnover rateβat least in my home.
A colander is a perfect planter, namely because it has natural drainage holes, allowing for you to water (and wash) your planted greens right in your sink. I typically grow salad greens or herbs in my colander, snipping off leaves, as I need them.
I'm a prolific home cook, making 2-3 meals per day, so I cycle through greens pretty readily. I will often have plants growing from seed in my bedroom that I can easily transplant after 3-4 weeks of growth into the planter, but if you don't want to wait, then you can easily just get herbs or greens with roots at your local plant shop, farmers market, or home and garden center, like I have here from my farmers market. They're cheapβaround $0.99-$2.99βfar cheaper and more sustainable than if you buy the "cut stuff" in the grocery store. πΏ
Tools
- 1 colander
- potting soil
- herb or greens of choice
- trowel
Directions
- Add some soil to the base of the colander. Add your plant to the colander and fill in the gaps with potting soil. Pat down around the base of the plant, ensuring that the roots are covered.
Here's a little hyperlapse video of how easy it is to make a colander planter.
