Sometimes I feel that things we consider useless can actually still be put to good use. One example is the 15 liter empty water gallons that I collected at home. Instead of throwing them straight into the trash, I decided to turn them into planters for growing flowers or vegetables.
Before cutting them, I measured each gallon and marked a line at around 20 cm from the bottom. Then, I carefully cut them into two pieces.
For this project, I only used the bottom part of the gallons. I plan to use these recycled containers as planting pots for growing different kinds of vegetables.
Then, I made several small holes in the sides and bottom so that excess water could drain away and not accumulate inside. The shape is simple, but the size is large enough to hold plenty of growing medium for flowers or vegetables.
Since the soil at my place is quite dry and not suitable for growing plants, I decided to use ready to use growing soil mixed with compost and other organic materials that I bought for around $0.60 per bag. Each bag contains about 20 kg of ready to use compost rich growing medium.
Once the growing medium was added to the recycled gallons, the containers were ready to be used for growing different kinds of plants.
Around my garden, there are already quite a few empty gallons that have been turned into plant containers. Some are still empty, while others already have young chili plants growing in them.
At first glance, they may look simple. They certainly don't look like fancy plant pots, but I think that's exactly what makes them interesting. We don't have to buy expensive pots to start gardening. Things we already have around the house can be reused and given a new purpose instead of simply being thrown away.
Besides saving money, reusing empty water gallons like this also helps reduce plastic waste. Instead of letting them pile up or end up in the trash, I think it's better to give them a second chance and turn them into something useful.
For me, gardening isn't only about getting a big harvest. There is a different kind of satisfaction in seeing something that was once considered waste slowly become a place where plants can grow. So, if you have an unused plastic water gallon at home, don't be too quick to throw it in the trash.
Who knows, that old gallon could become a flower pot or a container for growing vegetables. I think this is a great idea for anyone who wants to create a small vegetable garden, especially if you only have limited space around your home.
Have you ever reused old items as plant pots? I'd love to hear your ideas and experiences in the comments.
Warm greetings from Indonesia,
photos and writing by 
