Recycling containers for planting microgreens can be a great way to repurpose them. Clean containers with drainage holes in the bottom can make great planters for microgreens. By reusing such items, waste can be reduced, and the environment can be supported.
What You'll Learn
Gather Materials
Gathering all the materials you need to repurpose a container for microgreens is so easy it’s practically impossible! Before you start, though, make sure the containers you choose are safe, clean, and have drainage holes. This will help ensure that your microgreens are healthy and pest-free.
You’ll also want to make sure that the containers are large enough for the microgreen variety of your choice; some may require more soil or space than others. In addition to a container, you’ll need potting soil specifically designed for growing microgreens. Look for an organic mix that contains plenty of nutrients, such as vermiculite and composted manure.
Once your container is full of potting soil, add just enough water to moisten it before sowing seeds. For most varieties of microgreens, you should plan on harvesting them within five weeks after planting. When it comes time to harvest your microgreens, cut them close to the base with scissors or a sharp knife. Be sure not to pull them out by their roots; this could damage any future growth in that area.
After harvesting, lightly mist the remaining leaves with water so they don’t dry out too quickly in between harvests. With proper care and maintenance of your recycled containers – including regular watering and fertilizing – you can keep producing fresh batches of delicious microgreens throughout the year!
Prepare Container
Grab your supplies and get ready to start prepping your container for the perfect microgreen planter! The most important part of this process is selecting the right container. Keep in mind, you’ll need a container with drainage holes so that excess water can escape. If you don’t already have one, try looking around your house or at your local thrift store for something suitable.
To start, give the container a good wash with warm soapy water and let it dry completely before moving on. Next, pick out soil that’s specifically designed for growing microgreens – not all potting soil will do! Make sure it has a light texture and drains well. Once you’ve selected the right type of soil, fill up your container with enough to cover the bottom and create a layer about 2 inches thick.
Finally, follow these four steps to make sure everything is set up correctly:
- Create small indentations in the soil for each individual seedling;
- Place each seedling into its own indentation;
- Add more soil as needed to secure them firmly in place;
- Water lightly until the seeds sprout and begin their growth journey!
You’re now ready to become an expert microgreen gardener! With just a few simple steps, you’ve repurposed clean containers with drainage holes into perfect planters for microgreens – plus, you’ll get all kinds of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants from those tasty greens too! So why wait? Get planting today!
Fill Container with Soil
Pick out a soil specifically designed for growing microgreens, and fill your container with enough to create a layer about two inches thick. When it comes to soil choice, there are several options available. Organic potting mix or compost-based soils are great choices for growing microgreens. Make sure that the soil you choose has good drainage setup. If not, you can add perlite or vermiculite to increase drainage and aeration. You can also use store-bought mixes that are specifically made for microgreens.
Once your container is filled with soil, pack it down lightly using the back of a spoon or your hands so that the surface is even and flat. This will help ensure even watering when you water your microgreen plants later on in the process. For added nutrition, top the soil off with some liquid organic fertilizer or compost tea before planting your seeds.
When filling up containers for growing microgreens, be sure to leave enough room at the top of each container so they won’t overflow when watering them later on in the process. Watering heavily from time to time will also help keep your plants from becoming too dry between waterings and will prevent root rot due to soggy conditions as well!
It’s important to remember that all containers used for growing must have proper drainage holes at the bottom in order for excess water to drain properly away from your plants’ roots – otherwise they may drown in standing water! Keep this in mind while selecting containers for repurposing into planters.
With these tips in mind, you should have no problem successfully starting an indoor garden of beautiful and delicious microgreens!
Plant Microgreen Seeds
Once your container is ready, it’s time to plant the microgreen seeds. Choosing the right type of seed will depend on the flavor and texture you’re looking for as well as how much space you have in your container. Here are a few tips to help you choose:
- Plant Selection: Look for fast-growing varieties with edible leaves such as arugula, kale, mustard, radish, and other salad greens. You can even find seeds specifically for microgreens!
- Seed Spacing: Microgreens need enough room to grow so make sure you leave some space between each seed when planting. Different types of microgreens require different amounts of space so check the instructions on your seed packet.
Water your newly planted seeds immediately after planting them to ensure that they get adequate moisture throughout their growing period.
It’s also important to keep an eye on the soil because if it dries out too quickly, it may be necessary to water more frequently than recommended.
Once they start sprouting, be sure that they receive plenty of light and air circulation as this will help them thrive!
With a little bit of care and attention, you’ll soon have delicious microgreens fresh from your own recycled planter!
Water Container
Finding the perfect container to repurpose into a microgreen planter doesn’t have to be hard; with a little creativity and resourcefulness, you can quickly create a space for your microgreens to thrive!
The best type of container for growing microgreens is one that is made of recycled material and has drainage holes in the bottom. A plastic container such as an old yogurt or cottage cheese tub works well, but any container with drainage holes will do. You’ll also need to make sure there is enough composting water available so your plants can grow properly. Rain harvesting is another great way to ensure plenty of water for your plants.
When looking for containers, always keep safety in mind; never use containers that have been used previously with toxic chemicals or other hazardous materials. It’s also important to make sure the container is clean and free from mold or bacteria before you plant anything in it. Additionally, drill small holes around the edges of the container if it doesn’t already have proper drainage holes at its base. This will allow excess water to escape and prevent root rot from occurring in your plants.
Once you’ve found an appropriate recycled container and drilled necessary drainage holes, fill it up halfway with soil mix that contains all-natural ingredients like peat moss and sand. Gently press down on the soil mixture until it’s even throughout the pot before planting seeds directly onto its surface or lightly covering them with soil.
Then lightly mist your seedlings with composting water every few days until they start sprouting up through the soil mix – this should take about 7-10 days depending on what variety of microgreen you’re growing!
Finally, once your seedlings are tall enough (usually between 1-2 inches), they will need full sun exposure daily – either outdoors or indoors near a sunny window – along with regular watering so they don’t dry out too quickly when exposed to light sources over long periods of time. With some simple caretaking practices, these repurposed containers can easily become a home for thriving microgreens!
Monitor and Care
Once they’ve sprouted, it’s important to keep an eye on your microgreen crop and give them the proper care they need for continued growth.
To ensure success, you’ll want to make sure that your microgreens are getting regular waterings, as well as sufficient light exposure. This is best done by placing the container in a location where it will get bright indirect light throughout the day.
Watering your microgreens should be done with lukewarm water and not too much at once; if there’s standing water in the container after watering then you’ve added too much! Aim for moist soil instead of soggy or dry soil. You can also help promote growth by feeding your microgreens some liquid fertilizer every other week or so.
Additionally, you’ll want to check that your drainage holes are clear and unblocked periodically to avoid any potential root rot or mold problems. If there is any sign of mold growing on the surface of the soil, make sure to discard those plants immediately and start over with fresh seeds and soil.
It’s also important to remember that different types of microgreens have different needs; look up what type of environment each one prefers before planting them all together in one pot!
Caring for your little greens requires patience but isn’t overly complicated when done correctly. As long as you remember to provide adequate water and light exposure while keeping an eye out for potential problems like mold or blocked drainage holes, you should have a successful harvest of nutrient-rich microgreens from your recycled container planter!
