Houseplant Watering Simplified with Eco-Friendly Drip Feeders
In a bid to reduce plastic waste and promote sustainability, one speaker has been on a mission to find alternatives to conventional plastic drip feeders for their houseplants. The speaker, who finds houseplants helpful in making their home feel homely, has more than ten plants in their collection, ranging from peace lilies obtained from friends to plants grown from cuttings.
One of the alternatives they discovered is the use of **Plant Food Spikes**. These are solid sticks of plant food that slowly release nutrients directly into the soil over a period of two months. The pack used by the speaker comes complete with a plastic poker tool, making it easy to insert the spikes into the soil.
After measuring the size of the plant pot and consulting the pack for the right dosage, the food spikes are inserted about halfway between the stem of the plant and the rim of the pot, taking care to avoid piercing roots. After inserting the food sticks, the tops are covered with soil, and the plants are watered immediately.
Overdosing plants, especially orchids, should be avoided when caring for them, and the speaker learned this the hard way when an accident with an orchid led to overdosing it while refilling the drip feeder from a big bottle of Baby Bio.
To check if the food sticks have dissolved completely, the speaker recommends checking the soil of plants after a month or two. If all the sticks have gone, they can be replaced as needed. No additional feed is needed after using plant food spikes.
In addition to plant food spikes, other eco-friendly alternatives to plastic drip feeders include self-watering pots or trays, which wick moisture to the plant roots gradually and are reusable. Repurposed natural or reusable materials like cotton strings or wicks inserted into water containers made of glass or ceramic can also be used to slowly feed water to plants.
Upcycled containers and pallets can also be used to create vertical planters or slow-watering setups without plastic drip feeder bottles. These alternatives are more environmentally friendly and reduce plastic waste while maintaining plant health and easy watering.
In conclusion, by switching to plant spikes, self-watering pots/trays, wick watering systems with natural fibers, or repurposed containers made from sustainable or durable materials, you can avoid plastic drip feeders and contribute to a greener and more sustainable environment.
By choosing plant food spikes as an alternative to plastic drip feeders, homeowners can release nutrients directly into the soil for a sustained period, promoting the health of their houseplants. Self-watering pots or trays are another eco-friendly option, gradually wicking moisture to the roots of plants and being reusable. Utilizing natural materials like cotton strings or wicks in glass or ceramic containers can also provide a slow watering system for plants, contributing to a more sustainable lifestyle and home-and-garden set-up. Furthermore, upcycled containers and pallets can be used to create vertical planters or slow-watering systems, reducing plastic waste while maintaining plant wellness and the beauty of one's home.
