DIY Recycled Plant Pots

Calling all green thumbs and aspiring plant parents! This sustainable, unbe-leaf-ably easy DIY will add a little life back into your kitchen. Make an upcycled greenhouse, then DIY your own ‘Primal Planters.’

There is undeniable comfort in the presence of plants. Whether it’s the gentle ritual of watering, the vibrant splash of green, or maybe just the extra oxygen they add to the air, plants have a powerful effect in a space. It feels like quarantine-inspired ‘victory gardens’ are popping up everywhere. A grounding task in between the hustle of work from home and the zoom ‘classroom,’ growing seeds can be both a mindful practice for adults, and a science lesson for little ones. If you don’t have a lush garden to populate with plants, or a balcony to set stems to soak up sunlight, create your own up-cycled greenhouse right in your kitchen.

Give seeds a start using a cleaned out rotisserie chicken container, then re-pot new blooms in repurposed Primal Kitchen Mayo jars. Our hearts swelled when two Primal Kitchen team members put together these planters—they’re beautiful on a tabletop, or left on a doorstep as a social-distanced gift for a friend. Microgreens are an easy start, as are herbs like mint, basil, and chives that produce a sizable yield. Use these beautifully aromatic herbs for garnishes, in vinaigrettes, in salads for enhanced flavor and variety.

Cleaned out Primal Kitchen jars are also perfect for propagating plants in water! Existing houseplants like a pothos or a philodendron will thrive in just a few weeks. To propagate in water, just clip stems close to the new growth bump or bud called a ‘node’ and add to water (being careful to keep leaves out from under water). Swap in new water every few days, and watch as a twisty labyrinth of roots grows below, ready to be replanted. Skip a trip to the grocery store and propagate the buds of a green onion in water for windowsill scallions whenever you need them! To learn how to create your own recycled plant pots and green house, make DIY seedling pots, and how to replant a rooted plant or a clipping, read on.

What You’ll Need:

• Thoroughly cleaned rotisserie chicken container
• Washed jars of Primal Kitchen Mayo (hint: Check out this recipe to make a delish rotisserie chicken salad and get all your materials before starting this DIY! 
• Micronutrient-rich soil (garden soil will be less effective) 
• Seeds of your choice
• Sharp scissors
• Misting or spray bottle of water
• A dapple of sunlight!

Instructions:

To make the greenhouse:

• Once the container is clean, carefully use scissors to create drainage holes, roughly half an inch wide (the size of a pencil, for example) spaced a few inches apart along the bottom base. The amount of holes will vary based on the size of your container.
• Add soil to the bottom base, being careful to keep it loose and not packed. Follow the directions on the packet for planting, as the spacing and instructions will vary depending on the seeds.
• Moisten the soil with the spray bottle, and then close the lid, placing in a sunny spot.
• Continue to spray with water a few times a week and watch your new plant babies spring to life!
• Repot once the leaves start to grow over and the dish feels crowded. You can repot into another container with drainage, or into a mayo jar.

To repot a growing seedling in a mayo jar:

• Healthy plants with strong roots will grow in a jar, so be sure seedlings are ready to be replanted by checking to see if their leaves are starting to crowd the planter.
• Water seedlings to keep soil damp.
• Gently remove the seedling using a towel or butter knife, being careful to avoid the roots of nearby seedlings.
• Fill the jar about ¼-⅓ of the way with potting soil.
• Place the seedling into the potting soil, filling the rest of the jar with more soil. Lightly moisten the soil, packing down gently as you go.

To Plant a Cutting into a Mayo Jar:

• Choose a healthy plant, and use a sharp set of scissors or shears to make the cut. Remove excess leaves.
• If plant has a node, place at least 2 nodes under the soil. (You can also finely slice into the node to open the plant to more nutrients and increase the chances of the plant taking root).
• Fill the jar about ¼-⅓ of the way with potting soil.
• Place the cuttings into the soil and dampen with water, and leave in a sunny, warm place.