32 Recycled Plastic Bottle Ideas For Home Garden & Crafts

32 Best recycled plastic bottle ideas to reuse & make garden planters, self watering systems, upcycled crafts, DIY home decorations, etc!

From water bottles to milk jugs, we all have plastic bottles that go to the recycle bin almost everyday. How about some creative reuse and up-cycle?

When I set out to gather a few ideas on how we can reuse plastic bottles, I did not expect to find so many amazing and useful things to make for our home and garden. Proceed at you own risk: you may never look at recycled plastic bottles the same way again!

DIY plastic bottle mini greenhouse

This super quick recycled plastic bottle greenhouse can effectively raise the temperature about 10 degrees! There are 3 tips on how to use them well.  ( A Piece Of Rainbow )

DIY Plastic bottle fruit picker

You can use 1 liter or 2 liter bottles to make a recycled plastic bottle fruit picker, depending on the size of the fruits you’re picking. See video tutorial below-

Allan recommends in his tutorial a plastic beverage bottle with “feet” on the bottom to add rigidity to the picker part and help for a claw that captured the top of the fruit.

Recycled plastic bottle hanging planter ideas

This amazing vertical garden is made from plastic bottles hanging along a wall in a narrow walkway just outside the house. Via Bitrebels

Reuse plastic bottles to make garden planters

Make a hanging herb garden with plastic bottle planters and add your personal touch with hand-drawn labels. Via Grillo Designs

Recycled plastic bottle planter ideas

Grow a fun and productive tomato arch with self-watering planters made from recycled plastic bottle. Video tutorial below –

Plastic bottle vertical garden

A vertical garden made of plastic soda bottles like this is great for growing herbs and smaller vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, arugula, etc. ( Original image source lost. Please let me know if you find it!)

Recycled plastic bottle hanging garden ideas

This video tutorial below shows us how to make a hanging garden to grow vegetables like celery in plastic bottle self-watering planters-

Strawberry planter with plastic bottle reservoir

Learning from a failed strawberry tower last year, we made several improvements. This built-in plastic bottle reservoir made a huge difference! ( A Piece Of Rainbow )

Recycled plastic bottle self watering planter ideas

To convert a standard planter into a self watering container you’ll need a watertight container with a lid, this will act as the water reservoir, a tall water bottle, this will act as the fill tube, and 2 strips of fabric, these strips will draw water from the reservoir to the soil above. Via Bucolic

Plastic bottle garden irrigation ideas

How to reuse plastic bottles in the garden? One of the best ideas is to make irrigation systems from recycled bottles. See below for some creative variations-

Plastic bottle plant watering system

Going on vacation for a week? Set up a slow drip watering system for your plants with just a plastic water bottle and a dry cleaner’s hanger.

Tutorial via Sages Acre

Recycled plastic bottle garden irrigation ideas

There are many ways to reuse plastic bottles for garden irrigation. You can hang the bottles, use them at soil level, or bury them in the ground. Check out the following examples.

Reuse plastic bottle for garden watering

These two video tutorials below are two ways of using plastic bottles to make drip irrigation for the garden.

Recycled plastic bottle drip irrigation ideas

Here’s another video tutorial below, and an article on plastic bottle watering systems.

Another easy way to reuse plastic bottles for potted plants or garden irrigation is to use self watering spikes you can get on Amazon.

Make garden plant labels with recycled plastic bottles

This a a really simple and useful idea: make garden plant markers / labels from cut up plastic bottles, especially those white milk jugs. Via Creative Ramblings

Upcycled plastic shampoo bottle garden light

Cut a translucent bottle, pop in a LED tea light.

You can make a garden light from a plastic bottle in under 1 hour.  ( Instructables | Ruud )

Reuse plastic bottle to make an organizer

Love this organization hack and the gorgeous fabric added onto the bottle with Mod Podge. If you are concerned about hanging it directly on the plug, just hang it on the wall next to an outlet. ( Make it Love it | Ashley )

Upcycled plastic bottle crafts ideas

Make an enchanting lantern using a plastic water bottle and a piece of paper. Tutorial here.

Upcycled plastic bottle Christmas crafts

Upcycle plastic bottles to make some festive hanging star lantern Christmas decorations. Video tutorial below-

Plastic bottle crafts: make a bird house

This enchanting birdhouse is made from a soda bottle.

The adorable roof tiles are made from old CDs, which could also be cut-up plastic sheets. Video tutorial below-

Reuse plastic bottle to make a bird feeder

Bird feeders offer us wonderful ways to enjoy nature and make some feathered friends. You can make a simple bird feeder from an empty plastic bottle, juice container, or soda bottle in 10 minutes following this tutorial.

Soda bottle cat planter crafts

I will never look at a soda bottle the same way again! Ingenious! ( Bru DIY )

Plastic bottle watering can

I have this love for watering cans…. one can never have too many of them, right? ( A Journey To A Dream | Astra )

Recycled plastic bottle garden sprinkler ideas

To make this homemade sprinkler, you just need a clean empty 2-liter soda bottle, and a 3/4 inch female x 3/4 female swivel hose adapter. Via Clever Crafty Cookin Mama

Another option is to tape the hose to the bottle. Tutorial via Housing a Forest

Hang the plastic bottle sprinkler for more outdoor fun in the summer backyard. ( Original image source lost. Please let me know if you find it!)

No sew plastic bottle organizer case

Imagine going on a field trip, this would be perfect for keeping an art journal! ( Doodlecraft | Natalie )

Recycled plastic bottle chicken water feeder

The basin type waterer can get contaminated quickly by these active little cuties. Heather used sturdy plastic jugs ( like juice or vinegar jugs) and these easy to install Poultry Chicken Waterer to make some great hanging waterers. ( Scratch Cradle | Heather )

Recycled plastic bottle greenhouse

A very green greenhouse and a great way to reuse plastic soda bottles for your garden! ( Master Gardening & IzzyM )

Painted Bottle Passive Heating System

I LOVE the use of old jugs that have been spray painted black in this greenhouse.  They are filled with water.  During the day the water warms up, and at the night, they radiate extra heat inside the greenhouse!  ( Heather | How Does She )

Up-cycled soda bottle shade canopy

OK, most of us may not be ready to do this : named POP Culture, 1,500 recycled bottles with a bit of colored liquid in each bottle creating a magnificent parking canopy, it sure inspires us to see new levels of possibilities!  ( Garth Britzman )

Plastic Bottle Kayak

Merrily merrily… life is a dream. Plastic bottles and Liquid Nails Adhesive are all we need for a carefree day floating on a lake with a DIY kayak made from sports drink bottles.  ( Instructables | Jake )

Plastic bottle air conditioner

This inspiring design by inventor Ashis Paul offers an innovative way to draw cool air into homes using plastic bottles. His company have helped people to install these units- which don’t need electricity to function- in more than 25,000 households in developing areas of the world.

If you don’t want the up-cycled magic to end, check out 18 inspiring ideas for upcycled glass bottles and jars or these 21 DIY greenhouses with lots of recycled materials!