Ficus benjamina in a Pop Bottle Planter

Click on the photo to see this and other photos on Flickr

You can't see it but this 6 month old Ficus benjamina (Weeping Fig) with Ficus pumila (Creeping Fig) at the base is growing in a repurposed pop bottle planter just like this one. This is the only way I would recommend using clay pots for maintaining houseplants. 

This sub-irrigation method grows a healthier plant using less water and less of your valuable time. It is a green, sustainable method unlike drench and drain top watering which is wasteful in every way. Drench and drain top watering also increases your chances of producing fungus gnats and mold. 

My advice is to ignore the houseplant poke and pour (and pray) preachers. They're living in an ancient time. 

Incidentally, I don't know where in all of New York City that you could buy a Ficus benjamina plant like this one. Do you? 

Follow me and I'll help you grow your own...along with some delicious fresh vegetables next spring and summer. 

Comments

[Rodolphe]

I'm really starting to love the pop bottles... As far as ficus go, though, what's your preferred pot when the plant becomes too big for the bottle? Are you still recommending subirrigation then? With a diy double bucket maybe? While the pop bottle actually don't look bad at all, I don't know about the white stack buckets... :)

Cheers.