Both Ficus bonsai style plants are growing in recycled containers. The one on the left is growing in potting mix, the one in the right in expanded clay pebbles.
In addition to learning how to grow plants in sub-irrigated planters (SIPs) with potting mix, we will also cover growing in expanded clay pebbles at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden SIP workshop on Wednesday.
Both methods are simple forms of hydroponics that do not require electricity and air pumps.
Can you identify the containers recycled into planters?
Both of these plants were propagated from cuttings bundled together. You can see the small cable tie on the hydroculture plant. The soil plant cuttings were wrapped with a small strip of duct tape. Eventually the cuttings will meld together into one trunk.
The only cost for these plants was the cost of the media. Everything else is free. For sure, the "drain hole people" do not like you knowing about this.