Why is it smart to put corks in plants? Admittedly, that sounds a bit strange. But it’s actually a real insider tip for flower pots. That’s why I’ll now explain to you why I finally adopted this technique for my plants. It was my Uncle Thierry, who is a gardener, who told me this secret. And the best part is that it’s natural and completely free.
Here are 6 tips on how to reuse corks in flower pots.
1. Corks are used to drain the earth
Green plants hate having their feet in water. Unless you’re a master at metered watering, you’ll have to come up with something else. And this solution goes through the drainage of the potting soil. The most popular trick is to add gravel or clay balls to the bottom of the pot. But that’s not cheap. And personally, I prefer to collect useful things. So I collect the corks from wine bottles. And I put them at the bottom of flower pots. What is the advantage? First of all, they are 100% natural and 100% free, and that’s great. The other advantage is that they are light. And even when they are soaked with water, they are not heavy. The pots remain easy to move. No more roots standing in water and plants rotting.
2. Use corks as ground cover
Do you know the mulching system? It’s this technique that involves covering the soil with wood chips to retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing. This is especially useful in summer when it is very hot, or in winter to protect the roots from the cold. The other day I needed to protect the soil in my planters from the cold snap… but I didn’t have the money to buy mulch at the garden center. So I cut open all the corks I had saved. After slicing them, I placed them on the potting soil at the base of the plants. The result was a mulch made from 100% recycled material. This also works for houseplants. And don’t worry! As the cork gradually decomposes, it also serves to improve the soil.
3. Turn the corks into a mini pot
There’s nothing cuter than an offshoot of a green plant in a mini flower pot. This is an activity that I enjoy doing with my children. Simply dig out the cork to create a small hole that is at least 1cm deep. Fill it with soil and place the small plant inside. This looks super pretty and is a great gift idea. Plus, it’s really easy to make!
4. Or as a Christmas floral decoration
Similar to the trick with the mini pots, you can also make pretty party decorations with corks and pine branches. Dig out the cork to create a small hole about 1cm deep. Fill it with florist moss and insert small sprigs of fir or holly. This can look very nice on a banquet table in front of every plate. For a nice finish, paint the cork gold or wrap it with ribbon.
5. Make a dripper to water flowers
When you go on vacation you don’t know how to water your plants. And there is no question of letting them slowly wither away. Luckily, it’s super easy to make a little drip. Pierce the cork vertically to create a fairly thin hole. Then fill a glass bottle with water and close it with the pierced cork. Turn the bottle upside down and place it on the flower pot. The water will gradually flow into the soil and provide moisture to your plants. No more stress when you go on vacation.
6. Set up a terrarium
Terrariums have become very fashionable recently. Whether you keep small animals or just plants in it, it’s like a mini jungle at home. To recreate a tropical ecosystem in a terrarium, you need a lot of things – and they are often very expensive. But why not recycle the cork to add a little extra volume to the bottom of the glass. This can also make a very nice decoration. What is the advantage? It is that the cork will preserve the moisture necessary for the good living conditions of tropical plants. Better yet, your roots will be able to penetrate this substrate easily. And finally, its insulating effect preserves the heat that is important for tropical animals and plants. Make sure you choose untreated cork, especially if it comes into contact with reptiles.