A helpful yet simple DIY for spring gardeners!

Every year my hubby and I use few of these in the spring, we use them to water our seed trays, just-up seedlings and house plants. They are so easy to fill, carry and pour, they don't leak or drip back down the spout like watering cans! The other handy thing about them is that you can make one with a super fine/gentle spray by using a small needle and one with a more substantial flow by using a bigger needle. I need one for my house plants so I'll be using a bigger needle for this DIY.

DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
No drips!
DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
Gather what you'll need, I recommend using lighter because you need to
reheat the needle every second time. 

DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
The needle I chose 

DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
Heat the very end for a few seconds


DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
Pierce the milk bottle lid, being careful not to get your fingers in the way! Reheat and repeat, remember
you can always add more holes after if there isn't enough water coming out. 

You might look at your needle when your done and be cursing me but its OK just heat the needle again and wipe it on some card or paper a few times and it'll be back shiny and clean!

DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
This is what mine looked like when I was done



DIY for up-cycled watering can from 'a journey to a dream'
Perfect for small house plants :)

We keep a 3ltr one in the greenhouse with a finer spray and this one in the kitchen, they last forever and when the bottle does get a bit old, just swap the lid to a new one! We go through so much milk in our house, I love it when we can re-use the bottles ourselves instead of sending them away to be recycled.

Happy spring gardening :)


***Edit/Addition Feb 2017***

If you like this idea and are thinking ahead to Spring I have another fab affordable offer you might like!

My business creates beautiful products to help you stay positive and we've made a printable GRATITUDE JOURNAL sheet that you can easily print over and over and use at home!





Here is the link to our Etsy listing. It is automatically available to download just after purchase. Easy-peasy!

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/512267305/gratitude-download-gratitude-printable?ref=shop_home_active_1



Posted by on
Labels: , ,

140 comments:

  1. What an awesome idea. Thanks!!!

    ReplyDelete

  2. That is an amazing idea - I love it!

    Philippa x

    ReplyDelete

  3. Great idea, Astra! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

  4. No problem guys! I'm really glad you like it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. That's brilliant! DEFINITELY making one!

      Delete

    2. Awesome! Im SO glad your making one :) Hope the instructions are all ok although it is pretty easy lol

      Delete

  5. This is genius! I was just thinking about buying a watering can for me and my little guy, but now I think I'll make two, one for me and a smaller one for him! Thanks for the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. No problem Christina/Tiffany :) It really is a great one for kids, less splashes than a watering can. Its so fun to hear people are making these all over the world now. I love your marble run idea by the way, I'll be making them for my pre school class for sure!

      Delete

  6. Brillian, brilliant idea

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Cheers Ali, glad you like it :)

      Delete

  7. Awesome! So clever and kind to the earth too. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks Carol, I do love a good recycling project!

      Delete

  8. This is so great. I was just about to go out and buy a watering can, but this is genius, so clever! I came here from Pinterest- thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Marci, glad my little project has inspired you! Pinterest is my new best friend lol It's the first time I've been pinned and its brought so many new people to my blog I love it!

      Delete

  10. Found on pinterest and lost my watering can this spring, going to do this today!!! :) Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Pinterest rocks! Glad my DIY is of use to you, thanks for commenting :)

      Delete

  11. What a great idea!! Saw this on Pinterest and I will definitely be trying it. It will also allow my daughter to be able to help water the plants!! Thanks!
    -Katie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks for dropping by Katie, Im sure your daughter will love getting involved with the watering! Far less spills than with a can too :)

      Delete

  13. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Replies

    1. OF COURSE! Thanks for asking but no need, the more people that are inspired to recycle their bottles the better in my opinion :)

      Delete

  15. Thanks for the great idea! Also, where did you find those cute herb containers?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hey nom nom! The herb pots were a gift from my sister for christmas, she finds all the wee hidden gems in charity shops and stashes them away for birthdays and christmases. Clever cookie :)

      Delete
  16. Replies

    1. Thanks very much - lovin your blog btw :)

      Delete

  17. Clever girl - I love it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks Dani, I'm guessing you need a bit of a larger scale watering system with your brilliant veggie FOREST lol are your underground pipes still working well a few months on?

      Delete

    2. Astra - they're working a treat :)

      Delete

  18. How clever...love the idea and my four year would would love this DIY watering can. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Glad you like it, I hope you daughter enjoys hers :) I love your little craft projects, especially the glasses case - so cute!

      Delete

  19. My brother did this years ago with a laundry detergent jug. He made the holes bigger and my niece (who was then around 6) would use it to water the flowers. She is 18 now! My brother rocks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Great minds think alike! Personally I'd worry about the laundry chemicals damaging the plants but I suppose after a good wash there wouldn't be much in it. Does your daughter still make them, that'd be cool!

      Delete

    2. Oh, that's a great idea! My 4-yo borrows my watering can all the time to "water" his toys, the driveway, etc. This weekend I'm going to make him his very own watering can out of a laundry detergent jug. Thanks for the inspiration!

      Delete

    3. No problem, Im sure he'll love having his own! That is so cute - watering his toys, i can picture it now :)

      Delete

  20. Found your blog on Pinterest, what a great idea! I will definitely be making me one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Brilliant, I'm so glad you're making one! I had such a good giggle with hubby just now while on your blog, 2 words, cinnamon. challenge.

      Delete
  21. Replies

    1. Thanks SMW, recycling projects are the best!

      Delete

  22. Brilliant!!! Love this so much:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Im so glad :) Thanks for commenting Andrea!

      Delete

  23. Fantastic idea Astra, I've passed it on to head gardener: Mr Sft x

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hey SFT, thanks glad you like it, hope its useful for Mr SFT :)

      Delete

  24. Awesome idea! I passed it on to some teacher friends...would make a great Mother's Day gift along with a pack of seeds that the kids could plant with their moms!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Oh great! that would be a lovely idea, they really are so easy to make. I was confused because you've just missed our mothers day over in ireland but of course there are a few different ones!

      Delete

  25. Love this idea and your love of Nelson Mandela!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Glad you like the Mandela background, its actually a length of south african made fabric which was a wedding gift from my family who live thier - i love it so much!

      Delete

  26. Thank you ...I was just thinking I had to run into town to get something to sprinkle my starters....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Oh great, glad my idea came in handy for you!

      Delete

  27. Genius! Thanks for sharing! SMiles, Jill

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Ah thanks Jill, had a nosey around your blog and i love your kids craft ideas :)

      Delete

  28. A-MA-ZING! So simple, it is brilliant! Can't wait to try this with the kids this weekend! We have so many milk jugs that we recycle, so why not make a couple into watering jugs.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I hope they enjoyed making them :) thanks for the comment!

      Delete

  29. Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. No problem Carole, really glad you liked it :)

      Delete

  30. So I tried this but I may not be as crafty as you are because my water just dribbles down instead of coming out nicely shower-style! Any ideas what I did wrong? It seems that it gasps for air after a little while too, do you have that problem? Love the idea, though, and I can't wait to get it right! I just started gardening on my apartment balcony and need a good watering can :)
    Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I am interested in her idea as well, this is the exact problem I have with using watering cans - either it drips out of the threads on my store-bought version or it dribbles down the bottom of the lid. I'm going to try the heated needle, because I think it might be the size of the holes. Did you use a small needle? I notice she has a fairly thick one.

      Delete

    2. It's a nice idea, but I think it isn't coming out very forcefully because there isn't another hole somewhere else in the jug to let more air into it as the water comes out.

      Delete

    3. Hi philippa, thanks for your comment id say though if you wanted the water to come out much faster or more forcefully than in the picture id recommend just pouring it out gently and save yourself the hassle lol if you're watering things altogether and would prefer a continuos flow id make a mall breathe hole like mentioned below but the size of the container and the holes are really for seedlings and little plants that need a gentle spray.

      Delete

  31. Hi Val and Anne, I think a few things can add to the dribbles.

    - Having the holes too close together because then the water can 'stick together' and dribble down.
    - Having holes too small then the water comes too slowly and so it has time to 'stick together'
    - Not heating the needle is a big one, if you heat the needle and it melts through it creates a smooth surface for the water to shoot out of but if you just pierce it you create a hole with a (microscopic) rough edge which will encourage the water to cling to it and then dribble down

    I hope these tips help, probably should have put them in the main post... Let me know how you get on :)

    P.S Val, since mine's for indoor pots i just hold it upright after each pot and it sucks in the air, if you wanted to have a continuos stream just melt a small breathe hole at the top of the handle. Good luck with your balcony garden!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks so much for the extra tips here! I made one of these several years ago, and it dribbled and made a mess. I see where I went wrong given your tips here. I might have to try again given the season for starting seeds!

      Delete

    2. Hi amanda glad the extra tips helped, best of luck with your spring garden :)

      Delete

  32. Love it, Astra! Thank you! I've also made one with a large liquid laundry soap container. The lid is much thicker, so I had to make holes with a power drill instead of a needle. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Mom the builder, thanks for sharing my idea on your blog :) Im looking forward to seeing that play frame your gonna build, you seem very industrious! I'll definitely be keeping up with your projects, they're right up my street :)

      Delete

  33. I LOVE THIS IDEA!! and your planter holders! I have the same but for my coffee sugar and tea :) Would love to know where you found those :)

    Micia

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks Micia, my sister actually found them for me in a charity shop! They are super cute hey?

      I love your cards btw, really nice :)

      Delete

  34. Super great idea!!! Found you on Pinterest, too!

    It would also be cute with little individual smaller milk bottles for little hands to lend a hand in watering~

    Thanx for sharing!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. yeah definitely, it seems to be a really popular idea for kids and I hadn't even thought of that! Thanks for your comment x

      Delete

  35. Such a great idea, my kids have been doing this now! Can't believe I dodn't think of this! Shared it on my blog yesterday,

    http://myhandcraftedhome.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/one-day-monday-kids-activities.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks so much and your blog is lovely, loved the bird box idea you featured too!

      Delete

  38. Such a fabulous idea tht I had to try it out myself!!! Loved it!! To think I've been without a watering can for so long that I could have just made one myself! Brilliant idea!

    I linked to you from my own blog, and tried to recreate your fun craft!
    http://www.nickiwoo.com/2012/04/something-i-found-on-pintrest-diy.html
    Thanks for sharing!!! Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thats awesome, you did a great job! Looks like you'll get lots of use out of it with your lovely garden. Thanks for the link love too :)

      Delete

  39. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

  40. What a fabulous idea. One of those that poses the question, 'why didn't I think of that'? lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Haha I get those moments all the time too! I love the simple, useful DIY projects :) Glad you like it, thanks for commenting

      Delete

  41. Genius! I'm featuring your simple and incredibly SMART watering jug today. Thanks so much for being so intelligent! : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. LOL thank you so much Laurel and thank you for featuing me, I hope your readers liked it! :)

      Delete

  42. Thank you so much for this helpful tip. I didn't have a spare needle, so I used a couple of push pins and a lighter. It did sort of melt the bottom plastic of the push pin, so I had to be careful not to touch it. I put the milk cap on one of my kids' bibs so I just had to punch the lid with the push pin. It works great! I noticed too that if I squeeze the jug a little, I can increase the water pressure. THANK YOU!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Cool, I like your improvisation and your so welcome! I'm glad you like it :)

      Delete

  43. Well if that just isn't the best idea ever! I had to buy some watering cans for school this week but think I just might make a few of those instead.

    ReplyDelete

  44. Amazing idea and I have linked it on my blog. Hope you wont mind it and incase you do please let me know and I shall have it removed.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Of course i dont mind, thank you so much for sharing my idea :) the more people recycling the better! glad you liked it enough to share :)

      Delete

  46. I love your SA Madiba ShweShwe in the background!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. thanks di, I love it too! It was a wedding gift from my SA family - going to make a baby sling from it soon :)

      Delete

  47. This is so great. I made little ones for my kids! Not sure if you know but this person is using your picute on FB, with no credit to you.

    http://www.facebook.com/gettingstarted/#!/photo.php?fbid=422672327776067&set=a.422628484447118.96305.313496135360354&type=1&theater

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thats great TFP, hope your little ones like them :)

      Delete

  48. I would love to feature this on Reduce, Reuse, Upcycle. Feel free to stop by and grab a featured button. Thanks!

    Great idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. thanks for sharing rachel, hope your readers liked it :)

      Delete

  50. I loved this idea and already made one! You inspired a blog on my brand new website! Thanks so much!

    http://onesweetthing.weebly.com/blog.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. thats awesome! I love your diy tutorials, really good x

      Delete

  51. Love your blog and how you upcycled plastic bottles and so I featured you in my roundup of plastic bottle crafts here. Feel free to check it out if you want and hope you like it! : )

    -Mel the Crafty Scientist

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks mel thats awesome, some other great ideas too :)

      Delete

  52. Where did you get the Nelson Mandela mud-cloth? Love It. Also, love the water bottle. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. HI, thanks for your comment, the material was a wedding gift from my SA family, its called shwe shwe - going to make a baby sling from it soon :)

      Delete

  53. Excellent tip :) It goes right along with a blog post I wrote a couple weeks ago, so I linked to your blog. Just wanted to let you know!

    Thanks
    Jodie
    http://sewing-chick.blogspot.com/2012/11/save-water-with-upcycled-milk-jug.html

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks sewing chick! love your blog btw :)

      Delete

  54. Thanks for posting. I have an anti-deer/rabbit mixture that I was spraying on my plants to keep them from being mauled by my neighborhood deer & rabbits, but the sprayer kept getting clogged. I usually make the solution in milk jugs anyway, so all I would need to do is screw on the cap with holes and then replace the cap when storing the solution.

    ReplyDelete

  55. I have tried doing this, my problem with it, is when I want to water my garden the bottle acted as though it wasnt getting the oxygen pushing down to let the water come out without GULPING. it would pour GULP pour GULP, making it difficult, do you have any tips to prevent this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi MelieMel, My initial thought is that there is too much water coming out, it shouldn't gulp... Maybe try fewer holes or it might be the bottle, is it flexible? our milk bottles sink in at the sides so you only have to let it take air once in a while. More a dripping problem heres what i wrote before
      - Having the holes too close together because then the water can 'stick together' and dribble down.
      - Having holes too small then the water comes too slowly and so it has time to 'stick together'
      - Not heating the needle is a big one, if you heat the needle and it melts through it creates a smooth surface for the water to shoot out of but if you just pierce it you create a hole with a (microscopic) rough edge which will encourage the water to cling to it and then dribble down
      hope that helps x

      Delete

  56. Thanks for great idea! I linked it on my recycle- upcycle blog! (http://freshtrashplace.blogspot.com/)

    Have a nice day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. I love your blog! its awesome! thanks for sharing it x

      Delete

  57. I love this idea! I just pinned it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Thanks kelly, glad you like it!

      Delete

  59. The girls and I still use this in our vegatable garden, thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. thats awesome! they really do last hey?

      Delete

  60. I love that it controls the flow of water! I can fill back to back over and over bottles of water, but this seems like it makes it last! Thanks!!!

    rebecca at
    http://thisfineday.com

    ReplyDelete

  62. Thanks for the great idea! It's much more elegant than my original plan to hack a hole in the top with a box knife, lol. I shared your post on my own fledgling blog at http://theexperimentalgarden.blogspot.com/2013/09/milk-jug-watering-can.html :)

    ReplyDelete

  63. Hi - just came across this post, and I love it! I run a not-for-profit organisation called The Greening Project in perth, WA where we connect kids with nature through growing plants from seed to create gardens of happiness! I have been battling with getting the watering system they use - good old watering cans are a bit rough on newly-planted seeds and seedlings. This is a great idea for them to get the gentle waterflow happening! Thank you! :) For Your Interest: www.thegreeningproject.org :) and p.s. I'm an ex-Saffie too! x

    ReplyDelete

  64. What a great idea! We made this today and wrote about it, have linked to this page. Thank you

    ReplyDelete

  65. You've done great job! Thank's for sharing such useful materials! Keep up working, and have a nice mood! http://best-essays.co.uk

    ReplyDelete

  66. Can also use smaller drill bits. Leave the lid on the jug or bottle will drilling & since out when done.

    ReplyDelete

  67. Awesome idea! I was just looking to buy a watering can the other day... this is such a fantastic idea! Thank you, I'll be making a smaller one for indoor plants and a 3litre for my outdoor pot plants!

    ReplyDelete

  68. Like the saying goes, any idiot van make things complicated. It takes a genius to keep things simple.
    Genius! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

  69. Brilliant.(I knew of using a bottle but you took it a notch higher with creating the holes in the cover).I'll never buy another watering can again.

    ReplyDelete

  70. Brilliant, simply brilliant!

    ReplyDelete

  71. Brilliant, simply brilliant!

    ReplyDelete

  72. Genius...do not know why I didn't think of that...have been looking for the old fashioned water sprinklers, you insert in bottles for ironing... guess I'm dating self...ha!!! once again genius...thx

    ReplyDelete

  73. how come the water won't come out? I used a gallon plastic container of orange juice (drilled holes), but there's no pressure so that water will come out.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    1. Hi Mercy! Hmm thats a odd one, is the container very strong? As in its hard to squeeze or press the sides in? If so that would stop it flowing nicely :( the bottle I used is quite thin plastic so when tipped the sides can dip in as the water flows out - I hope that makes sense! x

      Delete

  74. Hi Astra! I did this trick with a plastic oil jar, which is hard enough to squeeze. It's problem is water is not coming out smoothly. Every time I need to do "up & down" while watering. Please help.

    ReplyDelete

  75. This is a really simple idea that is positively brilliant. Congratulations in bringing this to our attention. Bless you

    ReplyDelete

  76. Hello, i think that i saw you visited my blog so i came to “return the favor”.I am trying to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!! norlog pond

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving a comment - it's really appreciated and I always reply :)

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...