The Genius Bottle Cap Hack That Makes Starting Seeds So Easy

It's reported that 55% of American households have a garden. Whether you're a seasoned horticulturist or just getting started, it's important to know all about the best garden hacks for an instant green thumb. This is especially true when starting seeds. Growing plants from seeds can save you money, along with other benefits. You may know all about the best way to start seeds indoors, but what if you're unsure how deep to plant them? When planted too close to the surface, you run the risk of insects eating them or inadequate moisture levels. Luckily, there's a genius TikTok trick from user @judybaogarden that creates the perfect amount of space for seeds, and you only need an old bottle cap and a plastic floss pick. You also need some glue to attach the two, the floss pick acting as a handle.

If you already use these flossing devices, save one the next time you're tending to daily dental needs. This works to reduce waste and repurpose items around the house. If you don't own floss picks, you can purchase them on Amazon for $4. You could even ask your dentist for a sample the next time you visit them. The best type of lid for this hack is a soda cap. Again, there's no need to purchase a soft drink for this trick — just save a lid from one of your bottles or ask a friend or neighbor to save one for you, keeping this hack affordable while reducing waste. 

All you need to do is take some hot glue and fill the inside of your bottle cap with enough to keep your floss pick suspended in place. The goal is for your pick to function as a handle, so be sure it's placed appropriately. You can even remove its sharp, pointy stem, as shown in @judybaogarden's TikTok video. These floss picks are thin plastic, so you could use scissors to trim them. 

If you don't have a hot glue gun — or floss picks — you can just use a bottle cap. The pick makes it easier to remove the lid from the soil but isn't imperative. The goal is to use the bottle cap as a measuring device, so a handle won't affect how deep you plant your seeds. But if you want a handle, any type of hard plastic works. For example, you could glue a plastic spoon into your bottle cap. Once you have the bottle cap assembled, you simply push it into the soil until it's level with the top. In each resulting hole, you then place your seeds and cover them with soil. How often you water these plant seedlings depends on whether they are indoor or outdoor plants, so be sure to keep this in mind as well.