Start An Entire Garden With The Help Of Repurposed Milk Cartons

Instead of heading to the grocery store every time you need a head of lettuce or some herbs, try growing them yourself. Especially if you're regularly tossing empty milk cartons in the trash or recycling can, this gardening hack will save you time, money, and space. All you need to get started is a few milk cartons, some seeds, water, plant nutrients, and rockwool, the last of which is available online at Walmart for about $10. With these, you will be well on your way to creating your very own milk carton hydroponic garden that provides you with nutritious greens from it's spouts.

Traditional farming techniques rely on the availability of land and large amounts of water and often face problems outside of the farmers' control, such as variable weather and pests. Hydroponic gardening, where plants are grown in water rather than soil, helps solve many of the concerns that traditional farming faces. According to Princeton University, hydroponic gardening uses up to 90% less water, can grow three to 10 times more crops, and can completely eliminate the use of pesticides. While hydroponic gardening has many benefits, many farmers struggle with the cost of starting their own hydroponic farm. Even when starting your own at home, a small garden can set you back $40, while a large system can cost around $900. Luckily, this milk carton hack is both effective and affordable — not to mention it requires little to no maintenance.

Rather than throwing away your milk carton after using the last drop, thoroughly rinse out the carton and save it for this project. Then, decide what type of plants you want to grow. Leafy greens and herbs usually work well, but this list of plants you can grow in an indoor hydroponic garden will give you a good idea of what else you can try. Instead of buying seedlings at a nursery, germinate your own seeds right on the rockwool cubes or starter plugs, so you won't need to use any soil. This will also save you money, as six lettuce plants can cost you around $6, but a packet of 100 seeds costs less than $2 at Home Depot.

Fill the milk carton with water and add nutrients according to the manufacturer's instructions. Place the seedlings wrapped in some rockwool in the carton's spout so that only the plant's roots are moving towards the water. While this video uses a pool noodle for a growing medium, there are some concerns when using a pool noodle for hydroponic gardening, so using an alternative growing medium, such as inert rockwool, is a better solution. Finally, place the carton near a window, under a growing light, or outdoors, and watch your plants grow into a luscious garden you can use for all your favorite recipes. Check your cartons every so often to make sure your water levels are still good; otherwise, this garden will require little maintenance. As you collect more milk cartons, you can keep adding to your garden!

While this hack is both eco- and budget-friendly, a bunch of milk cartons around your house or garden may not be the most aesthetically pleasing. Consider taking a few moments before beginning the project to decorate your garden. Choose your favorite colors and paint the outside of the cartons with non-toxic acrylic paints, or use leftover magazines or newspapers to create a collage. You can also use some colorful washi or duck tape if you're not up to using paint or glue. 

Alternatively, choose a rectangular planter with walls high enough to cover the sides of your milk cartons. This will completely hide the milk cartons, so only you will know what your hydroponic garden is really made of. Taking a few moments to decorate your garden will allow it to fit better with your home, and while you're at it, consider making a milk carton home for birds, too!