Has your old rain barrel become obsolete? That doesn't mean that you have to dispose of the container. Recycling is back in vogue and is not just limited to household litter. With the tips on this page on how to plant your water butt, your water butt will soon shine, or rather blossom, in a whole new light.
A rain barrel also makes a good flower pot
Which plants are suitable?
Both are suitable for planting a rain barrel
- crops and vegetables,
- ornamental plants
- as well as herbs
The latter prove to be particularly practical, since most spice plants only reach a comparatively low growth height. Vegetables such as tomatoes or peppers can also be grown in the water butt without any problems. Basically, the vessel corresponds to a conventional flower pot. For this reason, however, the plants must fulfill two important characteristics:
- no excessive root formation
- not too high a nutrient requirement
rooting
In contrast to normal tub cultivation, when planting in the water butt you cannot transfer the plants to a larger container. The volume of the bin must be sufficient for years to provide the rhizomes with enough space.
nutritional needs
In addition, the plants get less nutrients than when planting in the bed. If necessary, promote growth with a suitable fertilizer.
tips
Ornamental plants look particularly beautiful if you choose specimens with overhanging growth.
Requirements of the rain barrel
Most plants do not tolerate waterlogging. Therefore, before filling the substrate, remove the soil. This allows the irrigation water to seep away. At best, place your rain barrel on a permeable surface, such as a gravel bed.
Also make sure you have good stability. In most cases, however, this is automatically given by filling with the potting soil.
The location depends primarily on the preferences of the selected plants. However, your rain barrel should not be in too sunny a position, since massive heat radiation can damage the material.
tips
Your planted water butt looks even more beautiful if you disguise it as a stone.