In a modern consumer society, all sorts of things can still be made from old materials, for example a greenhouse made from PET bottles. Despite the short lifespan of such a recycled building, it is sufficient for growing young plants in the spring and is a good example of ecological common sense.
How to build a greenhouse from PET bottles?
A PET bottle greenhouse can be built by collecting about 1,400 two-liter bottles, bamboo sticks, wooden beams and corrugated sheets. It is suitable for growing young plants in spring, but is not weatherproof and unsuitable for long-term plant cultivation.
It's not guaranteed to be completely waterproof, but the idea of building a greenhouse out of PET bottles is definitely viable as an occupational therapy healing method. In any case, such an unusual project is a worthy contribution to a sustainable and environmentally conscious way of life and is therefore typical of an allotment garden. However, before the material is collected, you have to collect it diligently for a while.
The raw material question is best solved collectively
After all, around 1,400 two-liter bottlesare used to build the greenhouse out of PET bottles measuring 1.50 by 2.00 meters. Collecting disposable bottles, such as water or cola, would be at least not an inexpensive solution for such a small house, given the lost deposit income of 350 euros. But still: the fun factor of these buildings is immense and their owners won't have to complain about astonished onlookers in front of the property.
You don't have to go to the hardware store to buy materials
Most of the utensils can be found either in nature or on the rummaging tables of flea market dealers. Because: If it's supposed to be recycling and sustainable building, then it's right. So ambitious eco-friendly people get one:
- PET bottles (without cap and the bottom is removed);
- Bamboo sticks that fit the diameter of the bottle neck (approx. 60 - 80 for the above size);
- Wooden beams (which are screwed together with angle connectors to form a frame);
- Roofing material (corrugated panels, light panels made of polycarbonate are ideal);
- Screws and nails;
Assembly of the house walls
The bottles threaded onto the bamboo sticks,as clean and transparent as possibleare individually nailed into a wooden frame on the top. For reasons of stability, a house wall can also be made from several frames, which are then screwed together to form a larger side part. It is now clear at the latest that a greenhouse made of PET bottleswill not be weatherproofand therefore an additional irrigation device for the plants is unnecessary.
The gardening benefits remain manageable
Primarily, owners of such an architecturally valuable building will have to be content with the fact that they can grow young plants in their greenhouse made of PET bottles during the spring months. It will probably be just as unsuitable for the frost-proof overwintering of exotic plants as it is for yield-oriented vegetable cultivation.
Tip
The best way to get to your destination faster is to mobilize a school class or the surrounding neighborhood to collect bottles. For external statics and an appropriate water balance inside the house, it is best to use bottles of the same size made of material that is not too thin.
