Horticulture specialists have endorsed an unusual August garden hack: burying upturned wine bottles filled with water. The trick lets holidaymakers and anyone who wants to relax let their plants draw moisture on their own.
To use the method, fill a bottle with water and pour a little onto the area of soil you want to irrigate. Then place your thumb over the opening and push the bottle upside down into the soil, ideally at an angle so water can be released more easily. Make sure the bottle is not wobbly.
Check for bubbles after an hour
About an hour later, return to the bottle and check for one or a couple of bubbles in the neck. This suggests it is working as designed.
Home and hospitality expert Martha Stewart writes that the method "not only repurposes empty bottles but also ensures your plants receive a consistent supply of moisture".
How the vacuum keeps plants watered
Rachael Kemery, a grower and botanical artist at Rising Iris Farm, explains that when the bottle is inverted into the soil, a vacuum forms inside its neck. This naturally holds the water back and, as the soil begins to dry out, creates "gentle suction that draws out just the right amount of water".
The vessel that once contained red, white or rosé wine therefore acts like a "drip irrigation system", keeping the soil "evenly moist" and removing the worry of under or over-watering.
Gardener's balcony test
A few years ago, a gardener took to Reddit to ask for advice. They wrote: "I'm growing tomatos on my balcony this year. So far it's going well, but the plant needs almost daily watering in the summer heat. There will be a 2 week period in early August when neither me nor my partner will be home to water it. We can probably find someone to water them 1-2 times a week, but not everyday... Does anyone have experience with keeping tomato plants alive in these situations? I've seen some tutorials online for DIY irrigation with a large plastic bottle, but I'm unsure if that would actually work."
Someone replied: "Maybe put in a few terracotta watering spikes with wine bottles that the person can refill. I’d recommend getting them soon and trying them to see how long they can go before they need to be refilled."
Another person added: "I’ve done this and it works pretty well! Combining this with a nice large pot and a big soak of water before hand will give them a good chance!"
