My landlord had thrown out some kitty litter containers. Now instead of going to the recycling center, I snagged them. These kitty litter containers are perfect to re-purpose into a container garden! Not only did they previously hold food grade safe material, they are around 5 gallons in total volume, which can support the growth of most plants. Let me show you how to grow vegetables in this container.
To start, we remove the lid from the container. The shorter half doesn't come off so easily, but using your foot as leverage, you can get the lid to come loose.
The container needs drainage holes to ensure plants don't rot from excessive watering. I used a drill with a 1/4" drill bit to make a few holes through the bottom.
To help with drainage, I put a small layer of pebbles in the bottom. I rinsed these pebbles to remove any dirt.
Now it is time to fill the containers with soil. Funny enough, one of the bags of soil looked like it had some worms go through it as it looked rich with worm castings.
Finally comes the time to transplant the peppers. I'm planting one Serrano Pepper and one Anaheim Pepper. Two plants came with my Anaheim Pepper when I bought it, so I split the two plants apart before I transplanted.
Once these plants get established, I'll snip the tops so they'll grow bushier.
And that's how easy it is to re-purpose a kitty litter container to grow vegetables.
FAQs
Like to garden? Turn those empty cat litter buckets into containers for your flower, herb, and/or veggie garden. What is it? Polypropylene (PP) is somewhat stiff but less brittle than some other plastics.
Can you use cat litter in plant pots? ›
The experts said: “Kitty litter is a great bulb plant soil since it provides the conditions the plants need to thrive: well-draining soil that allows excess water to exit, but holds enough to keep the bulb from drying out, and sufficient air pockets for oxygen.”
Can you put clean cat litter in the garden? ›
After removing any solid waste, you can safely compost the rest of the litter and use it for ornamentals, flowers, shrubs or lawn after at least six months to a year. When composting litter you will want to make sure that is made from 100% plant-based material, such as okocat.
What are the best vegetables to grow in containers? ›
Some of the more popular container crops are salad greens, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, beans, chard, beets, radish, squash, and cucumbers. More challenging crops include melons, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The key is to experiment. Look for “bush” or “dwarf” varieties of the crops you want to grow.
How do you turn cat litter into fertilizer? ›
Buy or build a compost bin and add a layer of sawdust, soil, or brown leaves at the bottom. Pour a layer of used cat litter on top. Cover the cat litter with a one-inch layer of sawdust, soil, or brown leaves. Repeat this process and feel free to add other compostable materials such as fruit or vegetable waste.
Can I use cat litter instead of perlite for potting? ›
C is for CAT LITTER perhaps surprisingly, cat litter is popular in cactus and succulent growingn cirlces as a substitute for grit or perlite. You need to get the right one though - a non-clumping type made from moler or calcined clay.
Why can't you put cat litter in compost? ›
Many types of modern cat litter contain silica, which, although not harmful to cats, takes a long time to degrade after it's been thrown away and can't be composted at home. Some litters are marketed as 'flushable', but evidence suggests this can cause environmental damage.
Can you mix cat litter with potting soil? ›
Hand-mixing your soil and cat litter together in a large bowl is the most straightforward way to get the task done. This is one important reason why going dust-free is essential — the transfer of the mix from the bowl to the pot will go much more smoothly and will create less of a mess to clean up later.
How to neutralize cat feces in soil? ›
When you notice feces, remove it and the soil it's touching. It's a good idea to put it in a plastic bag and dispose of it in your garbage can. Cat urine should not pose a problem for your soil, unless there is a large quantity in a small area. Then, use plenty of water to dilute it in the soil.
Does cat litter break down in soil? ›
Clay litter isn't biodegradable, so you can't compost it. Also, manufacturers frequently make this product using strip-mined clay, which damages the environment. As a result, clay litter is a poor choice for pet owners who want to use a sustainable litter.
Cat poop will take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to properly decompose under the soil, depending on the weather conditions, of course. Just be careful using this approach if you also own a dog since they love to dig things up that usually shouldn't be dug up. You'll probably need to dig a deeper hole if this is the case.
Can I plant tomatoes and cucumbers next to each other? ›
Cucumbers and tomatoes can be planted by each other as they share similar growing habits and therefore you can grow tomatoes by cucumbers. Greg Volente from Greenhouse Today explains that: 'Cucumbers and tomatoes are two vigorous growers in a spring garden.
Are kitty litter buckets food grade? ›
Expert Response. You should never use containers that are not food grade to store food. Kitty litter containers would NOT be considered food grade. So, even if you scrubbed and sanitized them, the plastic used to make them may have chemicals that are not considered food grade.
Is cat poop good fertilizer for vegetable garden? ›
Cat feces contain two and a half times the amount of nitrogen as cattle manure and about the same amount of phosphorus and potassium. They also contain parasites and disease organisms that present significant health risks. Therefore, composting cat litter and its contents may not be a good idea.
Can you put soil in a cat litter tray? ›
If you do fill the litter box tray with potting mix or soil, be aware that it does 'track' through the house, so placing washable 'furry' mats or rubber mats around the tray at the exit point should keep the litter in its proper place.
