DIY Grow Doubler 🫒 When Up Is Down & Down Is Up
First off, I would have to direct your mind's eye to the scenario of a mountain with an outcropping rock. You can imagine that under the outcrop there's a plant growing out from between the rocks. What do you think that plant is thinking?
trimmed drainage plate
At the beginning, the plant would have to shoot downward. It would get limited light, so then it would grow outward in order to overcome the fact that it is in the shadow, the one being cast by the rock. Then it would point upward to get sun and spout new leaves and flowers in the areas that are in the sun. And on it would grow. Not sure if any trees have done this but I did see bushy plants coming out from between rocks, which gave me an idea.
What you're looking at here is the bottom of the plant doubler. Need something to make sure the dirt doesn't fall out when this is upside down.
My first idea was a piece of thick rubber or like a place-mat that you don't need and can cut up, the kind you use for your dinner table. But then, I opted for a sushi roller. I cut a hole in the middle for the stem to go through. I trimmed this to fit on the inside of the pot.
Then of course, I got out the drill
Next, we turn the pot right side up and put our trimmed sushi roller inside the pot. After that, thread the roots upward into the pot and hold onto them.
Now, we simply hold the roots in the center where they would have been growing had it grown top down. Then we fill the pot with dirt.
Then we give it some water but the roots can rebind to the dirt around them.
The hole at the bottom, where the stem is now coming from, will also act as a drain so that you don't get puddling water inside your pot. And now he just left to look for something to put at the top section, thus having one pot hold two plants at the same time.
With a little bit of forethought, I knew that one day I would have to get the dirt out of this pot in order to harvest the potatoes. So I thought about it and looked for another plant in my garden that I would be harvesting at some point. Radishes also need to be pulled out of the dirt in order to obtain the fruit. So I planted a radish at the top. I pulled the radish out of one of my normal pots. One that is thriving. I did not disturb the root system when I planted it at the top side of this new project.
Here's a view of the finished product, messy floor and all.
Here's what it looks from the bottom. I expect the potato plant to do a you-turn and head upward to get sun.We'll see if it thrives. If so I will be doubling a lot of my garden like you see here. I live in an apartment and patio space is limited.
Would you do this? What do you think of the idea I would be interested in knowing your thoughts. Questions are welcomed of course. Till next time.