How to Build an Easy Vertical Garden

A plastic hanging shoe organizer designed to be hung on a closet door can be used for a vertical garden. It is quick and easy to install but make sure it is installed securely. Moist potting soil and plants will make it quite heavy. Use a plastic shoe organizer as opposed to canvas. The canvas type is generally not waterproof and will quickly stain. Small houseplants, herbs and even some vegetable plants can be grown in a shoe organizer. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1

Determine where the vertical garden should be located based on what will be grown in it. Most houseplants prefer an area that receives bright indirect sunlight. Herbs and vegetable plants generally need six hours of direct sunlight each day. Do not install the shoe organizer near drafty windows, doors or heating and cooling vents.

2

Use a stud finder to locate the wall studs where the organizer is to be hung. Measure 6 feet up from the floor along two studs and make a small mark with a pencil indicating where the screw or nail will be driven into the stud. Use a level to make sure the two marks are at the same height.

3

Hold the shoe organizer up on the wall. Line the top of the organizer up with the pencil marks. Make sure it is centered evenly over the pencil marks. Drive two screws or nails through the organizer into the wall studs. Drive a third screw or nail in at the top center of the organizer. The organizer may also be hung from a sturdy curtain rod, screw hooks or on the back of a door if preferred.

4

Puncture each shoe pouch at the bottom two or three times with the tip of a sharp knife or fine-pointed scissors for drainage. Place a wallpaper tray on the floor below the organizer as a drainage catch basin. Fill each pouch one-half to two-thirds full with a houseplant potting mix. Make sure the potting mix contains perlite, vermiculite or coarse builder's sand for improved drainage.

5

Remove a plant from its container and place it in a pouch. Cover its roots with additional potting mix, making sure the top of the mix is 1/2 to 1 inch below the top edge of the pouch. Continue transplanting the plants into the pouches until they are all full.

6

Water each plant. Continue to water the plants as necessary, depending on their requirements. Check the soil with a finger before watering each time to make sure the soil is not too wet.