Convenient Method To Overwinter Annuals

After wallpapering my bathroom this summer, I was deciding what to do with the container that is used to hold water to moisten the wallpaper. It hit me that a great way to reuse it would be for my annual cuttings. Rather than using 4-inch pots that I had lying around and would have to wash and sanitize, I decided to use styrofoam cups. I punched holes in the bottom for drainage, added the soil and cuttings. Then, using masking tape, I labeled them with the name of the plant. These fit nicely in the plastic wallpaper water container, allowing me to water the plants from the bottom and preventing the dilemma of how to keep my windowsill clean and free of moisture and mold. Also, with 5 or 6 cups per container I can move them quickly to another spot for better lighting. It took several of the containers to hold all of my cuttings, so I purchased a few more from my local hardware store. At $3.00 apiece, they're a bargain.

So this fall my windowsills are dirt and mold free and the plants are much easier to care for. The only question remaining is: Do the plants like styrofoam? If I have to, I can always go back to cleaning my 4-inch plastic pots that come with the annuals. They fit into the containers nicely as well.