Hi, thought I would share my "experiment" with you. I just started so I don't know how well it is going to work. I am currently only using natural corks, not sure if plastic would work. I have one to three stuck into my containers about 2/3 down, depends on the size of the container. If the cork has moisture, they don't need water, if the corks are dry, they need watering. I started this about a week ago. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Nikki~

Although I haven't tried it myself, I saw in a catalog a wonderful idea for using wine corks. You glue them to a framed backboard - with any distinctive winery markings showing - & make a cork/bulletin board out of them!

I've heard of putting them on the top of bamboo or similar garden stakes, to prevent poking injuries while working in the garden.

Wine Corks? Hmmmm.

If ... you have so many wine corks that you are looking for a way to reuse them...and If you have enough to make a bulletin board...then maybe its time to find out what night your local AA chapter meets and post that meeting time on your new bulletin board. Then go to the meeting.

Hello...my name is Pete and I have a wine cork problem...

Pete (one day at a time) in Iowa

They're great for storing fish hooks in a tackle box.

Note: I am not a wine drinker.

I have read that old fashioned cork allows mold into the wine during fermentation. They use it because is breathes a little, but the mold is a side effect. But some say it lends an earthy flavor.

If you are using cork in the garden and are concerned about mold (in an indoor pot for instance) you can jostle the corks in some hydrogen peroxide to kill the mold. The peroxide dissipated pretty fast in open air, so you can air dry them before use :)

Thanks Vernonia. I'm glad you posted that info. I haven't seen any presence of mold "yet". My containers are all out on the balcony though. If I do see signs of mold at least I will have an idea where it may have come from!

Nikki~

Compost? Maybe?

Since we own a restuarant, we know many folks with wineries, and they recycle their natural corks into trivets, wreaths, and also run them thru the chipper for mulch.
Corks don't let mold into wine. The cork could be contaminated at a bottling facility and then, the wine can get "corked". It's not a earthy flavor, it's spoiled and you should send it back.

There is a resturant up here that has a wine cellar and outside of the resturant in the landscaping around the shrubs and trees they have used corks instead of mulch. It really looks kewl and I assume it's practical in the sense that they recycle what the clientele consumes.

You can compost the natural corks. Best to break them up though, as they are slow to break down.

Hot glue(or similar) them to the bottoms of pots for make-shift feet. I would cut them in half so they aren't so tall.