Converting indoor bathtub to an indoor garden

16 years ago

I have been struck with a zany idea that I'm hoping to get some advice on. I have a large garden tub (2.5' by 4') that I never use and I was thinking about turning it into an indoor garden. I could suspend grow lights from the ceiling and was going to line the tub with weed block and fill it up with soil. I am worried about soil going down the drain and was hoping that the weed block would prevent that from happening.

I am pretty new to gardening and have no idea if this would work, any advice or factors that I am not taking into account?

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
16 years ago
I'd be worried that the finish of the tub would be scraped, scratched, or otherwise damaged.

If you decide to do this, be SURE that you use a very coarse textured soil-less potting mix. You might want to add bark fines and perlite to your usual brand of potting medium.
lindac
16 years ago
In the right spot....would be wonderful! I know someone who had a corner tub by a glass brick wall that they never ever used....the cat's little box lived in the tub. Wound have been great as a planter!
I would line the bottom of the tub with nylon net or something similar and close the drain. Then I would put about 6 inches of plastic packing peanuts in the bottom of the tub, cover them with a cotton fabric ( I wouldn't use landscape fabric as it eventually becomes clogged with fine soil particles) and add a soil less mix on top.
Water very carefully...being careful not to over water, and it ought to be good for 5 years...before it needs to be cleaned out...ugh!
Ever think of doing a water garden in your tub?
Linda C
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I checked over here to see if divotdiva had posted anything about her new tub. I want one so bad, but my remodel has been delayed and may not happen until fall or even next year. When we do finally get to do ours, I may just line them up and have the upstairs baths redone too. I'd be happy to have that tub for one of them. Do you know Jason is the original Jacuzzi family? They sold the name and after a while got back into the trade with a new line -- Jason, for JAcuzzi and SON. They are not as well known a name, but they are good quality. The only concern I would have is the tub height, but that allows a decent bath where so many tubs are basically shower basins. Your guests can actually use the tub as a tub and not feel like they are in a kiddie pool brought indoors. Most of the things we have in our house have tradeoffs -- OMG, my ovens doesn't have a built-in rotisserie! Just kidding to make a point -- our grill has a rotisserie and I really couldn't see me needing one in the oven, but I still stopped and thought about it when we were making selections and it was the first thing that came to mind here. . Grab bars are a good idea, as is the curved shower curtain rod, regardless of the tub you use. If the step turns out to be a bit much, you might put a stool next to the tub so they can sit, scoot and swing their legs over. You might have to test a couple of step, stool or other ideas, but you will find a way. Worst case, would it really be so awful if your parents used your shower and you got to soak in the air tub? Yeah, definitely a First World problem, but you got a great deal on a very good tub you and your guests should be happy to have.
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Liz Margoshes
11 years ago
hi. This question was my question exactly! My tub is old cast-iron and just horrible disgustingly stained in some places. We tried epoxy paint but it came off. So now I want to do some kind of garden in there but there's not enough light and I don't want to stuff up the drain.

(As far as the light -- I have a shower curtain ring all around the tub, and no shower curtain, so I'm thinking I could hang utility lights on it somehow)

These are great suggestions. I'm wondering what a soil-less potting mix is, and if all plants can live in it? what should I look for? I assume you're not talking about something like perlite, which is a mess and I imagine could stuff up a drain as well as soil can?

As far as the possibility of a water garden -- it sounds great, but are you talking about putting the plants in containers filled with rocks, or filling the tub with rocks? I'm a little scared of keeping a tub full of water (we have waterbug-type cockroaches and are always exterminating)

Thanks for any suggestions made 5 years after original posts!
Rosemarie Mihal
2 years ago
I also have a garden tub that I never used. I love the idea of turning it into a literal garden, but rather than filling it with soil I decided to place one or two planks of live edge wood across the top of the tub. Then I put potted plants on the wood planks, on the ledge around the tub, and on the windowsill! It looks beautiful and I can move, add, or change the plants whenever I want without any problem. The steam from the shower is great for the plants, and the light from the window directly above the tub allows enough natural light to filter in. I love it!
HU-901643634
last year
Rosemarie Mihal would you kindly add a picture of your bath gatden?

Converting indoor bathtub to an indoor garden

Comments (5)

rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7

lindac

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