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Toilet Gardener

video Toilet Gardener

This is a video of me making a prototype for the Toilet Gardener, a planter that replaces the cover to your toilet reservoir, pulling moisture from the tank and making watering unnecessary.

For the prototype, I used a plastic seeding tray, but I think if someone produced a porcelain equivalent, sold along with a seed kit etc. (like the chia pet), they could make a lot of money.

I used grass seed, but the ideally the planter would grow herbs etc. creating a living potpourri.

To read more about this idea visit ideasbychuck.com.

24 comments

Jan 8, 2010. 7:24 PMRainh2o says:

You dont have to worry about the tank being sucked dry and not being able to flush, the refill mechanisim should automatically refill the toilet when the water level drops the float down in the tank and refill the tank for you. Sort of like a small leak in the flapper valve, the water will leave but be replinished every so often...

Jan 8, 2010. 7:26 PMRainh2o says:

Oh...and I woulndt recommend planting eatable plants in this just in case someone flushed the toilet without the lid down, you could get some pretty nasty ecoli growing along with your herbs....regular plants would be good to go though!

Oct 20, 2011. 10:30 AMadagna says:

I think its more likely to be fecal coliform bacteria not e coli that you would have to be most concerned with. Watch the Mythbusters episode on the toilet myth. Toilet seat up or down or even in a closed medicine cabinet fecal coliform bacteria gets on everything anywhere it is in a bathroom. They actually found that the toilet seat was the "cleanest" ie least colonies of bacteria in the bathroom. Of course if you are scared of fecal coliform bacteria then I suggest living in a bubble... its literally everywhere on everything you touch throughout your everyday life.

But yes, I definitely agree definitely no edibles in the bathroom please!

Jun 3, 2011. 10:12 PMcsantiago3 says:

Well this gave me enough curiosity to make me go and see how a toilet works at 1am, basically your idea is really good but I'm gonna try to make this in a different way, I will definitively post a pic if I do it! thnks for the idea <3

May 1, 2011. 3:22 PMmrati says:

Why not turn the cover over and use it to plant? It could be secured with denture adhesive and hand watered. After all, the water is right there. Catch some as your washing your hands.

Apr 19, 2010. 8:31 PMTHYMETOCHAT says:

Interesting idea! You won't grow much without good lighting, so I'm curious what you've planned for lighting.

Mar 20, 2011. 9:39 PMEddieDigits says:

I really want to try this, but I would need to use extra lights as there is only one small window in my toilet and it would defeat the purpose to need to turn the light on and off.... might as well just water plants outside.

While I write this, I'm thinking maybe if I use some reflective sheets to push more light into the toilet window. It would only take one well positioned sheet and might also mean I wouldn't have to use the light in the very early morning.

Another idea would be to recycle an old cistern using this idea to plant outside with a prebuilt automatic watering system, removing the health concerns.

Dec 8, 2010. 4:50 PMrendermatt says:

How did this work out chuck?

Dec 1, 2010. 11:33 PManibioman says:

i really want to do this but i dont think my roommates would like it...

Aug 23, 2010. 3:16 AM

Nostalgic Guy says:

An interesting idea as a way of introducing a natural perfume into the lavatory but I would under NO CIRCUMSTANCES grow anything edible in it. I watched an episode of Mythbusters a couple of years ago that dealt with the aerosol effect of flushing lavatories, even with the lid down & with the subjects in an adjoining bathroom fecal coliform bacteria was still found. Imagine what would get on it with the plants right above the bowl!!!!!! I think it would be best to stick to something that just smells nice guys :-)

Nov 22, 2010. 9:39 AMdowngrade says:

A) I wouldn't trust myth busters, B) The water in the tank is clean fresh water and in a sealed container, and then you wash the plants (as the stuff you buy from the market has been OUTSIDE where all sorts of animals, insects, and others have done their buisness..)

You might not do it, but that doesn't mean it is a bad idea.

Apr 25, 2010. 10:44 AMlil jon168 says:

i would suggest a hair cut and a shave!

Nov 1, 2010. 8:36 AMbijikenyot says:

lol
:D :D

Jun 9, 2010. 6:05 PMmrdepo96 says:

no. He would never had made a toilet garden without it.

May 20, 2010. 7:55 AMAzayles says:

Rubbish! That beard is amazing, one to be proud of :D

Dec 30, 2009. 9:46 AMvrkelley says:

Great idea! I've tried various wicks (without toilet). The wick usually doesn't give good coverage to the corners. Your diagonal approach may solve that.

How thick is the wick AND what is the total length that you are spanning across the bottom of the container??

Jan 3, 2010. 3:56 PMideasbychuck (author) says:

The holes for this one are basically in the corners. I think it goes about 18 inches across the container. The sashing is probably a quarter inch.

I think the major factor with this is going to be they types of plants. This might prove to be the perfect growing environment for certain orchids.

I really look forward to hearing back from anyone else that gives this a try.

Dec 30, 2009. 12:53 PMJackieOsGlasses says:

I was thinking thta this would be such a cool way to have some green in the bathroom, but then I remembered that my toilets flush with a top button. Got any idea how to do it and not cover the flush buttons for a dual flush?

Jan 3, 2010. 3:49 PMideasbychuck (author) says:

Man, I have never even looked inside that kind of toilet. Maybe you could put two smaller trays on either side of the button, and build some sort of custom cover for the button section with a hole in it for the button.

Dec 29, 2009. 6:49 AMScott_Tx says:

If you could plant on the seat then it would get fertilized too!

Dec 29, 2009. 7:42 AMideasbychuck (author) says:

Maybe you can work on a design for that.

Dec 28, 2009. 6:23 PM

AngryRedhead says:

This is certainly an intriguing concept. I'm VERY curious about the results. I love a low-flow, gravity-fed toilet, so I can't test it out myself.

Dec 28, 2009. 10:27 PMideasbychuck (author) says:

It seems to be going well. I will probably post an update at the end of January.
I hope some other people try it out.

Dec 29, 2009. 6:07 AM

AngryRedhead says:

Maybe if you gave some instruction on how to recess a container into the tank or make one that recesses? That way it's replacing the toilet lid (a bit more securely) and taking advantage of the tank water. Even if you have to water it every now and then, it's still pretty darn interesting especially if you consider the fish tank toilet tanks you can buy.