How to Make a Bottle Ecosystem

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Grow an entire living habitat using at-home supplies

Co-authored by Bess Ruff, MA

Last Updated: July 10, 2024 Approved

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Simple Ecosystem

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Complex Ecosystem

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Aquatic Ecosystem

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Expert Q&A

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Tips

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Things You'll Need

Making an ecosystem in a bottle is a fun way to learn about how plants and animals interact with their surrounding environment. You can monitor your ecosystem and record any changes that you notice on a daily basis. To create your own bottle ecosystem, you can try making a simple plant-based ecosystem, a more complex plant and water ecosystem, or an aquatic bottle ecosystem.

Things You Should Know

Cut off the top of a plastic bottle and fill it with 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) of soil.
Use a pencil to create 3-4 holes in the soil. Then place seeds like green beans in the holes. Sprinkle grass seeds on top, and water the soil.
Turn the top of the bottle upside down and fit it into the top of the bottle. Seal it with tape, and place the bottle in a sunny spot.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating a Simple Plant Ecosystem

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1
Cut off the top of the bottle. To make a bottle ecosystem, you will need an empty 2 quart (2 liter) plastic bottle. It is best to use a clear plastic so that you can see inside the bottle and make observations. Cut off the top of the bottle, about 2 inches below the neck.^{[1]
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- To ensure your cut is straight, you can put a piece of masking tape around the bottle and then cut along the edge of the tape.
- Ask an adult to help you cut the bottle. Use a pair of scissors or a utility knife to cut all the way around the top of the bottle.
- Set aside the neck of the bottle with the cap for later use.
2
Add soil to the bottle. Use a small garden shovel and add 2-3 inches (5-7 cm) of potting soil to the bottom of the bottle. Lightly tap the soil with your hand to help it settle. Make sure you do not press too hard because you do not want to pack the soil tightly.
- If desired, you can add ½ an inch of pebbles to the bottom of the bottle for drainage. This should be done before adding the soil, but is optional.
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3
Create small holes to plant your seeds. The depth of the holes will vary depending on the type of seed you are planting. It is recommended that you start by planting green beans. They are hardy seeds that should grow easily. Read the directions on your seed packet to know how deep to make the holes. Use your finger or a pencil to make the holes in the soil.
- If you are planting beans, the holes should be 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep.
- Make the holes near the edge of the bottle. This way you will be able to easily see the roots growing.
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Place the seeds in the holes. Once you have dug the holes, place one seed in each hole. You should be able to fit approximately 5-6 plants. Cover the seeds with dirt.^{[2]
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- Aside from beans, you could also try planting a variety of herbs, such as mint, basil, and oregano.^{[3]
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  Research source} You could even grow root vegetables, such as carrots or potatoes. Just make sure you provide enough soil for these plants to take root.
Then, place two pinches of grass seeds on top of the soil. Lightly cover them with dirt. If you would like, you can also try adding insects and worms to the ecosystem.
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Water the seeds. Prior to sealing your ecosystem, you need to water the seeds. Sprinkle water into the bottle. You want the soil to be damp, but not soaked. Let the water seep into the soil and then sprinkle a bit more. You want the water to fully permeate the soil.
- If you tilt the bottle and water runs up the side, you have too much water.
Now, take the top of the bottle with the cap and turn it upside down. Place it inside the ecosystem so that the neck and top of the bottle are hanging a few inches above the soil.^{[4]
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Seal with tape around the edges. In order to hold the top of the bottle in place, and to seal the ecosystem, you should tape around the edge of the bottle. This will attach the top of the bottle to the base.^{[5]
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- You will no longer need to add water to your bottle ecosystem.
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Place the ecosystem in a sunny spot. Now that the ecosystem is sealed, you should place it in a sunny spot. For example, a windowsill is a great place to keep your bottle ecosystem. The location should receive indirect sunlight for most of the day.
- You can also add a label to the base of the ecosystem with the date and identifying number. This way you can record notes and compare it with other bottle ecosystems that you make.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Constructing a Complex Ecosystem

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1
Cut one 2 quart (2 liter) bottle just above the base. Ask an adult to help you cut the bottle. Use a utility knife and cut a 2 quart (2 liter) clear plastic bottle, just about an inch (2.5 cm) above the base. The plastic near the bottom is usually quite thick and as a result, you may not be able to cut it with scissors.^{[6]
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- You can discard the small base of the bottle because it will not be needed.
- Place the top of the bottle with the cap to the side, for later use.
2
Cut a second 2 quart (2 liter) bottle just below the top. Make sure you have adult supervision. Take a second 2 quart bottle and cut all the way around the bottle just below the neck. You can use scissors or a utility knife to cut the bottle.^{[7]
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- Keep both pieces from this bottle. The base of this bottle will form the base of your ecosystem and the top will be used to as a cap to seal the ecosystem shut.
3
Drill a hole in the lid from the first bottle. Remove the lid from the first 2 US-quart (2,000 ml) bottle that you cut. Place the lid on a cutting board and then use a pair of pliers or a small handheld vice to hold the cap in place. Carefully drill a small hole through the center of the bottle cap.^{[8]
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- You should ask an adult to help with drilling the hole into the cap.
- Make sure to wear safety glasses when using the drill.
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Place a string or wick through the hole. Next, push a thick cotton string or long wick through the hole. Wicks can be purchased from your local craft supply store. The wick or string should be about 3-4 inches (7-10 cm) long.^{[9]
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- Screw the lid back onto the bottle.
- Set this piece aside for later use.
Now you will need the base portion of bottle. Fill the bottom of the bottle with water. You may need to experiment a little to find the exact measurement of water. If you have too much water the cap will be submerged and if you don't have enough water the wick will not be able to reach the water.^{[10]
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Make sure the string is submerged in the water, but the cap should not be touching the water. This string will collect water and help keep the soil above moist. This is how your seeds will get water once they have been planted.^{[11]
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Now, pour 3-4 inches (8-10 cm) of top soil into the bottle. Make sure that the string or wick is buried in the soil.^{[12]
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You can plant a variety of different seeds in your ecosystem. For instance, you could try green beans, basil, mint, oregano, peppers etc. Read the instructions provided on the seed packet to know exactly how deep to plant the seeds. Most will only be about an inch (2.5 cm) deep. Space the seeds out and record where you put each type of plant. This way you can monitor their growth.^{[13]
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Once you have finished planting your seeds, you should water them in order to help them grow. They will receive water from the base of the ecosystem, but it is a good idea to give them a bit of water at the start.^{[14]
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Take the remaining bottle top and place it on top of your ecosystem. Tape around the edge to seal it in place. You should also make sure that the lid is sealed on tightly.^{[15]
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Now that you have sealed your ecosystem, you should place it in a sunny spot. Record any changes that take place on a daily basis.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Making an Aquatic Ecosystem

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1
Fill the bottle ¾ of the way with water. Use a 2 quart (2 liter) plastic bottle and fill it ¾ of the way with water. You can either use water from a local pond or stream, or from the tap. Pond or stream water is preferable because you will also get small microorganisms that may be present in the water.^{[16]
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- If you have to use tap water, make sure that you let it sit in an open container for at least 24 hours before using in your ecosystem. The chlorine present in tap water may kill any animal or plant species that you add to your ecosystem. Letting the water sit for 24 hours gives the chlorine time to dissipate from the water.
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Add pebbles. Next, add 1-2 inches (2.5-5 cm) of tiny rocks or pebbles. You should always wash any rocks prior to adding them to your ecosystem. This will help remove any contaminants.
- At this stage you could also add one dead leaf. This will provide a food source for any microorganisms in the water.
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Insert aquatic plants. You can buy aquatic plants from your local pet supply store. When you add the plants to your ecosystem, make sure to separate them and add them individually.^{[17]
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- Alternatively, you could pick water plants from a local pond.
You can also purchase small freshwater snails at your local pet supply store. Alternatively, you may be able to find water snails from a local pond. Make sure the snails are small enough to fit through the opening of the bottle.^{[18]
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Once you have placed everything into your ecosystem, you should wait approximately 24 hours before sealing it closed. This will allow your ecosystem to settle. After 24 hours you can screw the cap onto the top of the bottle.
Situate your aquatic ecosystem in a sunny spot. The bottle should receive indirect sunlight throughout the day.^{[19]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What are good freshwater snails to put in the aquatic ecosystem?

Bess Ruff, MA
Environmental Scientist
Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

Bess Ruff, MA

Environmental Scientist

Expert Answer

There are a lot of freshwater snails available at local pet or aquarium stores. Good options include Gold Inca Snails, Ivory Snails, Japanese Trapdoor Snails, Mystery Snails, Nerite Snails, and Trumpet Snails.

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Question

For the aquatic part, can I use land plants as well?

Bess Ruff, MA
Environmental Scientist
Bess Ruff is a Geography PhD student at Florida State University. She received her MA in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2016. She has conducted survey work for marine spatial planning projects in the Caribbean and provided research support as a graduate fellow for the Sustainable Fisheries Group.

Bess Ruff, MA

Environmental Scientist

Expert Answer

It's best not to use land plants. Since land plants grow best in soil, they'll likely die in your aquatic ecosystem. You'll have better results if you stick to aquatic plants.

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Question

Will algae form in the aquatic ecosystem?

Community Answer

Yes. Algae spores are present, and exposure to the sun may cause algae bloom.

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Things You’ll Need

2 quart plastic bottles (1 or 2)
Scissors
Tape
Drill
Safety glasses
Cutting board
Pliers or a handheld vice.
Soil
Seeds
Water
String or candle wick
Pebbles
Aquatic plants
Snails

Tips

Record your observations daily and share them with friends or classmates.

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Try making multiple ecosystems and compare your results.

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Consider adding worms or insects to your ecosystem to see how they react with the plants.

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Warnings

When working with sharp scissors, you should always ensure that there is adult supervision.

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If you are using any bugs or animals in your ecosystem, make sure to take care and only remove what you need from their natural habitat.^{[20]
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