Gardener's hack saves money on filling pots using the one supply you don't know what to do with

One of the biggest expenses gardeners have, especially if they have a container garden, is potting mix.

The cost adds up the bigger the containers get and the more you have, especially if you want the best possible quality potting mix.

Thankfully, there are some ways to reduce the amount of soil you need by using a gardening supply you likely have a huge stash of and aren't doing anything with.

Watch the video above.

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Gardener Emma Jo shared this pot-filling hack in a TikTok video, urging those who viewed the video to "steal my porch pot secret".

The hack requires a bunch of the smaller plastic pots that garden centres and nurseries put seedlings and plants in.

This is handy given the large collection of these pots that tends to pile up when you're a gardener. While some stores will take old clean pots back for reuse or recycling, this hack saves you a trip and puts them in use straight away.

"Stuff a few old plastic plant containers into the bottom of your planters (about halfway up), add soil and plant your flowers on top," Emma Jo explained in the caption.

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The hack isn't just helpful for saving money, it also makes containers less heavy or as Emma Jo says, "makes the pots actually liftable without throwing out my back."

Those who came across the gardening hack were impressed and keen to try it.

"The best part of this is being able to use those tiny pots for something too I have them everywhere," one said.

"This one video just solved at least 4 of my problems," a woman commented.

"Such a good idea!" another wrote.

Plastic nursery pots aren't the only thing you can use to help fill up containers and pots. Other ideas were suggested in the comment section of the TikTok post, though all still loved the nursery pot hack.

"I do that or I use pop (soda) or milk jugs!" one said

"I've used empty water bottles but empty pots I have by the truck load," a gardener commented.

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"Omg this is so smart! I was using random branches I've found in my yard to fill the planters," to which Emma Jo responded, "That's what I do in our raised veggie beds!!".

So if plastic nursery pots aren't your thing, plastic bottles or branches from other plants are a good option.

Using branches is a particularly good hack for veggie gardens as it helps with drainage, aerates the soil and adds nutrients to the soil as the branches start decomposing.

If you're using one of these other filler methods, there are plenty of other ways to reuse plastic nursery pots.

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One option is to sow seeds in them instead of buying specially designed pots and trays. The small nursery pots that seedlings are sold in are best for this.

You can also use them for indoor plants by potting the plant in the nursery pot and then sliding that into a decorative pot. This ensures the plant has good drainage and can be bottom-watered.

Another use for nursery pots is to plant your cuttings in. Pop them in here with some potting mix until they grow roots before planting them on in the ground or a larger container.

These pots can also be painted and decorated with things like rope to turn them into a decorative pot to save money on buying new pots.

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