This will most likely be a running series, dubbed: MY CAT IS AN ASSHOLE. Various tips, tricks, and other assorted things I've had to do because: My Cat Is An ASSHOLE!
A few years back I was working for this apparel company (if you didn't know, I come from a fashion apparel background) and they were tossing out their fiddle leaf fig tree. It just wasn't thriving and they went and bought a new one to replace their dying tree. So I happily took this little guy home to try (emphasis on T R Y) to get this plant living again. I set it up in a nice big pot, gave it some good soil, watered it, placed it near the window... and what does it decide to do? Lose all its leaves. Thanks. ASS. Honestly, this tree should be called more like FICKLE leaf fig.
I didn't know what to do, so I kind of just left it alone, went to Europe for 2 weeks and came home and found all these new leaves growing. What?! I did do a little happy dance upon finding the new growth.
Anyhow, fast forward to now where I'm fostering 2 little kittens. These kittens... well, they like to use the potting soil and base as a catapult to launch their tiny, furry selves at each other. Very Themysciran warrior like. It's absolutely adorable watching them do this, but having to sweep the floor EVERY FREAKING DAY is annoying AF. I'd had it. Absolutely had it.
My neighbor was getting rid of some pallets and so I took one to figure out how to get them to STOP getting the soil every where. I remember watching something that Homemade Modern made for his Joshua Tree Container home and so I kinda made something similar to that.
I quickly (ok, not "quickly" but more painstakingly) took apart some of the boards from the pallet, lined it up and nailed them together then made this little guy to place on top of the tree. OMG - IT WORKED!!! Those little (cute and adorable) assholes quit spreading all the soil!
It was such a cheap little project because I got the wood for free and used what I had on hand to make it. Granted, it's not a "perfect" circle because ideally you should use a jigsaw to cut the circle, but my jigsaw blade was dull, and I didn't want to have to go out and buy a new blade so I used my circular saw. Do you know how hard it is to cut a circle with a circular saw? It's hard. Don't be like me, use a jigsaw, or just make a square. Anyhow, after cutting a hole in the middle and sawed down the middle towards it, I've got this little "table" to go on top of the soil. HUZZAH! And, with the slit on it, I can remove it to water the plant when needed (which, apparently is only 1x every 2 weeks).
Things you'll need
Wood
Nails
Circular Saw or Jigsaw (JIGSAW... I can't emphasize this enough) or a handsaw if you want to do it that way?
Forstner Bit (I used a 1.5" because my tree trunk is still small) + Power Drill
String and a pen + a ruler + paper (Paper is optional - I'll explain below)
Steps:
Figure out how large you'll need your table base. I took a string and got a rough estimate around my tree trunk. Once I got that, I transferred my estimate by making a makeshift protractor and traced it on my paper. I cut my paper (I used christmas wrapping paper haha!) and cut my size. You don't need to do this, but it helped me.
Get your wood ready. Since I used a pallet, I took apart the boards and lined them up to make sure it would fit. Then I sanded all the pieces together. This was necessary since pallet boards are rough and I didn't to get any snags on anything.
Set your boards together and nail them to hold.
Trace your circle and cut it! OR, you can keep it square. You do you, boo.
I also used my circle paper to figure out where my inner circle needed to be cut. Attach your Forstner bit to your Power drill and cut through! Sand any edges if needed
Now use your Circular saw or jigsaw and cut down towards your circle so you have a slit.
Place on top of your plant. You're done!
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