Πρώτα βάζω χώμα στη γλάστρα και μετά ρίχνω λίγο νερό.

Πρώτα means first. It sets the sequence of actions right away:

• Πρώτα = first
• μετά = then / afterwards

Greek often puts time words like these near the beginning of the clause for clarity. So Πρώτα βάζω... και μετά ρίχνω... is a very natural way to say First I put... and then I pour...

Both are in the present tense, first person singular:

• βάζω = I put
• ρίχνω = I pour / I throw / I add, depending on context

Even though they are present forms, Greek often uses the present for:

• describing a process
• giving instructions
• narrating steps in order

So here it sounds like someone is describing what they do: First I put soil in the pot, then I pour a little water.

They are related in meaning, but not identical.

• βάζω is a very general verb: put, place, set
• ρίχνω often means throw, drop, pour, add

In this sentence:

• βάζω χώμα στη γλάστρα = I put soil in the pot
• ρίχνω λίγο νερό = I pour / add a little water

Greek prefers ρίχνω with water here because it suggests pouring or adding liquid. If you used βάζω with νερό, it might still be understood, but ρίχνω νερό sounds more natural in this context.

χώμα means soil / dirt / earth, and here it is being used as a mass noun, not as a specific individual object.

So Greek often leaves out the article when talking about an indefinite amount of a substance:

• βάζω χώμα = I put soil
• ρίχνω νερό = I pour water

If you added the article, το χώμα, it would sound more like the soil, referring to something specific already known from context.

στη is the contracted form of:

• σε + τη = στη

This is extremely common in Modern Greek and is the normal form in everyday language.

So:

• στη γλάστρα = in the pot / into the pot

You will often see similar contractions:

• στο = σε + το
• στην = σε + την
• στους = σε + τους

It is in the accusative case.

In Modern Greek, the preposition σε normally takes the accusative. Since στη comes from σε τη, the noun after it is accusative:

• nominative: η γλάστρα
• accusative: τη γλάστρα

In this noun, the form γλάστρα itself does not change between nominative and accusative singular; the article shows the case more clearly.

It can mean either, depending on context.

Greek σε + accusative often covers both ideas:

• location: in
• direction: into
• sometimes also to or on, depending on context

Here, in English, into the pot may feel slightly more precise because soil is being placed there, but in the pot is also a natural translation.

Because νερό is a neuter noun.

The word λίγος / λίγη / λίγο changes to agree with the noun:

• λίγος for masculine
• λίγη for feminine
• λίγο for neuter

Since νερό is neuter, you say:

• λίγο νερό = a little water

For the same reason as with χώμα: it refers to an indefinite amount of a substance.

• λίγο νερό = a little water

This is the natural way to express quantity with mass nouns in Greek. Adding the article would usually make it more specific:

• το νερό = the water

But here the sentence just means some water, not the water.

Here it functions like a quantifier/adjective modifying νερό.

It tells you how much water:

• λίγο νερό = a little water

Compare that with adverbial use:

• μιλάω λίγο = I speak a little

So in your sentence, λίγο goes with the noun νερό, not with the verb ρίχνω.

Because the verb ending already shows the subject.

• βάζω = I put
• ρίχνω = I pour

Greek is a pro-drop language, which means subject pronouns are often omitted when they are already clear from the verb ending.

You could say εγώ βάζω, but that would usually add emphasis, like I put or I am the one who puts.

Yes, Greek word order is fairly flexible.

This sentence is very natural as:

• Πρώτα βάζω χώμα στη γλάστρα και μετά ρίχνω λίγο νερό.

But other orders are possible for emphasis, for example:

• Βάζω πρώτα χώμα στη γλάστρα και μετά ρίχνω λίγο νερό.

The original version is especially clear because it highlights the sequence of steps right from the start.

και means and, and μετά means then / afterwards.

Together, και μετά links the two actions and shows order:

• first action: βάζω χώμα στη γλάστρα
• second action: ρίχνω λίγο νερό

So it is not just and in the simple sense; it is more like and then.

Yes. If you wanted to give a direct instruction, Greek would often use the imperative, for example:

• Πρώτα βάλε χώμα στη γλάστρα και μετά ρίξε λίγο νερό.

That means First put soil in the pot and then pour a little water.

Your original sentence with βάζω and ρίχνω is not a direct command. It sounds more like:

• describing what I do
• explaining a process
• talking someone through the steps

In this context, γλάστρα means a flowerpot / plant pot.

That is why the sentence naturally involves:

• χώμα = soil
• νερό = water

A vase for flowers would usually not fit this context. So plant pot or simply pot is the right idea here.