Have you seen the cute little seedling pots made with newspaper? They are easy to make, and perhaps even a sure-handed 6 year-old can make them by your side once he has had instruction and practice. If you want to save money, and who doesn’t, these are a great substitution for buying commercial peat posts.
Commercial seedling pots make you choose between throw-away plastic or expensive pressed peat moss pots that can go straight into the ground.
- Newspapers, on the other hand, are biodegradable, much more economical, and provide a mulch and fertilizer for young plants.
- Most inks these days are safe soy-based inks. They are more affordable than oil-based ink.
- Remember not to use glossy or colored pages.
Make Your Own Newspaper Seedling Pots
All our old newspapers had been recycled, but I remembered two old seed catalogs printed on a newspaper stock that I had been saving to use as a fun gift-wrap (because they are so pretty).
If the newspaper is *too* thin, the pots will not hold together the 3+ months the seedlings will need to live in them and may fall apart when it’s time to plant into the garden.
It depends on how gently you handle them when filled with soil and seeds, too.
Paper grocery bags would be a good substitute, but are much stiffer and heavier, and would need to be glue-gunned to hold the bottom folds together.
Step by Step Directions
The catalogs (photo above) are large at 10 1/2 ” x 14″.
A 2 oz. spice bottle is the perfect form to use as a guide to start.
I fold the pages in half lengthwise (it is double thickness now), so I had one strip (5 1/4″ x 14″ each strip) per page. One page makes one pot. (You can simply fold regular newspaper to these dimensions, too, as long as there is a double thickness).
The length allows for rolling around the spice container several times adding sturdiness.
As you roll the folded paper around your spice jar, leave about an inch plus overhang at one end where you will fold it in to create the bottom as if you were wrapping a present.
Use tape on the side seam, and don’t roll too tightly, or it will be too hard to get your spice container out.
I folded the bottom into 3 parts, and it created a rather good base to aid in standing upright.
Instead of using flour and water to make a glue, I used masking tape which will degrade.
Note: use more tape than I did in this image above and be sure to press it together firmly. Then tape the side seam.
Next fold over the top edge toward the interior of the pot to give some rigidity before you fill it with potting soil. You can fold it in again if you want a shorter pot.
Add your potting mixture, plant your favorite seeds, and water thoroughly. Place them in flat bottomed container (with 1 1/2 -2″ sides) in a sunny South or West window or under a grow light and delight in the anticipation of little sprouts popping up their heads to greet you.
Here is a list of seed companies not owned by Monsanto.
Keep Monsanto out of your garden!
HappyMrsBass
I just made some newspaper pots to transplant my growing tomato seedlings to a bigger size. I had my 10 and 7 year old sisters and 3 year old brother help me make them. We used canned vegetable jars to shape them and plain ol’ water in a plate to keep them from falling loose! We had a lot of fun making them and my little ‘maters are much happier! Great tutorial Jacqueline!
Jacqueline
Love them ‘maters! I just learned this, so I thought maybe I wouldn’t be able to do it~~ Haha! And you had a 3 year old helping!! Well, doesn’t that beat all =)
LindaG
I want to plant an apple tree. We are waiting to be on our land to plant more as we can’t care for them properly.
So far we have planted 4 pecan trees (one died), 3 pear trees, one naval orange tree – which while it hasn’t died, hasn’t grown much either; and 2 hazelnut trees which I haven’t had time to determine if either has survived yet. (Our retirement property is about 1100 miles from where we currently live.)
Loved your informative post. Thank you! :o)
Jacqueline
Hello, Linda. I think it would be lovely to plant a little apple seed and care for it all the way to the fruit-bearing stage. It is such a miracle of life to me 🙂 Thank you for stopping by.
Lisa
One of my favorite Luther quotes. 🙂
What Joy Is Mine
You are so my green thumb. ;o) I love this idea for our homeschool. We haven’t planted anything outside because of the temps but we can start inside with these little paper pots. I loved your post and can’t wait to try it. Thank you so much for sharing it.
Cheryl @Treasures from a Shoebox
I love this idea and plan to use it in my greenhouse planting, in place of styrofoam cups. I “pinned” this on my gardening board! Thanks for the tutorial 🙂
farmlife chick
I can’t wait to do this with the kids later today!
Wonderful how-to photos! Thanks! Makes my life easier ;)!
Melissa
I love this idea! And how whimsical to use gardening papers to grow seedlings. I currently have five children, and the oldest is 7…while I think we would all enjoy making these pots, I have no idea how to keep those little pots “safe” from curious two year old fingers! When I think of a good and sunny place to hide these dirt-filled treasure boxes, we’ll see if we can grow some happiness!
Jacqueline
Aw…dear Melissa,
I hear you about the little fingers. Soon, very soon, they will be older and helping you to grow seedlings! I am praying for your sweet family to grow like healthy sprouts, faces directed upwards toward the Lord in all things. Blessings!