Have you seen the cute little seedling pots made with newspaper? They are easy to make, and perhaps even an handy 10 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 are biodegradable, much more economical, and provide a mulch and fertilizer for young plants. Most inks these days are safe soy-based inks. Remember not to use glossy or colored pages, though.
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, too. Paper grocery bags would be a good substitute.
These are large catalogs at 10 1/2 ” x 14″. I fold the pages in half lengthwise, so I had one strip (5 1/4″ x 14″ each strip) per page. One page makes one pot. This 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 below 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 the sun 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!
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HappyMrsBass says
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 says
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 says
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 says
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 says
One of my favorite Luther quotes. 🙂
What Joy Is Mine says
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 says
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 says
I can’t wait to do this with the kids later today!
Wonderful how-to photos! Thanks! Makes my life easier ;)!
Melissa says
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 says
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!