Make Your Own Seed Starter Pots
Biodegradable Plant Starters for Indoor or Outdoor Gardening
Turn empty tissue rolls into economical little boxes that are just the right size for starting plants. Add soil and seeds from your local garden center and get growing.
Whether you make these seed starting pots for yourself, or use them as part of a homeschool art or science activity for your children, you're sure to enjoy the results. Starter pots with plants included also make a unique gift.
Seed Starter Pot Lesson
What You Will Need:
- empty bathroom tissue rolls (Paper towel rolls with also work, but they are more difficult to cut and may require the use of a craft knife.)
- scissors
- potting soil
- seeds of your choice
- water
- empty yogurt container or a small plastic lid to use as a coaster beneath your pots. (For larger plantings, you may wish to use a plastic or foil lined tray.)
Directions:
- Collapse the empty tissue roll by setting it on it's side and pressing it flat so that it forms a rectangle.
- Placing it so that one of the long sides is closest to you, cut a vertical line down the middle of the roll. Be sure to cut through both layers of cardboard.
- Select one half of the roll and pop it back to its original shape. (It will look more square than round.) Make 4 cuts along one of the open ends. Cuts should be approximately 1/2" deep and equi-distance apart. These are your flaps.
- Crease each of the flaps by folding it inward.
- Now, fold the flaps closed as you would the flaps on a box.
- Set your seed starter pot upright so that it rests on the folded flaps.
- Repeat with the remaining half.
Refer to the picture if you're not sure how to proceed.
Planting The Seeds
Your starter pots are ready to be filled with potting soil, seeds and water. If you are making and filling several pots, you can place them all in a plastic container or tray lined with aluminum foil to keep things neat. If your children are making just one or two individual pots for a project or as a gift, have them place a small plastic lid under each pot or put each starter inside a small yogurt container. Remember, these biodegradable pots will leak.
To plant, follow the directions on the seed package. Place pots in a sunny spot. Once plants are large enough for transplanting, you can take them out of their cardboard wrapper, or open the bottom flaps and plant them pot and all. For indoor gardens, try planting chives or other small herbs.
If you enjoy starting plants indoors, this is a wonderful free source for starter pots. And if you have children who enjoy making things, they'll have fun watching their plants grow in a pot they made themselves.
