Create your own seed starting pots at home
What's the story
Kickstarting your garden doesn't have to mean generating waste - get growing the green way with sustainable seed starting pots! These DIY options are not only eco-friendly, but they also offer a great start for your future plants. This blog teaches you how to craft your own seed starting pots out of materials you probably already have lying around. Go ahead, make your gardening as green as your thumb!
Paper pots
Use recycled paper
Recycled paper is the perfect material for DIY seed starting pots. Use old newspapers or flyers, just avoid plastic-coated paper. Cut the paper into strips, wrap it around a form (like a can), secure the bottom, and voila! You've created biodegradable pots. The best part? These can be planted directly in the garden, reducing root disturbance for your precious seedlings.
Egg cartons
Opt for cardboard egg cartons
Cardboard egg cartons are excellent for starting seeds. Each section offers the perfect size for a single seed or a few grouped together. And, when it's time to transplant the seedlings, you can simply cut out each individual section and plant it directly into the ground. The cardboard will naturally break down in the soil, providing extra carbon to your plants.
Roll pots
Create toilet paper roll pots
Toilet paper rolls make the perfect material for crafting seed starting pots. Just cut each roll in half to get double the number of pots. Next, make four cuts at one end and fold them in to create a bottom. These roll pots are surprisingly strong and can hold your seedlings as they grow. When ready, plant them whole in the garden, they will decompose eventually.
Soil blocking
Utilize soil blocks
Soil blocking eliminates the need for any container. You simply form a compressed block of damp soil mix that retains its shape. Special soil block makers are used to press the mix into neat blocks with a small depression on top for sowing seeds. Since there's no container to break down, this method produces zero waste and reduces transplant shock as roots aren't confined and can grow freely.
Kitchen scraps
Repurpose kitchen scraps
Instead of throwing away kitchen scraps, use items like citrus peels or avocado shells as seed starting containers. Fill them with potting soil, sow your seed, and then when it's time to transplant, you can put the whole natural "pot" in the ground. These materials decompose rapidly, providing the soil with crucial nutrients and ensuring a healthy start for young plants.