Directions to Make Newspaper Seed-Starter Containers

Recycle that stack of newspapers into organic seed-starting containers.

Making your own newspaper seed-starter container has two advantages: The process uses newspapers that may end up in the landfill and it gives you a biodegradable pot. Because of their thinner walls, newspaper pots break down quicker than peat or coir pots, and once placed in the soil they allow the plant’s roots to expand quickly into surrounding soil. Using newspaper seed starters is a particularly good growing method for plants that may suffer transplant shock, such as cucumbers, squash, melons and other vine crops.

Things You'll Need

• 3-foot lengths of 4-inch diameter PVC pipe
• Newspapers
• Flour
• Tape measure or yardstick
• Scissors or shears

Instructions

1. Cut or purchase 3-foot lengths of 4-inch diameter PVC pipe.

2. Make a paste of flour and cold water. Start with 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of water, adding more water as necessary to make a paste the consistency of pancake batter.

3. Spread the newspaper sections on a flat work surface. Open the fold of the newspaper. Make sure there are at least two to four full-size sheets in each section. The opened sections will measure approximately 23 by 24 inches.

4. Place the PVC pipe parallel to the edge of the 24-inch side of the newspaper section. Roll the newspaper completely around the PVC section.

5. Lift the edge of the rolled-up newspaper and generously paste the underneath edge. Press the edge flat and apply additional paste along the seam. Wipe up any paste that gets on the top or bottom of the PVC pipe with a damp cloth.

6. Stand the PVC pipe up in a warm place and allow the paste to dry several hours or overnight.

7. Place the PVC pipe and newspaper roll on a flat work surface. Using the tape measure or yardstick, mark off 5-inch sections of the newspaper roll with a pencil or marking pen.

8. Slide the newspaper roll off the PVC pipe.

9. Cut the marked sections with scissors or heavy shears.

10. Press under the bottom 1 inch of the 5-inch sections, using your thumb to pleat and overlap the paper inside the pot in 1-inch folds.

11. 

    Homemade newspaper pots make excellent containers for garden seedlings.

    Turn the pots bottom up and add a dab of paste to the folded-under sections. Allow the paste to dry thoroughly before filling the pots with seed-starting soil mix.

Tips & Warnings

• Use a 4-inch diameter PVC pipe and cut the newspaper roll at 5-inch increments to make 4-inch pots, which is a good size for vine crops and tomato plants. Use a 2-inch PVC pipe and cut the newspaper roll at 3-inch increments to make 2-inch pots for slower-growing annual and perennial flowers.

• Store the homemade paste in a covered container in the refrigerator to keep it from drying out between uses.

• Place the soil-filled newspaper pots close together, with sides touching each other, in a plastic or wooden flat for planting.

• Use only black-and-white newspaper sections for making the pots. Avoid using colored inks and slick-coated advertising inserts that sometimes accompany the newspaper.

References

• Alabama Cooperative Extension Service; Recycled Pots for Seedlings; Melissa Miles, et al.
• Environmental Protection Agency: Handmade Recycled Paper Planters
• University of Minnesota Extension Horticulture; Starting Seed Indoors; February 2009

Resources

• Healing Garden Journal; Helping the Earth is Healing for the Soul One Pot at a Time!; Karl Eckert