How to Make Potting Pots Out of Newpaper

Jump start your seedlings in the refrigerator with homemade potting pots.

Creating your own potting pots from newspapers is an inexpensive way to start your seedlings indoors before planting. According to the Michigan State University Extension, newspaper makes up approximately 14 percent of America's landfills. The recycled newspaper pots degrade naturally into the soil, cutting down on their presence in landfills. It is also less expensive to purchase seeds than seedlings at a nursery or home improvement stores and eliminates the need to purchase the small plastic seedling pots. Reap the benefits of creating your own inexpensive, biodegradable potting pots at home.

Things You'll Need

• Sharp scissors
• Bud vase
• Biodegradable tape
• Potting soil
• Seeds

Instructions

1. Lay a full sheet of newspaper onto a flat surface. Cut the newspaper along the inner fold with a sharp pair of scissors.

2. Fold the two sections in half lengthwise and cut along the seams with the sharp scissors to create four identical sections of newspaper.

3. Lay the four sections onto a flat surface. Set a bud vase on one end of the paper section.

4. Wrap the bud vase by rolling it along the entire length of newspaper. Secure the newspaper with a piece of clear, biodegradable tape.

5. Hold the bud vase and fold the newspaper over the vase’s bottom, much like you would when wrapping a Christmas present. Secure the paper with a piece of biodegradable tape and pull out the bud vase.

6. Repeat this process on every section of newspaper. Once complete, fill the potting pots with soil and your favorite seeds.

References

• Organic Gardening: Newspaper Seedling Pots
• Weekend Gardener; How to Make Newspaper Pots for Germinating Seed or Plant Propagation; September 2001
• Michigan State University Extension; Waste Management; June 2003