How to Reuse Toilet Paper Tubes for Planters
Starting plants from seed indoors is one of the least expensive ways to have a large variety of plants for your garden. Seedling pots can be expensive, but you can use household items that are normally thrown in the trash as your pots--toilet paper tubes. You'll recycle and save money. When spring arrives, you can plant your biodegradable cardboard starter pots directly in the soil without disturbing the seedling's roots. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Cut the toilet paper tube in half with scissors.
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Make three half-inch-long vertical cuts around one end of the tube, spacing them equally apart so they form three same-size flaps.
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3
Push each of the flaps up so it is perpendicular to the rest of the tube. Once pushed up, the flaps form a bottom to the tube planter.
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4
Set the tubes, bottom down, in a waterproof tray or dish. Set the tubes next to each other until the tray is full so that the tubes hold each other up.
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Fill each tube to the top with a seed-starting soil mix. Water until the soil is evenly moist throughout, letting the excess water drain into the tray.
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Sow one to two seeds in each tube planter. Sow seeds to a depth twice their width, then mist the soil surface with water until it is moist.
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Cover the tubes with a layer of plastic wrap to preserve moisture. Place in a warm place to germinate, which takes seven to 14 days, then remove the plastic wrap and place the seedlings in a sunny window. Keep the soil moist at all times.
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Transplant the seedlings into the garden once all danger of frost is past in spring or when indicated on the seed packet. Dig a planting hole ¼ inch deeper than the height of the toilet paper tube. Set the tube in the hole and refill with soil until the top edge of the tube is just covered. Water thoroughly after planting. The tubes break down in the soil as the roots grow.
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Tips & Warnings
Wrapping-paper tubes or paper towel tubes can also be used if cut to the appropriate size.
Support the bottom of the tube planter when moving it or the flaps may come open and cause the seedling and soil to fall out.
