How to Make an Origami Pot

Plant seedlings in origami pots and give them as gifts.

Make origami pots out of recycled newspapers and use them to start seedlings before planting them outdoors. It is a green and economical way to grow plants. This origami pot design creates a rectangular pot with flaps at the top. Use sturdy colorful paper, plant a seedling and give the pot and plant as a gift. The design is an intermediate origami design, but has very few difficult folds.

Things You'll Need

• Square newspaper or sturdy colorful paper

Instructions

1. Hold the paper so it looks like a diamond. Fold the diamond in half vertically. You will have an upside triangle.

2. Fold the triangle in half horizontally. Fold the right tip over to the left tip.

3. Lift the fold you just made so that the tip stands straight up. Slip your thumb between the two layers of the standing part. Press down on the top, the part pointing up, with your fingers. It will form a diamond shape. This is called a squash fold. Press down on all the creases. Flip the design over and repeat this step with the other side by doing another squash fold. The result will look like two diamonds pressed together. Turn the diamonds so that the open ends are facing upwards.

4. Fold the tip of the lop layer down to meet the center. Unfold. Fold the bottom tip up so that it rests halfway between the bottom and center. Unfold. Notice the lines that were made from these folds.

5. Fold the right side inwards. Fold the side in until the top meets the top line made in "Step 4" and the bottom meets the bottom line made in "Step 4". Press down the fold along this angle. Repeat with the left side. The two points will overlap in the middle.

6. Lift one of the flaps you folded in Step 5 and do a squash fold. Slip your finger between the layers and press down on the top. Repeat with the other flap. The result will be two kite shapes. Fold the right side of the right kite behind the left side. Fold the left side of the left kite behind the right side. This gets them out of the way because they are not seen in the finished design.

7. Flip the design over and repeat Steps 4 through 6.

8. Fold the top layer tip down so that the tip meets the line. Fold it down again along the line. Fold one more time along the bottom where the last fold ended. Flip the design over and repeat.

9. Fold the right side over to the left side. There is already a crease so the fold will be easy. Flip the design over and fold the right side over to the left side again. Repeat "Step 8" with the front and back.

10. Open the pot from the top and flatten the bottom along the creases.

Tips & Warnings

• A paper handle can be glued to the sides of the pot so it can be carried.

• Use heavy rice paper or other thick paper if using the pot as a gift. Newspaper can be used for planting seedlings at home.

• The pots are made of paper. Over time, the water and the heavy soil will cause the pots to tear.

References

• "The Step By Step Art Of Origami"; Jon Tremaine; 1995
• The Art Of Origami; Basket; Gay Merrill Gross
• For Greenies: How to Make Origami Newspaper Seedling Pots