Make toilet roll seedling starter pots
Spring is just around the corner so now is the perfect time to start saving your toilet roll tubes to make these little seed starter pots! These pots are great because, not only are they inexpensive as you’re using the toilet roll tubes you’d normally throw away, but they’re also environmentally friendly as they are completely biodegradable.
They are also especially good for planting seeds that do not like to have their roots disturbed as, when the seedlings are ready to transplant, you can plant the whole thing including the pot in the garden.
What you will need:
Toilet paper tubes (or kitchen roll tubes)
Scissors
Tray to hold seed starter pots
Soil
Seeds
What you need to do:
First, flatten your cardboard toilet paper rolls and press along the creases. Then open the tube out, turn 90 degrees and fold it in half again to make two more creases - these will be the edges of the pot.
Cut the cardboard tube in half horizontally. If you use paper towel rolls, they'll need to be cut into quarters. Then open out and ‘square off’ the tube.
(Some plants, such as tomatoes and sweet peas, perform best when their roots are forced to grow in a deep, narrow channel so you can leave the tube whole for these.)
Now cut a slit around 1 1/2 - 2 cm along each crease. This will create four flaps that will make the bottom of the pot. Fold the flaps inward, overlapping each flap over the previous one and tucking the corner of the last flap under the corner of the first flap.
Turn the pot over and gently press it down on a flat surface to make the bottom flat so that it stays upright. Once you’ve made your seed starter pots, pop them in a seed tray or plastic fruit container to hold them together and so that they’re easier to transport and water.
Now you can fill the pots with compost and sow your seeds!
These pots hold up really well. They can take watering without falling apart and when the plant is ready they can be planted, pot and all, as the cardboard tube will rot away in the ground.
Author: Denise Hope, home educating mum of two boys