
These seedling pots will disintegrate easily, they do not allow for overwatering, and they are free! I definately prefer them to last year’s egg carton method.

You’ll need: some newspaper & a small bottle (my ibuprofin bottle works great)

Step 1: Tear off one half-sheet of newspaper.

Step 2: Fold it in half.

Step 3: Roll your newspaper piece around your bottle tightly.

Step 4: With the bottle still inside, fold one half down against the bottle’s bottom. Then fold the opposite side down.

Step 5: You’ll be left with a point. Tuck it into the fold like this.

Step 6: Smash it down good. It should stay in place. It may take a few to perfect your folding, but leaning pots can be supported by the others.

Step 7: Make a tear about two centimeters long on one side of your pot, and then again on the opposite side.

Step 8: Lay your pot down and fold the edge down one cm, and then fold a second time as far as your tears allow. Flip it over and fold twice on the back, too.

Step 9: If you squeeze your torn ends together your pot will get its shape back. Hopefully it can stand on it’s own, like this one. Repeat this folding process as many times as necessary. It goes much faster after you’ve done a few.

Step 10: Place them on a tray that won’t mind getting wet and dirty. Fill with dirt, water thoroughly, and add your seeds. Stick them in a warm and sunny window.

Step 11: If your window lacks the warmth, use cellophane to cover your seedlets until they are well sprouted.

OMG… I am doing this.
So you can plant the whole cup in the ground when you plant them outside?
Yep!
That is teh awesome.
You rock.
[...] each week in the mail or read a newspaper. What to do with them? Well here is a great idea from Pecan Sandies. She does a great job showing you how to step-by-step fold up a tiny pot perfect for starting [...]
What a great idea!
This is a great idea, but I would use plain or black and white newsprint only. Colored newspaper ink has heavy metals in it that you would not want in your garden or especially not in edible plants.
Love the idea…it may be a good idea to check into what the bottles are made out of. If they are polycarbonate I would re-think planting food seeds in it:)
Check out this link…
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/06/bpa-spiked-urine-new-study-points-to-polycarbonate-bottles.php
Here’s a link covering the issue of colored newspaper ink: http://blog.pennlive.com/gardening/2008/10/toxins_in_newspaper_mulch.html
My newspaper uses soy ink.
The bottle is only used to shape the pot.
Next year I will be doing this with my class. It is a great way to teach ecology. Thank you for sharing such a great idea
[...] Lees en bekijk de werkbeschrijving bij zakkalife.blogspot.com Een super idee van Pecan Sandies. Uit reclamefolders of een oude krant maakt ze kleine potjes om potgrond met zaadjes in te doen. Je [...]
[...] super idee van Pecan Sandies. Uit reclamefolders of een oude krant maakt ze kleine potjes om potgrond met zaadjes in te doen. Je [...]