Feb 19 2009
Keeping it Green with Recycled Seed Starter Trays
There are several different ways to start your seedlings. One way of course, is to purchase a million little pots to plant each seedling in, yeah right!
Then of course are the seed starting plastic trays that you can purchase in the gardening department of the big box stores or at nurseries! Or…and this is my favorite way, make them yourself out of stuff lying around the house! Yes, it’s true! You can make your own little seedling pots with things that would either get pitched or thrown into the recycling bin!
A two-liter bottle can be cut in half and used for a seedling pot! Take the bottle cut it half, poke a few drainage holes, add 4-5 inches of soil in the bottom of the bottle and add your seeds! Put the top half back on to the bottle and you have officially created your own little greenhouse!
Old toilet paper rolls or the cardboard that holds your wrapping paper are also great ways to start your seedlings! Cut the roll in half and make four quarter inch slices around the outside edge of the roll, this creates four flaps that you then fold down like the bottom of a box. This will be the bottom of your ‘pot’. Fill with potting soil and add your seeds. I particularly like this approach because when it comes time to plant your seedlings into the garden you can plant the whole pot! The cardboard will disintegrate into the soil slowly but surely!
You can take a section of the newspaper and cut it in half, roll about four or five sheets of the paper around a spice bottle (so that it takes on a cylindrical shape, close of the bottom of the cone and secure with tape. viola! Instant seed pot!
I also have used egg cartons, just cut the top of the carton and use both pieces for separate trays. I have used egg shells, (just be sure to crush the shell a little bit before you place it in the garden), yogurt cups, the packaging that your strawberries come in, and cream cheese containers. Be certain to poke holes in the bottoms of anything that is too solid to let the water drain through.
Use your imagination before throwing things away and you would be amazed at how much stuff can be turned into something useful…again!!
Off to plant my seeds!
~Wind
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Preparing Seedlings for Spring
Love the toilet paper roll idea, must pass that on to my dad, who’s always using something like that around the house. He uses the small yogurt containers alot. I’ve always loves those seed pods that look like cookies.
Interesting and informative post.
Sandy
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