Starting Seeds With Recyclables
Posted on March 26, 2010 by LJ Earnest
Categories: Lifehacks
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It’s the time of year that I have started dreaming of my garden. Not that my dreams every come to fruition, because I kill plants. (Not on purpose. They just die under my care). However, every year, I love starting the seeds and watching the little plants spring up.
I choose to start my own plants because I get to choose what varieties I am going to kill plant. It is also much more cost-effective than buying root-bound plants at the local nursery or hardware store.
There are many seed starting “systems” that you can buy. I have found that using materials around the house is just as effective.
Egg Cartons
I use egg cartons to get things started. The cardboard egg cartons can be planted right into bigger pots. We also have a brand of eggs locally that comes in clear plastic. I like these because they give a mini-greenhouse effect to the little seedlings.
Newspaper Pots
You can create starting pots out of newspaper (no shiny ads, please!). These pots can be used for bigger seedlings and planted right into the ground. (See this handy EHow article)
Milk Cartons
Cardboard milk cartons are great for holding larger plants like tomatos. Milk jugs can act as mini-greenhouses and protect seedlings in the garden.
Plastic containers
Our local municipality only recycles #1 and #2 plastics. I save other plastics to use in the seed starting process. Containers can be used as pots or cut up into supports. Lids can be used as saucers under pots.
Soda Bottles
2-liter soda bottles can be cut horizontally and used as a combination growing pot and greenhouse cover. Taking the cap off can eliminate the heat buildup that will fry distress young plants.
Aluminum Foil
Clean aluminum foil can protect any surface you are putting your seedlings on, as well as reflect light up to them. It is also helpful to keep cats off the table, where they might bite all the leaves off your seedlings. (Don’t ask me how they managed to get the door open!)
Seed starting can be done quite inexpensively at home with reused materials.
Photo by jspatchwork
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Comments (3)
Toilet paper tubes and Paper towel tubes are also good. I save these up all year round, then cut them into about 2 inch pieces & fill with potting soil. They work as well or better than the little pots you buy at the store.
What a great idea! The rigid sides will not collapse like wet newspaper, and you would never have to worry about cutting the bottom off when transplanting! Thanks for the tip!
I too love starting my own seeds. Last year I bought a mini indoor greenhouse to help the process. It didn’t go so well. I’ve waited a little later this year so that it’ll be plenty warm for the plants (and the gardener.) My favorite recyclable pot? The cow-poo pots. I think those are brilliant. But rather expensive. So my second favorite is the newspaper pots.
There’s a device in seed catalogs that helps you make the newspaper pots, but I’ve found a straight sided glass works pretty well.
Now I’m all excited about planting again and it’s supposed to be a beautiful weekend…garden time!