These biodegradable eggshell planters are perfect for starting seeds!
When the plants get too big for the shells, you can transplant them straight to the soil, shell and all.
When the plants get too big for the shells, you can transplant them straight to the soil, shell and all.
Step 1: Materials
You will need
Eggshells
Egg carton
Potting soil & spoon
Awl/needle/pin - anything long and sharp
Knife
Seeds
Optional:
Pot & stove
Spray bottle
Egg cups/miniature clay pots for display
Eggshells
Egg carton
Potting soil & spoon
Awl/needle/pin - anything long and sharp
Knife
Seeds
Optional:
Pot & stove
Spray bottle
Egg cups/miniature clay pots for display
Step 2: Prepare the eggshells
If you eat eggs, then save the eggshells when you use them. If you don't eat eggs, ask a friend to save the shells and carton for you.
1. Carefully crack the top third of the egg. You can do this by tapping the egg on the edge of a bowl, or tapping with a sharp knife.
2. Empty out the eggshells completely.
3. Wash the eggshells out well.
Optional step: If you are concerned about salmonella on the eggshells, put the empty eggshells in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes.
1. Carefully crack the top third of the egg. You can do this by tapping the egg on the edge of a bowl, or tapping with a sharp knife.
2. Empty out the eggshells completely.
3. Wash the eggshells out well.
Optional step: If you are concerned about salmonella on the eggshells, put the empty eggshells in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes.
Step 3: Add drainage
Take the empty eggshell, and poke a hole in the very bottom with your sharp object. If you are using a thin needle or pin, widen the hole a bit with a pushpin or small nail.
This hole provides drainage, so the roots of your plant don't drown. You only need to poke one small hole; more than one might crack the shell.
This hole provides drainage, so the roots of your plant don't drown. You only need to poke one small hole; more than one might crack the shell.
Step 4: Add potting soil
Using a small spoon, fill the eggshell with moist potting soil.
Optional: If the potting soil is dry, spray it with water from a spray bottle as you fill the eggshell.
Optional: If the potting soil is dry, spray it with water from a spray bottle as you fill the eggshell.
Step 5: Add seeds
Think about the amount of light you have available in your home and garden, and use seeds that will thrive in these conditions. Plant your seeds according to directions. The seed package will tell you how deep to plant the seeds, or can find this information online.
If you want quick results, try beans or cucumbers - they usually sprout in a few days.For bonus points, use seeds that you saved from last year's crop instead of buying seeds. Oh my goodness, seeds are AMAZING!
If you want quick results, try beans or cucumbers - they usually sprout in a few days.For bonus points, use seeds that you saved from last year's crop instead of buying seeds. Oh my goodness, seeds are AMAZING!
Step 6: Enjoy!
Display your green treasures!
Carton: After you have planted the seeds, you can simply put the eggshell planters back into the carton. The carton provides a stable base with room for drainage, is freecycled and looks cute.
Clay pots: You can get miniature clay pots, or use eggcups to display the planters.
Mini Greenhouse: If you want to keep your seedlings extra snug and promote faster growth, you can make them a greenhouse out of a pop bottle.
Carton: After you have planted the seeds, you can simply put the eggshell planters back into the carton. The carton provides a stable base with room for drainage, is freecycled and looks cute.
Clay pots: You can get miniature clay pots, or use eggcups to display the planters.
Mini Greenhouse: If you want to keep your seedlings extra snug and promote faster growth, you can make them a greenhouse out of a pop bottle.
Step 7: Care for your plants
Put your completed planters in a sunny spot, and mist them daily with water so that the soil stays moist. For easier care, you can build a simple greenhouse out of a plastic bottle. I did this with mine and it worked amazingly well.
When the plants grow too big for the shells, gently crack the shells and plant them straight into the garden or a bigger pot. The shell will eventually biodegrade, and the roots will grow out of the shell. The shell also supplements the calcium in the soil.
When the plants grow too big for the shells, gently crack the shells and plant them straight into the garden or a bigger pot. The shell will eventually biodegrade, and the roots will grow out of the shell. The shell also supplements the calcium in the soil.
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But, don't forget to crack and peel away the bottom of the eggshell so the roots can spread out.
Great Ible!
It's nearly easter, so my recommendation is:
Prop the egg shells on a decorative paper ring, just put some moist cotton wool into the egg and use cress seeds. This makes a great decoration for your easter sunday breakfast and if you time it right, everyone can cut the cress from their egg and eat it straight on their buttered sandwich. De-lish!
Awesome instructable -I'm definitely doin' it when I get back from a trip so I can have my own li'l herb garden =)
And before planting you can easily crack the bottomside of the shell by tapping it on the ground and roots will have no problems breaking through.
I like this idea. :D
When having reached the right size, the cardboard sections are cut into separate "pots" and planted "as is".
Roots are getting through the material apparently without any great efforts.
In a greenhouse it might work better, or if there's not chance of raccoons getting at your seedlings, but after that one try I went back to just composting egg shells.
It might make a nice project with kids and marigolds, though, inside a school setting.
Problem is, if starting a lot of plants at a time and trying to get a lot of growth before planting outdoors, ideally large pots/etc can take up a LOT of space and you'll need all that much more light to cover the larger area. Recently I've been using 3" peat pots and that seems the best tradeoff for my needs though with peat pots you usually need to treat for mold growth at first if they are covered to keep moisture high... something like a 1:10 solution of hydrogen peroxide and water spray is handy, cheap, and effective.
She was used to start many types of seeds.
Wow, this would make a great kid project!! will def try this with mine. :()
shantr0n: It doesn't matter if you use hard-boiled eggshells, as long as you can get the egg out without breaking the shell.
thunderstruck: They are biodegradable, but they can take quite a while to fully degrade.
RoBear: You could also use the egg carton. I just think the plants look nicer coming out of the eggshells.
cheese: I would repot them as soon as they are strong enough to be moved, which depends on the particular type of plant. Check out this helpful blog post about transplanting seedlings and 'seed leaves' vs 'true leaves': http://donnabalzer.blogspot.com/2009/03/seed-leaves-vrs-true-leaves.html Good luck!
tincanz: I have never tried it, but i think a coconut shell might make a nice planter (you might need to drill some holes for drainage). I'm not sure about starting seeds in it, because the roots might not be able to break through the bottom. Let me know if you try it!