How to make organic planting pots using old newspapers

Step 7 Final planting

Plant your seed, water and try to remember which kind of seed in which pot... Or make nice-looking tags.
It is useful to put the pots together as this will create a great climate for growing plants. When you water the plants the water will gradually diffuse into surroundning pots making the maintenance of pots easy.

Comments

[ozi]

Don't you find that the water leeches and evaporates out of the pots quickly?

[ac-dc]

It's not much of an issue because you still have water loss through the top of the soil, an area you have to keep watering anyway because it's where the seed/root starts out. Plus, if you didn't have the water loss then the newspaper would stay very wet all the time which could lead to early rupture before you're ready to transplant.

[yngla]

Yes, you have to add water quite often. I guess putting them in a plastic container will prevent that.

[dmackie1]

About chemicals on newspapers: worth checking that the inks on the newspaper you read are fully soy based. From what I understand, the Guardian newspaper in the UK still uses mineral oils, which are quite toxic.

These are very quick to make...

[Westtexian]

wow ! Thanks for the instructions. I am always sharing cuttings with friends and I never have "extra" pots. This will sorta insure that they will survive at least until they get to their new home!

[duleonar]

Thrifty Nickel here I come!!!  :)

[fmlywomn]

[chuckfortneyiii]

This is a fantastic idea. I never thought about making biodegradable pots from newspaper. it helped me alto to start my garden this year great Instructable!

[cshore1213]

Can you transplant the seedling into your garden without removing the newspaper? Will it break down in the soil fast enough so as not to harm the plants??

[yngla]

Yes, as long as you don´t use too much paper (ie double or triple up for stability, in this case that´s not a good idea)

[patanddave]

thank you just made 6 pots planted seeds tagged and are now sitting in my greenhouse a great money saver

[cc1016]

this is a money saver and it is really cool

[dusterpie]

wouldn't there be effects from ink or chemicals on the paper? Just wondering.

[italmrci11]

I'm pretty sure newspaper ink is soy based, obviously it has some dyes and chemicals but it really isn't that harmful. Also, the paper generally has a high percentage of recycled material in it, so it breaks down quickly and has less chemicals then standard printer paper.

[waldy]

lovely instructable, everyone should do this! ps like your labels :)

[SMU79]

Thanks, I won't be wasting money at the garden center buying starter pots again !!!!

[satu12]

This is a great idea for kids as a classroom activity...so simple that i'm going to try it this spring.