Last Updated on August 9, 2022 by Real Men Sow
Not only is it eco-friendly but you will also save money by making your own paper pots. The newspaper pots can be used for half-hardy annuals such as cosmos, antirrhinum and zinnias. They are 100% biodegradable. The whole pot can then be placed in the soil once the plants have been allowed to go outside.
What do you need for paper plant pots?
You will need a pile of newspaper and some circular objects to make molds. Wrap strips of paper around a bottle several times before folding the paper over the base. You can also buy simple wooden pot-making tools. You can also make glass jar lanterns, or a home for the stag beetles out of old plastic pots if you are looking for eco-friendly gardening ideas.
Materials Needed For Paper Plant Pots
- Newspaper
- Cylindrical objects, such as bottles (or a pot-making kit)
DIY Paper Plant Pots Steps
- You can make pots for any purpose using molds of various sizes.
- You can cut strips of newspaper so that they are long enough to be folded half-way across the base of the mold. Then roll the paper around to create 4-6 layers in each pot.
- To create pots that are firm, wrap tightly and then fold the paper over the base to ensure there is no space for compost to fall.
- The crimping block in wooden kits helps to create a crease that holds paper rigid. Or, you can simply push the base onto a flat surface.
- Slide the paper pot carefully out of the mold. Place the pots on a tray for sowing.
Important Additional Notes
- Your pot will be determined by the size of the can or jar you use, so make sure to choose carefully!
- To avoid injury, cover any sharp openings in a can or tin with duct tape.
- When the seedlings have grown enough to be planted, you can place the entire pot directly into the ground. The paper will eventually rot (biodegrade), within a few weeks.
- These pots are great for giving plants away. You can also plant individual seeds of sunflower or tomato in these pots to bring sunshine to your neighborhood.
