Recycled Seedling Container Ideas

Recycled plastic containers for seedlings.

A variety of materials and food containers can be reused for starting your garden plants. This guide is about recycled seedling container ideas.

Video: Toilet Paper Tube Seedling Pots

Every household has plenty of tp tubes. They make great seedling pots, so why not reuse some of them instead of recycling them.

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Solutions: Recycled Seedling Container Ideas

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Reuse Plastic Containers for Seedlings

When I buy my chicken in bulk, they come in big plastic containers. The containers make perfect seedling trays for the green house and they're free. I also use all the plastic containers that tomatoes, plums, etc. come in. Recycled plastic containers for seedlings.

Using recycled plastic containers for seedlings.

By anniesplace from Blackpool, England

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Homemade Indoor Seedling Containers

I find that egg cartons and pudding snack containers do not provide enough space for proper root formation of indoor seedlings. I make my own containers with no more than pages from an old phone book and masking tape.

The size I want the finished "cell" to be will determine whether it will be 1 2 or 3 pages thick. It will also determine what I choose to wrap the pages around before taping edges and formed bottom together and then sliding off. The finished cells are placed in suitable containers such as frozen food trays filled with my homemade potting soil planted with seed watered and placed where they will receive as much sunlight as possible.

Pros:
You can make a variety of sizes.
All components are free.
Plastic is kept out of the landfill.
Easy to do.
Container and all can be planted (break open bottom a bit first).
You feel good about what you've done.

Cons:
There are none.

By likekinds

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Toilet Paper Tube Seedling Pots

Every household has plenty of tp tubes. They make great seedling pots so why not reuse some of them instead of recycling them. :)

Supplies:

toilet paper tubes
scissors

Steps:

Cut the TP tube in half. Then make 4 cuts that are approx. 1/2 in. creating 4 flaps of equal size.
Fold one flap inward then working clockwise fold the other flaps down. Tuck the corner of the last flap under the corner of the first flap. (Like when you are closing a cardboard box.)
Turn them over and gently press them down on a flat surface so make the bottoms flat so that they will stay upright.
Turn them over fill with soil and plant your seeds. Once the seeds have sprouted and are ready to go into the ground just plant them with the pot. The cardboard will disintegrate in the soil.

By lalala...

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Recycled Seedling Containers

For many planting zones, it is close to time to start your seedlings indoors. Be creative-you don't need the expensive jiffy pots. I like to use the cardboard egg cartons, and cut down used Styrofoam cups. Sometimes I make my own containers out of newspaper. I roll it around a spool of thread, then tuck in the ends as if I am wrapping a gift. Fill with potting soil or seed starter mix. I am sure you can find other items to start them in as well.

Those containers that salads, cakes, and pies come in (with the dark bottoms and clear plastic dome lids) make great "terrariums" to put your seedling containers in. I cut my egg carton cells to fit in them.

On top of the refrigerator is a great place for your seedlings, providing you have a kitchen with good lighting. The refrigerator top provides heat that is important for the seeds to grow, and it is a spot where they are out of the way and won't get smashed. I usually start my plants around Feb 15. By transplant time I have some good sized zucchini, squash, tomatoes, pumpkins, and more ready to transplant over.

I usually get my seeds at the dollar store, 10 packs for a dollar, and the rest of my planting is recycled. A good sized bag of potting soil usually lasts me 3 years.

By mom-from-missouri from NW MO

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Start Seeds in Egg Carton

When you buy your eggs, some of the containers, like Eggland's Best, are clear plastic containers. Buy those and save them for starting seeds. They have a clear plastic cover that covers where the eggs sit. Just fill those spaces with dirt, drop in a few seeds, cover with the plastic cover, and you have little miniature greenhouses!

By gypsygina from Oklahoma City, OK

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Recycled Items For Starting Seeds

I have been using ice cream tubs as window sill propagators I have larger ones but these work OK for a small number of seeds. I also use lollipop sticks to label my plants with :-

By richard from Leicester, UK

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Questions

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Recycled Seedling Containers

I love to start seedlings early, and didn't have anything to put the soil and seeds in to get started so I went to the kitchen and there was my answer! You know the containers that the floor cleaning cloths come in, they are perfect for starting seeds in. You use the container part for the soil and seeds and the cover to place under the container. This works great and you're recycling too.

By Joyce from Tennessee

Recycled Seedling Containers

When I am starting to grow plants indoors, I drill a couple of holes in an empty yogurt or juicy juice container (I cut the tops off) and use them as the pots.

By Abigail from Columbus, SC

RE: Recycled Seedling Containers

The 100% reclaimed paper egg cartons make great seed starters. When the plants are large enough cut each egg holder apart and plant them into the ground not disturbing the small plant. Talk about recycling. (05/25/2008)

By Carolyn