Ditch the Plastic and Make These Newspaper Seedling Pots Instead

It's gardening season, and you know what that means: seedlings galore. Before you rush out and buy a bunch of plastic pots, get a little creative by upcycling the stack of newspapers you already have at home. 

Newspaper seedling pots are the perfect option for anyone who's trying to live a more low-waste lifestyle. They're really easy to make, too. Just ask Kate of @my_plastic_free_home, who shared exactly how to go about it on Instagram.

"I made these really easy seedling pots using newspaper and a bottle today," she wrote. "I needed them to be three inches wide, as I’m planting sweet peas. Just choose a bottle or jar that's the size you want for your pot."

Instead of using plastic (which is estimated to reach 12 billion metric tons in landfills by 2050), these newspaper seedling pots are completely compostable after you're finished with them. There's no need for any fancy tools, either. Just a glass bottle or jar, newspaper, scissors, and a little bit of patience.

When you're ready to make some newspaper seedling pots of your own, follow Kate's simple instructions below.

How to Make Eco-Friendly Newspaper Seedling Pots

What You’ll Need:

Newspaper
Scissors
Glass bottle or jar
Compostable tape (optional)
Seedling fertilizer (optional)

Instructions:

1. Choose a bottle or jar that's the size you want for your pot.
2. Using scissors, cut strips of newspaper so you have enough space to fold under to make a bottom.
3. Place a glass bottle or jar on the newspaper strips and roll a couple times around it. Two sheets of newspaper makes them extra sturdy.
4. Optional: To make it even sturdier, you can use a little compostable tape on the bottom and side of your pot. It also works without tape, if you don’t have it.
5. Remove the bottle and fill the newspaper seedling pot with soil mix.
6. Plant the seeds an inch from the top, and watch them sprout.