Turn Paper Towel Rolls Into Cheap, Biodegradable, Seed Starter Pots
3 Materials
$0
2 Minutes
Easy
I've been wanting to plant some seeds for a while now, and I thought of using paper towels. My only problem was that we don’t actually use too many paper towels in our house; I like re-washing our towels to be eco-friendly. So I had to get some from our friendly neighbors. Turning paper towel rolls into starter pots is a really great project. It’s practically free, it upcycles your paper towels, and it helps your garden flourish.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
My materials consisted of paper towel rolls, scissors, soil, a pot, and seeds (not pictured). I chose parsley seeds, because I love the green leaves, and I love it in my salads.
Step 2: Cut the Paper Towel Tube
Step 2: Cut the Paper Towel Tube
I started by cutting each tube into thirds. This gave me about the right height I needed for a starter pot. I didn't measure how many inches it is, but how many different lengths can a paper towel roll be?
Step 3: Fold the Bottom of the Tube
Step 3: Fold the Bottom of the Tube
You have to fold the tube in two different ways. I folded the open part of the tube in half the horizontal way and the vertical way. That way there are fold lines every fourth of the way around.
Now it almost looks like a square. These corners will help you cut four flaps with ease.
Step 4: Cut Four Tabs
Step 4: Cut Four Tabs
Then I cut along the four folded lines about an inch long.
Step 5: Fold Tabs into Flaps
Step 5: Fold Tabs into Flaps
Fold the flaps inward. You can see how I folded them in the picture.
This makes a sturdy bottom for the pot to temporarily hold my seedling.
Step 6: Add Dirt
Step 6: Add Dirt
I filled it up about ⅔ of the way with fresh soil and kept a little bit of dirt on the side to cover the seeds.
Step 7: Add Seeds
Step 7: Add Seeds
I added my seeds and covered them with more dirt.
That's it! Now enjoy your starter pots. Be sure to water them a lot! I kept mine in a little greenhouse for three weeks before moving them to a larger pot.
Suggested materials:
- Paper towl roll
- Dirt
- Seeds
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2 of 24 comments
![Doreen Kennedy]()
Doreen Kennedyon Apr 24, 2020Looks like you have some very nice parsley or cilantro growing. I also use toilet paper rolls. They work well too.
![Valerie Burge]()
Valerie Burgeon Apr 24, 2020Oh I wish I had seen this a week ago!!! Very creative idea. I'm saving it for next spring. :)
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Have a question about this project?
How many seeds in each towel holder?
And everybody has them!
Thanks for sharing. How can you make sure that the roots will grow through the bottom of the tube?