My bloggy friend from Goosie Girl posted origami seed starter pots, and I replied that I use toilet tissue rolls for that repurposing purpose. She replied how much easier that would be than folding newspaper into pots so I decided to share this simple to make, cheap, and biodegradable starter pot method. (Check out the Goosie Girl origami newspaper starter pots. I love Renee’s blog. I think you will, too.) This pot was put together very quickly and not especially neatly to relay a money saving idea…you can make them as pretty as you want to…but they will degrade, and all your work will be history.
Needed:
toilet paper rolls
scissors
Start with an empty toilet paper roll…readily available in most every home. Especially those with women. (Here’s hoping anyway.)
Make three or four cuts equal distance apart about 1/3 the length of the roll. I made three cuts in this example, but they sit flatter and look prettier with four. This is one project pretty really doesn’t count…remember we are going to fill it with soil and keep it watered. It’s end result will be putting it in the ground. This is a fine example of beauty being only for a season…
Fold each of the sections toward the center, creasing the edge to form a bottom. If you use four cuts, it is possible to “square” the pot so that it will stand upright more easily.
Bottom of pot formed…tape if you wish, but I don’t find it necessary. If you tape it, remove the tape before transplanting. Plastic doesn’t degrade so easily.
Completed pot ready to be filled with soil and seeded and watered.
Collards seeds in pots…we’ve all heard “a watched pot never boils”, but watched collard seed pots take forever to germinate, too. These have been filled and seeded for over a week.
When it’s time to transplant your seedlings you pop open the bottom tabs and put the whole thing into the ground limiting the disturbance of roots.
I hope this idea is helpful to anyone trying to be thrifty and garden.
UPDATE: March 27 A.M.
The collards have emerged!
Until next time…
- JOY comes by putting Jesus first, Others second, and Yourself last.
- ~ unknown, but tried and true ~
apron strings 
What a great idea!!!! I will have to start saving my empty TP rolls. Thanks!
Hi, Mama Judy, Love your blog….I’m going to add you to the blogs I follow. Thank you for that great idea! I’m going to have to try it. Love ya!
Jess
Jess, I’m so glad you like my blog. I consider that a high compliment. I think you will be pleased with the starter pots. I’m going to check out your blog in the morning. Love you, too. oxo Judy
I have been saving TP rolls for a couple of weeks! My DSH was trying to figure out why I wasn’t throwing them away. thanks for showing how to make the bottom. I was trying to figure out how the dirt would stay in, duh! I also have been saving paper towel rolls. Now I just need to find a place to put them all to sprout!
Oh Judy, I couldn’t wait to share your blog entry with all my friends, a great idea and an even greater use. Now to save my toilet tissue rolls and paper towel rolls too. I used to give them to the kitties to play with, maybe again after Spring has sprung into Summer. Great blog as always. Lennie
Lennie said I had to see this … she knows I am a recycler too!
Brilliant Judy and I must admit always looking at the empty roll thinking there must be something to do with these 🙂
We do recycle all of our cardboard … but this is such a blooming good idea!
TFS as always!
Brightest of Springtime Blessings to you and yours!
oxo
Great idea, Judy! I had to go “build” some as soon as I saw this. I many times use those pellets that have to be soaked, so I cut a roll in half and after folding the bottoms they are the same size as the pellets and will fit in the trays with the clear plastic covers that I already have! Thanks for sharing your idea! Blessings to you.
great idea!
What an excellent idea! I’m going to pass this on to my Master Gardener husband!
I’m off to read more of your blog.
Laura
Love love love this idea! I just threw away 2 empty rolls this morning – one paper towels and one toilet paper roll… gotta go retreive them and start saving them for next years plantings. Thanks!
You are just so welcome! I will recommend creasing them length-wise twice to form a square. I intended to take new pictures and replace the old ones but never got around to it. The squared off roll makes it easier to stand the little seed pots they become…and they fit much neater in a row.
I HATE to throw anything away if it can be repurposed.
I was browsing a website the other day and saw where someone used grapefruit and orange peel halves after eating the fruit and used them as seed starters. The whole thing went into the ground after the seeds came up and the peel degraded leaving plenty of room for root growth. Neat idea…but you’d have to eat a lot of citrus for it to be a very productive method. 🙂
Always good to see you!