Garden Therapy

The weather may be warming a bit and it’s been many months since we had our green thumbs in the soil so it’s no surprise that folks are just itching to get seeds started.  I’m hearing about or seeing a lot of different seed starting blog posts floating around the web, from rookies who picked up a kit at the local hardware store to seasoned pros with pretty sophisticated grow ops (no, not that kind).  I’d like to share my experiences with all those super-adorable containers you can make at home (Part 1) as well as some thoughts on the store bought stuff (Part 2).  So here goes, the good, the bad, and the ugly of seed starting containers.

Note: for more information on the whole process of seed starting, check out Seed Starting 101 for the basics.  The following is more in depth on only one of the topics covered briefly in that post.

Homemade Containers

You absolutely, positively, do not need to BUY anything to be successful at seed starting.  Well, besides your seeds (if you haven’t saved your own) and some great sterilized seed starting mix, you can find most of what you need around the house.  Not every oh-so-cute Pinterest-worthy repurposed container gives your seeds the best start though.  And some are just plain time consuming.  Here are the facts so you can choose what is right for you.

Newspaper Pots

These wildly popular little containers can be easily made but cutting strips of newspaper and rolling it around a can, glass, or a fancy-dancy pot maker to make cheap little starters.  Make sure the paper you choose uses a non-toxic soy based ink, especially when growing veggies starts.  Newspaper is biodegradable so you can plant your seedling out in the garden in the newspaper pot and it’ll break down naturally from the bacteria and other organisms in the soil.

Pros: cheap, readily available, plantable pot breaks down easily

Cons: can be flimsy when wet, can’t bottom-water delicate seedlings, time consuming to make many

Toilet Tissue Roll Pots

These pots are a bit sturdier than the newspaper pots and again readily available. To make, cut tissue roll in half, then cut four ½” long slits on the bottom of one end, equally spaced to make 4 flaps you will fold over like closing a box.  In theory the cardboard will break down in the soil so they can be planted out like the newspaper pots BUT not all soil is equal.  If your soil doesn’t have the necessary elements to break down this cardboard quickly the roots will not be able to spread and the plant will suffer.  If you do plant them in the ground be sure to plant the whole container, as if the lip stays above soil it can wick moisture away from the roots.

Pros: cheap, readily available, sturdy, hole in the bottom for drainage

Cons: time consuming to make many, too small to be useful for most seedlings, will likely need to be removed when planting.

Egg Shells and/or Egg Cartons

These are so adorable aren’t they?  Using a cardboard egg carton filled with soil giving 12 little cells to start seeds they you just rip up and plan in the garden like the toilet tubes.  And the egg shells couldn’t be more precious.  HOWEVER…I won’t even do a pros and cons list on them because that’s it for pros (cute) and never mind that you’ll have to remove the seedling from that shell and crush it before it hits the soil, they are just too darn small.  For both the carton and the shell you will have to delicately extract that little seedling before it has its true leaves and plant it in a bigger, deeper container.  I say, why not just start with a bigger container and save Mr. Seedling the stress?

Yogurt Containers

They don’t have to be yogurt (shown here are cream cheese containers) but you get the picture. This is the equivalent of the plastic nursery pots.  Just punch a few drainage holes in the bottom and Bob’s your uncle.  My only suggestion is to check your plastic for food safety to make it isn’t toxic to yourself or your plants.

Pros: cheap, readily available, sturdy, drainage holes for bottom watering

Cons: Unless you are fairly new to gardening, you probably have more nursery pots than yogurt containers, not all plastic is safe to reuse

Plastic Salad Containers

The box that you buy pre-washed baby greens in will make a lovely container.  As will a chicken dome, or a cake tray.  Anything that has a bit of a bottom on it and a wonderful clear plastic lid will create a mini greenhouse akin to what you can buy in retail.  Cut a few holes in the lid for ventilation and check it often to make sure seedlings don’t succumb to the dreaded “dampening off”, a fungal infection that kills the seedling.  You can either set all your little homemade containers in these or line the bottom with soil and plant directly.

Pros: cheap, readily available, sturdy, is a built-in greenhouse

Cons: not all plastic is safe to reuse, you must keep an eye on greenhouse domes and vent regularly to avoid dampening off, need to prick out and transplant germinated seedlings one by one which will inevitably cause some loss

Shredded Paper Pots

Now these brilliant little things I just saw today on Pinterest but they are the same concept as the plantable seed paper I made for Valentine’s Day cards.  For instructions on how to make them please visit the tutorial at 365 Days of DIY.  I think these would make amazing pots to give plants as gifts using different coloured paper to tint the pot. I’m so inspired!

I haven’t used them personally so my pros and cons are based on experience with the plantable paper.  Chime in if you try them and want to share your experiences.

Pros: cheap, readily available, sturdy, breaks down easily in soil

Cons: time consuming to make, takes a long time to dry

That’s my list.  Are there more?  Please comment if there are others out there that you have used and loved or hated.  What it really comes down to is personal preference.  I’ve tried many ways and I have my favourite, trusted, old standby seed-starting methodology, but you will have to wait for Part 2 for that one.

Speaking of it, stay tuned for Seed Starting Containers: The Real Dirt – Part 2 where I’ll write up the pros and cons on the store-bought seed starters out there: peat pellets, fiber pots, and more.