Alternatives For DIY Seed Planting Pots On The Cheap

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These alternative, many of which are DIY, seed starter pots are great examples that gardening doesn’t have to be expensive.

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Starting vegetable and herbs seedlings indoors is an easy, economical way to get a head start on your growing season for a fraction of the cost of established plants. With a few packets of your favorite seeds, some soil, and these alternative DIY seed starter pots & tray ideas, your sure to be enjoying the fruits of your labors in no time at all.

We’ve all seen the romantic pictures of beautifully organized greenhouses filled to the brim with emerging seedlings all neatly placed and looking pristine. As gorgeous as they are, growing in that way is timely and costly.

In my house you’ll find a couple of tables filled with a mixture of re-purposed containers, pots and planting cells all covered in dirt and soil. The beauty of them, however, is that they are virtually FREE. Who doesn’t like free?

I literally have not purchased planting containers in over 13 years. No need to when there are so many options laying around the house or easily sourced and re-purposed.

So what to use for DIY seedling pots or seed starting trays? Just about anything that will hold soil. I do however have my favorites which I have used for the last many years and others that I do not recommend as they may be inconvenient or difficult to use.

REUSE & REPURPOSE SEEDLING POTS

Always reuse and re-purpose what you may have available around the house. Old saved planting trays and cells are by far my favorites to use every year. I have planting cells that I am still reusing every year that are over 10 years old. To reuse every year I highly recommend that you clean and disinfect them prior to using to ensure your plantings remain disease free.

To disinfect, I simply wipe out any dried on remaining soil there may be from last year, place in my tub with hot water and about a cup of bleach. I leave these to “marinate” in the bleach for a good couple of hours. Drain the tub, rinse the cells well and dry before using.

RECYCLED

Save your yogurt cups & containers, cans, milk jugs, and plastic soda bottles. These items can easily be used with a little adjustment for sprouting some seeds. Simply cut the jugs or soda bottles in half, take a hammer and a medium sized nail and punch a drainage hole in the bottom of your containers, fill with your starting soil and you’re on your way.

Need further planting instructions? Check out my post, “When Life Hands You Heirloom Seeds, Just Plant ‘Em!” for detailed instructions on planting.

UPCYCLE

My second favorite source of DIY seedling pots is to use any container you may have laying about. Old muffin trays & tins, leftover tin cans, and plastic egg cartons (some can convert easily to greenhouses as they have the covers attached) all make great containers. Or old unused ice cube trays. Again, simply place a small drainage hole in the bottom of each “cell” or container for drainage.

I purchase a lot of organic baby spinach during the winter months, you know the containers with the lid attached? I love to use these for sprouting as you can just close the cover and create an instant greenhouse. Lazy that I am, I don’t place a drainage hole in the bottom of these as they are so deep it’s really not necessary. I think my lettuce is in desperate need of transplanting 🙂 .

TOILET PAPER & PAPER TOWEL ROLL SEEDLING POTS

Many seem to recommend these as they are easy to use, readily available :), and easy to make. They are also biodegradable making it even more convenient when getting those starters out in your garden.

A great tutorial on how to make these simple seed starter pods can be found at “The Spruce” in Colleen’s post, “How To Use Toilet Paper Rolls For Seed Starting“.

With any of the biodegradable options, cardboard & paper, you will need to keep an eye on them closely for mold development.

When watering:

• Too Little Water = drying out easily as the cardboard will absorb moisture
• Too Much Water = will easily develop mold issues

When it comes to watering with these materials, take the Goldilocks & The Three Bear approach and create a moisture level that’s “just right” 🙂 .

PAPER CUP & EGG CARTON SEEDLING POTS

Other biodegradable options include paper cups and egg cartons (cardboard). Both these options can be transplanted directly into the garden by simply tearing off the sections of egg carton “cell” and planting or tearing open the bottom of the paper cup and planting directly.

HOW TO MAKE PAPER NEWSPRINT PLANT POTS

There are several methods of creating starter seed newsprint pots. The first is making small pots with the “origami” method. I have shared a great tutorial video from Crouton Crackerjacks, many thanks for creating this, on how you can make these up in a jiffy.

The other method with newsprint is to use a very inexpensive tool, the Pot Maker. I purchase mine quite a few years ago but can be found at any of the box chain stores online. I made a little video to share with you how easy it is to make these convenient little pots.

For all of you who raise laying hens, many are suggesting to use egg shells as they are super beneficial in giving your garden calcium and other nutrients. However, quite frankly, they are a pain to work with and difficult to fill. I would not recommend using for seed starting. Great to add to your compost pile or grind them and add directly to your garden tho’ 🙂

No matter what you choose to grow your seedlings in, make sure they are properly marked for identification. What’s the best way to track seedlings when you’re planting tray upon tray? With my Garden Management Planner!

Track year-to-year all your planning, planting, maintaining, & growing in one convenient binder. And did I mention how pretty they are 😉

These are just a few suggestions for how to make biodegradable pots, as well as finding unusual seedling starter pot ideas. What are your favorite pots to use? Tried any of these? Have more suggestions? Let us know what worked and what didn’t!

Love, Laughter, & Happy Sprouts!