Guys! Spring is almost here! In Portland I dare say it’s even come early, bringing the daffodils springing from every sidewalk crack and kissing the tree tops in blush pink buds. It’s intoxicating!
And it also means we’re coming up quick on planting season. Even if you’re not seeing it out your own front window, I assure you it’s coming . . . and soon!
Last year I offered a green alternative to plastic seed pots, with a recycled newspaper version. This year I present a new twist on the same concept – this time using your spent toilet paper rolls!
And once again, it’s just so easy. Like so:
Begin with your TP roll. You’ll need one per plant.
Cut! You’ll want a series of cuts around one edge, maybe 1.5 inches apiece. I did 5-6 cuts per roll.
It’ll look like this.
Fold down the tabs to make a nice flat bottom. No need to fasten or anything fancy – it should stay put on it’s own. Fill with potting soil and proceed with starting your seeds as normal.
When you’re ready to transplant, just unfold the bottom tabs and then cut the cardboard away. So start collecting those TP rolls! (and don’t forget to recycle or compost them once you’re done)
Don’t you love how the green DIY method is also always the most efficient, most practical method? I love that!!
Tenise Rae
23 February, 2010
I don’t think I’ll ever throw another tube away again. This is a sweet idea!!
Ashley Ladd
23 February, 2010
That’s brilliant! We switched to family cloth last year though, so no leftover rolls in this house.. Maybe I can get some from the neighbors, but I may have to do too much explaining.. haha
Kathryn
24 February, 2010
…and they’ll look so cute all lined up while they’re sprouting!
Three cheers for easy and resourceful gardening!
Squiggle
24 February, 2010
Toilet roll insides…so many uses! I have snakes and use them as up-cycled (and later compostible) houses and hides too. I’m going to have to start asking the neighbours too!
April
24 February, 2010
We live in Michigan, where we are eeply buried in snow. A midwinter project, such as this’ is just what I need to get me through until spring :)
By the way, what are you sprouting?
April
24 February, 2010
*deeply
whoops :)
Heather
24 February, 2010
SO.COOL. thanks!! I just may link this to my facebook page ;)
Also, this is perfect timing, because I’m trying to get a church community garden started through my church, and the more people I can get started early the better. This is a great way to get them to start their veggies!
Lauren
24 February, 2010
thanks for posting this! it’s so cool and seems so easy! now i just need to get my seeds going.
hales
24 February, 2010
absolutely LOVE THIS!!!
Kelly
24 February, 2010
Now that is just super cute and awesome!
gingersnap
24 February, 2010
I tried this method a couple years ago and found that the cardboard did not break down sufficiently in the ground, so I wound up with stunted little plants after a certain point. I’d still recommend using the TP rolls with one modification: when you’re ready to transplant, just slice down each roll with scissors, peel away the cardboard (you can compost it–it will break down in a nice, hot compost pile), and plant each seedling in its little naked cylinder of dirt.
Hope that’s helpful!
emily
24 February, 2010
i’m w/ gingersnap. last year i tried using egg cartons for seedlings. worked great until i put them in the ground! the roots weren’t able to penetrate the paper. i ended up having to dig them up, and remove the cartons which was a chore b/c the little roots were digging into it. the plants did fairly well from there, until the southern texas drought hit…
Valerie
24 February, 2010
I was wondering about the glue residue on TP rolls. Couldn’t it harm the plants? I think gingersnap has a good alternative. Just unhinge the bottom and the plants just might slide out the bottom into the ground. That’s what I thought you you were going to say.
Tenise Rae
24 February, 2010
I’m still determined to make this tp roll thing work. What if you unhinged the bottom and maybe cut down the side a bit? Then the roots could get out and down. By the time the plant is big enough the tp roll might be soft enough for the roots to get through???
I don’t have a compost pile going yet. So I really wouldn’t know what to do with the little rolls after they were removed. :-\
Oh yeah…and Valerie…depending on what brand of tp you get…some don’t even use glue. It appears, to me, that the brand Sayward has might just be that kind of brand. However, mine definitely has a little strip of glue. :( I’m hoping it’s water soluble and not filled with chemicals. I keep thinking Elmers Glue…..cheap, works and water soluble?? I gotta research this now. Hehehe….
Farmingtheburbs
24 February, 2010
Why didn’t I know about this sooner, I would have been saving and saving for this coming season. Thanks. :-)
EroSan
24 February, 2010
@Valerie… Most toilet paper tubes are made with a spiral of cardboard… so I guess you could just “peel” the cardboard…
also: offtopic, but I just found this totally unrelated thing to do with the extra tp tubes and it totally kicks ass:
http://www.loudreams.com/2009/04/06/toilet-paper-roll-sculptures/
Laura Burris
24 February, 2010
OMG Thank you so much for this. We were having such a problem finding pots to plant seedlings in.
Sayward
24 February, 2010
I know guys, aren’t they adorable?? And totally easy and practical. So glad so many of you plan to try them out!
And thanks to those who’ve done this before. I think you’re right and I’ll amend the original post with instructions to remove the casing before planting. It should be easy enough.
About the glue, I don’t think it would be an issue, but removing the tub before you transfer them into the ground will definitely avoid any problem. =)
@ April – That little sprout just popped up in one of my houseplants, so I used him for artistic purposes. =) It’s just about time to get the seeds going here, so I don’t have any actual veggie sprouts yet. But I will be [hopefully!] planting tomatoes, cucumbers, sunflowers, and a wide variety of herbs. Wish me luck!
@ EroSan – That art is fantastic!
Minna
24 February, 2010
They are sooo cute! And will be perfect for the Easter!
I hope next Spring I’ll be able to start my first very own gardening project. The blossoming Spring sounds so lovely, but I know back home in Estonia it’s the snowiest winter in ages (only the 1924 record hasn’t been beaten yet), can’t believe I’m not there to see that fairy tale!
Also, this TP roll art is crazy, I like it so much! I will definitely try that.
Courtney
25 February, 2010
That is so absolutely awesome! I wish I had somewhere to plant things. Living in our friend’s basement doesn’t leave much space for even potted things. But I’m definately going to remember this when we get our own place!
Shelby
25 February, 2010
In terms of seeds, I’ve become very interested in heirlooms and native plants. So far the only place I’ve found heirlooms at was Seeds Of Change, and the native plants I had to do some digging around on the internet for. I work at a kennel with a bunch of empty planters, so I cross-referenced my list of native plants with a list of dog-safe plants so we can have a pretty and safe place for dogs! I can’t wait to get started on this idea, I don’t have any newspaper here so this is great! Any thoughts on natives/heirlooms guys?
Kaye
25 February, 2010
This is cute! I’d love to start some sort of garden with this idea, although I don’t have any gardening space outside at all… (I’m renting a room in a house right now, and they don’t have any kind of garden here, just grass) I wonder if it would be possible to rig this up as a mini indoor garden?
Tricia
27 February, 2010
Brilliant idea! I use toilet rolls as pots for seedlings – but never thought to fold over the bottom. Thank you!
Sayward
1 March, 2010
@ Shelby – I think natives are totally the way to go for landscaping-type situations. That just makes good sense. =) But for food I think non-native species are fine, because the more diversity you grow, the less you’ll buy from the store (flown in from around the world). But I always make sure to get organic, ideally heirloom, seeds. I LOVE heirloom varieties. There’s something so special, almost magical, about them!
@ Kaye – Indoor gardening is totally possible! Check out my article on container gardening for some ideas, plus my article on starting seeds indoors will help you get set up. Basically you just need a sunny windowsill, or in lieu of that, a nice bright full-spectrum bulb.
Mama Monique
15 April, 2010
Hey hello there!
Don’t know exactly how I got here, but LOVE this blog! Long time I am searching a way to re use these things. What a great idea!
Do you mind me using this blog on my weblog? Really love to share this with my readers.
Love from Holland,
Mama Monique
P.S. Hope you don’t mind I linked you?
Sayward
20 April, 2010
@ Mama Monique – I don’t mind at all, as long as you credit me. Thanks! And I’m so glad you like the site – hope to see you around! =)
Macaron
26 April, 2010
Thank you so much for this great idea ! I have been looking for a green alternative to plastic for weeks now. Thanks again from Northern France.
30 Comments to How To Make TP Roll Seed Pots