If you're an avid gardener and a DIY enthusiast, you may have already tried your hand at various eco-friendly measures in your garden, such as composting and conserving water. In this blog post, our team at East Coast Fencing will introduce a fun and eco-friendly gardening technique that is perfect for the British allotment or garden – making your own paper plant pots!

Skip store-bought plastic pots and create your own biodegradable version with just a few simple items you probably already have at home. Read on to learn how!

Why Choose Paper Plant Pots?

Before diving into the instructions, let's briefly explore the benefits of using paper plant pots in your garden.

  1. Eco-friendly: These pots biodegrade with time, reducing plastic waste and contributing to the health of our planet.
  2. Cost-effective: Instead of spending money on store-bought plastic pots, you can create these paper pots using materials that would usually go into recycling.
  3. Stress-free transplants: When it's time to plant your seedlings in the ground or larger pots, there's no need to remove the paper pot. Just plant it directly to limit transplant stress and encourage root development.

What You'll Need

  • Newspapers, or other sheets of lightweight paper
  • A can or glass (for use as a paper pot mould)
  • Scissors
  • A tray for holding your completed pots

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Paper Plant Pots

  1. Prepare your paper: Cut the newspaper into strips that are approximately 10cm wide and the full length of a newspaper column.
  1. Create your pot: Lay your can or glass on its side on a strip of paper, with the open end of the can positioned about halfway down the width of the paper. Then, roll the paper around the can, making sure that there is a bit of paper extending past the bottom edge of the can.
  1. Fold the bottom: Carefully fold the excess paper towards the can, pressing down to crease the bottom edges. This will create the base of your paper plant pot.
  1. Secure the base: Gently remove the can or glass from the paper, maintaining the pot shape. Tidy up the folded edges and ensure the base is secure by pressing down firmly.
  1. Shape and style: Repeat steps 2-4 until you have crafted enough pots for your planting needs. If desired, further customise their look by folding down the top edge of each pot to create a stylish rim or label for easy identification.
  1. Pot your plants: Place soil inside your paper pots and add your seeds or seedlings. Arrange the pots on a tray, ensuring there is sufficient spacing for each plant to grow.
  1. Plant your pots: Once your seedlings have sprouted and grown to a healthy size, you can plant the entire paper pot into the ground or larger containers. The paper will gradually break down, providing additional nutrients to your plants and allowing roots to grow freely.

In Conclusion

Making your own paper plant pots can be a rewarding way to combine your love for gardening and DIY while also contributing to a greener environment. Plus, these pots are a cost-effective solution for fostering healthy plant growth.