Recycle Seed Starting Containers

Reuse or Improvise Pots for Germination and Growing Transplants

Jan 2, 2007

Whether your goal is sustainable green living or cheap seed starting on a budget, using improvised or recycled seed starter pots, containers and trays for seed starting, planting seeds, transplants and even longer term container plants is an easy step to take. There is no benefit to skimping on seed or soil mix as these determine the quality of the plants you raise, but the containers are great candidates for adaptive improvisation and re-use. (You can save your own seeds, too!) Follow these practical tips for best results with inexpensive or free, recycled pots and other containers for starting flower or vegetable seeds and growing transplants.

Recycled and Free Seed Starting Pans Save Space During Seed Germination Phase

Space is always at a premium when it comes to raising seedlings and transplants. The often recommended egg cartons, however, are too small for raising healthy plants. Instead, to conserve space and soil mix, I use seed starting pans. You can start a large number of seeds in a single pan with minimal table space. (See How to Start Seeds Indoors.)

Seed starting pans should be two to three inches deep. Grocery stores offer many choices to recycle such as deli containers, whipped topping containers, strawberry boxes and mushroom boxes, or cut down milk jugs and containers. Once the seedlings reach a manageable size, transplant them into individual containers.

Recycle and Reuse or Adapt Individual Containers

For individual containers, many gardeners recycle cell packs and small pots from previously purchased plants. Don’t bother saving cell packs or pots that are damaged, torn or cracked as they will not hold up. Collect uniform sizes -- use all the same for each type of plant to keep watering and transplanting needs consistent.

As an alternative, new paper cups are perfect for first step transplants and those that will be ready to plant out in four to six weeks; the 3 and 5 ounce sizes suit most. If your plants need more than six weeks before planting in the garden, switch to plastic cups because the paper cups do not hold up that long. Cups are inexpensive, clean, and also important -- uniform.

With a little planning, you can save and reuse enough sturdy plastic cups, yoghurt containers, single serving milk boxes, and so on throughout the year(s) for all your transplants. (Also save the matching lid to use underneath as a drainage saucer.) The holiday party season often yields dozens of plastic cups, for example.

Recycled or Re-used Containers Must be Clean

Wash all recycled containers thoroughly and dip in bleach and water solution to sanitize. Use one part bleach to nine parts water. Air dry on a clean sheet of newspaper, then stack and store in a bag or box protected from dust.

Every Pot -- for Seed Starting and Transplants -- Must Have Drainage Holes

Every container must have a hole or holes for drainage. You will have to make holes in most adaptive containers. Experiment to see what tool works best for making the holes. I have used a hammer and nail, a heated metal kitchen skewer and a drill. Be careful, don’t hurt yourself.

Recycled Trays Protect Table Surface and Make Moving Seedlings Easy

Finally, you need clean, waterproof trays to put under the containers. These protect your table surface from spills and moisture damage. Sometimes you can recycle lids for this purpose. Worn out cookie sheets or baking pans or even plastic picnic plates work well. Or check with a commercial kitchen for large “disposable” aluminum foil baking pans. If your tray is too flexible, use it to line a cardboard box when it comes time to carry your seedlings to the cold frame and into the garden.

Share Your Recycling Tips and Ideas

Gardening is such a prime candidate for being eco friendly by "going green" and taking positive action toward sustainability. I hope this gives you some practical tips on how to improvise and recycle pots, trays and other containers for inexpensive yet efficient and effective seed starting and growing transplants at home.

The copyright of the article Recycle Seed Starting Containers in Flower Gardens is owned by Barbara M. Martin. Permission to republish Recycle Seed Starting Containers in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Jan 1, 2007 11:34 AM

Barbara M. Martin :

I made a mistake recently and used a seed pan that was just too shallow. I had a lovely little clear plastic blackberry box with lid, but it was only about an inch deep. It was so cute and the lid and box bottom both had nice perforations for airflow and drainage, so I experimented to see how it would work as a seed pan. It germinated the seeds just fine. But, it really is too shallow. The soil dries out too quickly now that the seedlings are up and the lid is opened. As soon as the true leaves appear I'll be transplanting ASAP.

ps Of course, this is the same poor batch of seedlings I have been having so much trouble with. I've blogged about them a couple of times -- here's the first one. <b><a href="http://flowergardens.suite101.com/blog.cfm/seedling_problems_at_ home">Seedling Problems at Home</a></b>