Use These Biodegradable Seed Starters to Prep Your Garden

Egg Shells

Egg shells are one of the best options for seed starters because they are all-natural and contain nutrients that can support plant growth while enriching the soil.  They also are easy to break apart once the seedlings are ready to be transplanted into larger pots or your garden.  The important thing to consider when working with egg shells is that they should be thoroughly rinsed prior to planting, and you also need to make sure that you are washing your hands after cleaning and handling them.  This will reduce the chances of accidentally transmitting potential food-borne illnesses around the home.

There are a variety of different ways that you can use egg shells.  Two of the most popular options are to cut them down the middle and make two seed starters or make a cut along the top and insert one plant.  They are also ideal for indoor growing projects because you can keep them in egg cartons and place them on windowsills or other sunny areas.  You can also write on the names of plants on the sides of the shells in order to identify them as well.  When ready to transplant, crack the bottom of the shell, remove a couple of fragments and place directly into the larger pot or garden.  Nothing can be easier.

Toilet Paper Rolls

Toilet paper or paper towel rolls can easily be converted into seed starters.  Simply cut the tubes into smaller sections, fold in one of the ends and create bottoms for each container.  Add your potting mix, seeds and anchor them in a larger pot of soil.  When ready to transplant, gently grip the sides of the tubes, pull out and bury directly in the garden, pot or flower bed.  The tubes will also degrade which means that you don’t have to disturb the plants as you remove them.

Biodegradable Egg Cartons

You can also use biodegradable egg cartons and plant seedlings directly into the holes.  You can also cut the cartons into smaller sections and group plants according to species as well.  Simply separate each section of carton when ready to plant and place it directly into the ground.  Just make sure that you cut away a piece of the bottom so the roots can grow and the plant will break the carton as it gets bigger.

Paper Cups

If you have paper cups that are not coated with wax, you can use them for seedlings as well.  Poke some holes in the bottom, add the soil and seeds and let grow.  You can also label the sides to better identify them as well.  Cut some gashes in the bottom and peel away when ready to plant and nature will take care of the rest.

These are just a few examples of many options that can be used for growing plants, and they won’t cost you anything to put together.  They are also an excellent way of disposing of and eliminating household waste.  Try them out for yourself and think about other items that you may have laying around the house as well.  At the end of the day, the key to self-sufficiency is to use resources that you have on hand as much as possible, and these little items can help you to accomplish that goal.