Frugal Seed Starting Container Hacks.
Are you ready to start some gardening despite whatever weather you’re experiencing? It’s seed starting time believe it or not! You don’t have to buy those little plastic pots or peat pots to start your seeds if you don’t want to. Save some money and use these ideas for great alternative seed starting containers. Check out these Creative Seed Starting Ideas.
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I had to go to Home Depot today and they are putting out the spring bushes and trees here in Atlanta. I can’t wait to spend some time outside in the sun and warmth. I haven’t decided if I’m going to start any seeds inside this year or just buy seedlings since I have a lot of home reno projects I want to work on. But if I do start any seeds, I’ll definitely be using some of these creative seed starting ideas! It seems silly to buy commercial seed starting cups when I know about all these great DIY seed starting containers I can make!
10 Creative Seed Starting Ideas
1. Upcycle K-Cups
Fresh Eggs Daily explains how to re-use your old K-cups to start seeds.
2. Upcycled Milk Carton Seed Starter
You could use milk or juice cartons to start your seeds. Basil & Amaranth has a great explanation of how to start your seeds in these types of upcycled containers.
3. DIY Newspaper Seed Pots
Learn how to make these newspaper seed pots at HGTV. I used these last year and they worked very well.
4. Repurposed Bottle Self-Watering Seed Pots
Desperate Gardener show you how to repurpose old plastic bottles into these self-watering seed starting containers
5. Upcycled Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Pots
Lady Lee’s Home shows you how to repurpose toilet paper rolls into seed starting pots.
6. Eggshell Seed Starting Pots
Don’t throw out your eggshells! Instead, read about how to plant seeds in eggshells on Apartment Therapy.
7. DIY Paper Pulp Seed Cups
365 Days of DIY shows you how to make these DIY paper pulp seed cups.
8. Coffee Filter DIY Seed Tray
Here’s a coffee filter seed tray from Instructables that you could try for starting seeds.
9. Egg Carton Seed Starting Pots
You could use an egg carton to start your seeds. See how at The Kitchen Garten.
10. Ice Cube Tray Seed Starting Tray
Mr. Brown Thumb shows you how to repurpose an ice cub tray for starting seeds.
Aren’t these some wonderfully creative seed starting ideas? You can basically use any container as long as it has some drainage. Yogurt containers, Styrofoam cups, cans, margarine tubs, Dixie cups, muffin tins, avocado shells, just to name a few. Whatever you use be sure it has been sanitized and use sterile potting soil. You can make your own sterile potting soil if you don’t want to buy any. If you’re starting seeds of something you want to eat, I’d recommend using organic potting soil.
Beat those winter blahs by starting some seeds!
How do you usually start your seeds?
You might also be interested in: 15 Resources For The Beginning Gardener
Pamela Gordon says
February 19, 2014 at 10:40 pmThese are really great ideas Manuela as we are planning on planting a garden this spring. Thanks for sharing. I will pin some of these. Enjoy the warmer weather. Pamela
Debbie says
February 20, 2014 at 5:43 amI really do mean it this year that I want to start my own seeds. I have yet to do it. I do, however, at least claim a small victory to plant my little garden with seeds someone else has started.
I’m going to read the K cup one first. My daughter should have plenty of those to spare.
Lisa @ Fresh Eggs Daily says
February 20, 2014 at 6:41 amWow! Thanks for sharing my K-Cup starters. I am happy to say my seedlings are growling like, well, weeds in them!
Lisa
Fresh Eggs Daily
Cindy says
February 20, 2014 at 7:44 amI started some seeds last weekend and can’t wait for them to come up. I use an old seed tray that was thrown out by the university greenhouses.
Penny @ The Comforts of Home says
February 20, 2014 at 9:35 amThese are great ideas! I don’t have a place in my house to start seedlings. I wish I did.
Theresa H. Roach says
February 20, 2014 at 9:32 pmGreat ideas! It is coming up on time to get the hands dirty:) Enjoy your weekend dear Manuela, HUGS!
Mary Feguson says
February 20, 2014 at 9:48 pmGreat ideas = thanks so much. It sure is a lot cheaper to start your own than buying the 6 packs.
Mary
Rhonda says
February 21, 2014 at 10:21 amI’ve got 3 dozen egg shells with seeds planted in them right now. That k cup idea is great. I think I will start saving those for next time.
We compost, but would you believe I forgot that tea and coffee grounds should be added to it. Thanks for the reminder. My memory is just not what is used to be.
Kathleen Grace says
February 21, 2014 at 1:34 pmIt will be a while before we can start seeds here, but soon I hope! There are some really great ideas here, thanks for putting them all in one place!
Debra @ Frugal Little Bungalow says
February 21, 2014 at 6:37 pmCan’t do it yet but looking forward to when I can in our area! Great post with lots of creative ideas! 🙂
[email protected] says
February 21, 2014 at 6:41 pmA few years ago I used the ice cube tray idea, but since then I haven’t started seeds from scratch. I’m not the most patient person in the world 😉
Donna Shegonee says
February 22, 2014 at 9:59 amI have used news paper pots for several years, they work great for me. Though I now have a Metal Halide grow light, so have to up pot them shortly after germination as they dry out to quickly with the hot light & I even cool the light. I start them under florscent lighting till their tru leaves & then move them
Brenda Kula says
February 22, 2014 at 8:58 pmGreat ideas, Manuela! So ready for spring.
Brenda
Melissa says
March 20, 2014 at 9:50 amThanks for the tips! I want to do my first container garden this year!
Shannon {Cozy Country Living} says
March 20, 2014 at 9:50 amWhat great ideas! I can’t wait to get started on some of them! Pinned:)
Manuela says
March 21, 2014 at 1:30 pmGlad you found some useful ideas Shannon! Thanks for pinning!
Elle says
March 24, 2019 at 9:28 amI save the containers from buying organic salad mix all winter. i put 15 seeds in each container and loosely lay the lid on top. it’s a self-watering greenhouse. once the plants hit the lid, it comes off and watering begins.