Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Cups

How to Make and Plant Toilet Paper Roll Seed Starter Cups.

When starting our family’s homesteading journey, the first thing I needed to conquer was gardening and growing our food. At first, I purchased starter vegetable plants from our local gardening big box store. It worked to use pre-established plants from a good source. I had little trouble with growing them to maturity and was able to learn and obtain proper gardening techniques in my learning stage. So that is how I came up with toilet paper roll seed starter cups.

Unfortunately, it costs a fortune to grow a large garden which we have established on the homestead after several years. Over time our family’s garden size increased to over 1500 square feet in area. At that size and at $3.99 per plant, the cost was becoming too much to handle. So my next best bet was to learn how to grow vegetable plants from seed. We preferably wanted heirloom seeds so we can save them for next years planting.

Different planting containers.

There are several different materials to grow seeds. Many online and box stores sell those cute little plastic seedling cup trays. I liked that those are at least reusable, but they don’t see to hold enough and were expensive. My infatuation is making and using something that we already have in the house.

I had used old cardboard egg cartons before my toilet paper roll method. The cardboard was good because you could cut out each cup and plant it directly into the ground when ready. It is a great idea except after two months of being watered, the cardboard weakens and makes it hard to cut out. The other problem I had was they didn’t have enough space for the roots. Those small cups are shallow, and after two months, the roots grow through the bottom of the wet cups, becoming tangled and difficult to cut out.

I learned from my mistakes and now grow seeds in another recycled material, toilet paper rolls. The family is now trained not to throw them out but instead toss them in a designated container in each bathroom to save throughout the year. It is amazing how many we collect over a years time. I feel great knowing those rolls don’t end up in the landfills and we get two things for the price of one.

How to put them together.

As they are open-ended on both sides, one side needs a solid bottom, so the soil doesn’t fall out. First, cut four one-inch cuts into one side then fold the four pieces and tape down.

I have to cover a large garden, so I need to make many cups. One method is to save them and then cut and fold the entire batch while binging your favorite shows on Amazon Prime Video, which I love to do. Or you can put them together as you collect them.

Like the egg cartons I stated above, the cardboard does soak up water when watered. I like to keep them lined up in black plastic growing trays without holes which keeps the water and extra wetness contained. These trays are perfect for other things like growing chicken fodder, kids painting supplies, and storing the kids muddy boots.

How to fill the rolls.

Once I make all my toilet paper rolls, I fit them in the trays. I can fit roughly 72 rolls in the entire tray, six wide by twelve long. The rolls are then filled with seedling starter soil, filled to the top. I like to use a teaspoon to fill each cup. It reduces the amount of soil spillage. Next, tap down the full tray a few times on the table. Much of the soil will settle and leave a large space on the top of the cup.

Gathering my seeds, I coordinate which trays are what. My method is usually like this; one tray for annual flowers, one for perennials, one for herbs, one for tomatoes, one for peppers, and another for any extra veggies that need to be started by seeds. I also grow more than one type of tomato or pepper so it is necessary to keep track of which roll is to what veggie. Before adding the seeds I write on the top of each roll, with a black Sharpie markers, the name of each plant. Typically, it is abbreviated.

How to plant seeds in rolls.

Once each roll is filled with soil, settled down, and labeled, then time for the seeds. Adding the number of seeds is dependant on type planted. For tomatoes and peppers, add two to three seeds to each roll. For flowers and herbs, you can add more since they are much smaller in size. I sprinkle the seeds on top of the soil and spread as far apart from each other.

Next, lightly pour more seedling soil on top of the seeds and then water. Watering can be tricky. Seedling soil is light. If you pour water on top of the soil, it will puddle on top and not sink in properly. It may displace the seeds just planted. What I like to do is instead of placing dry soil on top, have it presoaked with warm water like a nice warm blanket. The water seems to soak in better down below the seeds.

How to germinate your seeds in the rolls.

Now is the time to keep the toilet paper rolls warm. Before germination, the rolls don’t need much sunlight. I like to place my trays on germination warming mats. Once seeds germinated I keep the seedlings on 18 hours of fluorescent lighting. I use two-foot lighting fixtures with T8 light bulbs which I find at my local hardware store.

Growing your plants from seeds can be daunting. I compare it to have a baby in the house. There is a constant check of soil moisture levels and the thinning of seedlings. One year I didn’t have enough lights and had to switch the trays around every evening and again in the morning. I worked well but it was nerve racking remembering them. Thankfully it only lasted two months before I had to put them outside.

Troubleshooting problems.

Unfortunately, there are problems with this method, like any other method. The main problem is wet cardboard and warm wet air, not circulating. It is a breeding ground for mold. I do get mold growth on the outside of the paper rolls of the cups placed in the interior of the trays. Luckily the cups on the outside edge don’t get much. To help slow mold growth, I rotate the interior rolls to the outside and vise versa. Also, try not to overwater the cups to keep from soaking into the cardboard.

When the seedlings start to grow, you will start to notice whether a cup of seeds are duds, and nothing grows. I pull out the cups without growth which helps give room to my other cups and air circulates more freely.

Best lighting methods.

Keep lighting close to your seedlings. I like to keep the top of the cups about a half-inch away from the florescent lights. When germination begins, I raise the lights away from the tray. The plant leaves shouldn’t touch the light bulbs because it will burn them. You also don’t want them too far away because it makes them spindely and weak as they reach for the light as they grow.

Hardening off and planting rolls outside.

When each seedling has a healthy thick stalk that can easily hold itself up to the outdoor winds and have at least four to five true leaves, then it is time to harden off your cups. The first two leaves emerge from the seed are cotyledon and not true leaves, so do not county those leaves.

Once you feel the plants can make it out on their own and the weather is appropriate then it is time to bring them outside. I like to bring all my trays in the direct sunlight for one-hour increments extending each day. When the plants can be outside for more than 12 hours then it is time to plant them in the ground.

The cardboard will decompose in the ground so you can plant the entire roll without removing it. Keeping the cup intact will prove easier to plant in the long run. I tear the bottom of the cup carefully to help proper root development and faster plant growth.

What do you think about using toilet paper rolls for seedling cups? Let us know what you think and help others with other tips.