How to Plant in Toilet Paper Tubes

If you are an avid gardener, you likely do a lot of seed planting, which means that you probably also use a lot of peat pots or cubes to germinate your seedlings. Using cardboard toilet paper tubes instead provides the same basic structure seedlings need to grow, be transplanted, allow the root system to grow freely, but at none of the cost. As a bonus, recycling your used toilet paper tubes keeps them out of the landfill. When spring arrives, transplant your biodegradable starter pots directly into the soil without worry of disturbing the seedling's roots.

• 1

  Save up empty toilet paper rolls in a convenient place, such as underneath the bathroom sink. Remove any shreds of toilet paper still attached to the rolls before storing them. Keep them in a sealed plastic bag until ready for use to avoid mold or mildew from weakening the tubes.

• 2

  Cut each of the toilet paper tubes in half, creating two equal-sized tubes. Cut as many as needed to fill your planting tray. Cut three 1/2-inch vertical slits into one end of the tube, spacing the slits evenly apart. Bend each of the cut areas toward the middle of the tube, creating flaps that will serve as the base for the tube.

• 3

  Fill each planting tube with moist organic potting soil. Place each of the tube planters in the planting tray, making sure their sides are touching each other for support. Depending on the seeds chosen, place one to three seeds in each planter, pressing the seed down into the soil.

• 4

  Water well with the spray mister, taking care not to dislodge any seeds or soil. Place the cover on the planting tray and place in a location suitable for the type of seed you are growing.

• 5

  Transplant your seedlings outdoors when they are the proper size and the temperature is appropriate for your plants. Dig a hole slightly deeper than the tube planter, hold the tube from the bottom to prevent the flaps from opening and place the tube in the hole. Back-fill with soil. The plant's roots will naturally grow through the bottom of the toilet paper tubes.