MATERIALS
- Sheets of newspaper – not glossy
- Scissors
- 500–600 ml plastic bottle, or a smaller bottle for smaller pots
- Glue or tape
- Garden gloves
- Soil
- Plastic garden tray or similar
- Seeds or seedlings
INSTRUCTIONS
- Take one or two sheets of newspaper and lay them out on a table.
- Lay the empty bottle on the newspaper. You may need to cut or fold the paper so there is enough of it at the bottom of the bottle to fold under for the base of the pot.
- Take the edge of paper nearest to you, wrap it tightly around the bottle and begin rolling. You should leave at least 5 cm of paper overhanging at the bottom.
- Glue or tape the final edge of the paper to hold it in place (though it is not always necessary if you have rolled it tightly).
- Fold the overhang across the base and tuck it in as best you can.
- Remove the bottle from the newspaper ‘mould’.
- Put the newspaper pot upright onto the bench, then press or tamp down on the base firmly from the inside.
- Fill your pot with soil or potting mix to stabilise it.
- Place each filled pot in a tray with the other filled pots.
- Plant out with seeds or young seedlings.
- Water regularly while the newspaper pots are in the greenhouse, keeping the pots clustered together to retain moisture and shape.
- Plant the newspaper pots directly into garden beds when they are ready. The newspaper will decompose as the plant grows. Opening the base of the pot when planting will help the roots find their way down.