Forum:

frugality

re-using empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls

Posts: 24

Location: Waltham, Massachusetts

posted 8 years ago

All my small plastic pots are in use at the moment and would rather not go buy some, since my collection only consists of used one from buying grown plants from others. So my question is does anyone use their empty toilet paper/paper towel rolls as little pots to plant seeds in? Im thinking since they're cardboard, they could be planted directly in the ground. There is some type of glue on the empty rolls, would that maybe be a problem? Ive read its "safe" since people usually give them to their small animal pets to chew on. Thanks!

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Tyler Ludens

master pollinator

Posts: 11537

Location: Central Texas USA Latitude 30 Zone 8

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posted 8 years ago

I think paper towel rolls would be especially good for tree seedlings because of the long tap root. You could stack them all upright in a box to plant and tend, and then lift them out individually to put in the gorund. If you're worried about them not being able to escape the tube, it could be carefully slit with a knife just before planting.

I think I will start saving my rolls!

Idle dreamer

Posts: 508

posted 8 years ago

I cut them in half and used them to start seeds in last spring. They work fine but Ludi's suggestion to cut them in half when planting them out is a good idea, roots seem to have a harder time than I expected to get through the cardboard. Maybe something like a tree with a long tap root would be fine; I just was using them to start veggies in.

I also used the cardboard egg cartons but they are really too shallow..great for testing viability but. Thinking next spring about just cutting the bottoms out of them and putting them on top of soil to start, will see if the roots tangle too much or not. Anyone tried that?

Matthew Fallon

Posts: 308

Location: long island, ny Z-7a

posted 8 years ago

starting seeds in cardboard rolls has the same main drawback that using cellpack or other cardboard/plastic containers have, the roots can easily become pot-bound. i just compost paper rolls with the rest of my paper trash.

i started using soil-block makers this spring and have been VERY happy with that purchase!
they work amazingly well,plants are very easy to transplant this way. search on google and youtube for them.
we must've made over a thousand soil blocks this year for starting seeds, and they all did really well.

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Posts: 24

Location: Waltham, Massachusetts

posted 8 years ago

Well I checked out the soil block maker, that's really cool. Might I ask which brand/size you're happy with?

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Ken Peavey

steward

Posts: 2482

Location: FL

105

posted 8 years ago

Those tubes work just fine, although they may need a little extra water as it evaporates out the sides.

I use plastic drinking cups, 16 oz from walmart. Saves me a lot of dishwashing.

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Rob Sigg

Posts: 715

Location: PA-Zone 6

posted 8 years ago

I use them for tomatoes, it allows for a longer taproot. Im experimenting right now without soil by using shredded paper from a shredder machine stuffed inside the paper tubes. So far I have good germination, Im going to see how far they will go.

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Posts: 24

Location: Waltham, Massachusetts

posted 8 years ago

Rob S. aka Blitz wrote:
I use them for tomatoes, it allows for a longer taproot. Im experimenting right now without soil by using shredded paper from a shredder machine stuffed inside the paper tubes. So far I have good germination, Im going to see how far they will go.

I'd love to see the progress with the shredded paper!

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