DIY Seed-Starting Pots

Make newspaper, cardboard-tube or reused food-cup pots, then track a small batch from seed to transplant.

By Saucer & Soil editorial team · Last updated October 31, 2026

Choose DIY seed-starting pots for your seedlings

Choose one method for your first batch. Newspaper makes a folding project, cardboard tubes need little shaping, and food cups give a firmer container to lift. Put the finished pots in a tray before adding mix. Plan where that tray will sit and how you will carry it when the pots are wet.

A small pot is a starting place. Watch the roots and plant size, and be ready to move the seedling into more space. A tray of tiny pots is useful only if you can give the plants light, water and room as they grow.

The Iowa State container guide covers paper, cardboard and reused food containers. The choices below turn those materials into a small home project.

Make newspaper seed-starting pots

You need newspaper, scissors, a small straight-sided jar or can, and a tray. Use a mould without a sharp edge. An adult should check the can and handle any cutting that a child cannot do safely.

Cut a newspaper sheet lengthwise into three strips. Place the mould at one end of a strip, leaving spare paper below its base to fold in.
Roll a strip snugly around the mould. Hold the overlapping seam in place.
Fold the spare paper under the base, working around the bottom.
Press the base onto a firm surface so the folds hold together.
Slide out the mould while supporting the paper walls. Stand the pot in its tray.

This follows the RHS newspaper-pot activity. Wet paper softens, so move the tray rather than lifting a filled pot by its rim. Make one empty pot first to see how the fold holds before making the rest.

Make cardboard-tube seed pots

Use the cardboard core from a paper towel or toilet-paper roll. Iowa State recommends sections 2 to 3 inches tall. Stand the sections upright together in a tray, fill with mix and sow one seed in each. The tray supports the open base, so lift the group as a tray rather than picking up each tube.

Keep a label beside each crop. A tube is narrow, so check whether its roots need more space as the seedling grows. Do not assume the cardboard will break down as soon as you plant it. The planting section below explains how to keep paper and cardboard from becoming a barrier.

Turn a food cup into a seed-starting pot

A clean yogurt cup or similar food container is another choice. Choose a cup that can hold about 3 inches of mix, as Iowa State recommends for reused containers. Have an adult make drainage holes in the base before filling it, then check for sharp edges. Use a tray to catch drips. Water must be able to leave the cup; a saucer full of water is not the same thing as drainage.

Unlike paper pots, plastic cups must come off at transplanting. Keep that step in mind when choosing the shape. Choose a cup you can remove without pulling apart the roots.

Fill DIY seed-starting pots and sow

Use a light soilless mix suited to starting seeds. Moisten it before filling the pots, then sow at the depth and spacing on the packet. Keep the packet with the tray and label the variety and date. Our potting-media reference explains common mix ingredients.

Check moisture gently and empty standing water from the tray. Give seedlings enough light as they emerge. The Maryland Extension seed-starting guide explains why dense garden soil and weak window light can cause problems.

Move the seedling without trapping its roots

When the plant needs more room, remove a plastic cup. For paper or cardboard, gently open or remove an intact base if it could block the roots, without pulling apart the root ball. At planting, cover paper and cardboard fully; an exposed rim can draw moisture away. Maryland Extension advises removing the base and exposed rim of plantable pots.

Give indoor plants a gradual move to outdoor conditions before planting out. Check the crop and local weather. Our true-leaf reference helps identify growth stages, while the herb checklist covers a small herb sowing.

Questions about homemade seed pots

Can I use egg cartons?

Yes, but keep an eye on the small amount of root space. Iowa State lists cardboard egg cartons as an option. A plastic or foam carton must come off before planting. Treat a small cell as a place to germinate a seed, then give the growing seedling more room when needed.

Why do my paper pots dry out quickly?

Paper and the small amount of mix both need checking. Keep the batch where you can inspect it, and water based on the mix rather than a fixed daily amount. At planting, leave no paper rim above the soil. That exposed edge can draw water from around the roots.

Which parts can children do?

Match the job to the child. They can help roll paper, press a base, fill a pot, make a label and watch for shoots. An adult handles sharp tools and checks the work area. Keep seeds and mix away from mouths, and wash hands after the project.

How long can seedlings stay in these pots?

There is no single time for every crop and container. Check the packet, roots and plant size. Move a plant on if its space is becoming too small. A homemade pot that held the seed while it sprouted may be too small to hold it until outdoor planting.

Verdict: start with one kind of DIY seed pot

Make a small labeled batch with the material you have. Use newspaper for a folding project, tubes for simple upright cells, or food cups for firmer pots. Drainage, support and room for the growing roots matter more than making every pot look the same.