Step-by-Step Instructions

The Potmaker is easy to use and saves you money if you start your own plants. Environment friendly!

All you need is old newspaper, scissors and starter mix or potting soil and perhaps a container to make watering your starts easier.

by Anja Bartlett

© 2007 M. Bartlett. All rights reserved.

[Click images for larger view]

Instructions

Step 1 – Get a section of newspaper without colored pictures. (If you are certain that your paper uses soy-based ink or that you will never put any plant that will be consumed in that space you can use any paper.) Cut across the full width of the paper, using the text for guidelines. I usually get 8 strips per sheet.	Step 2 – Get the rest of your materials together.
Step 3 – Grab one strip and begin rolling.	Keep the top edge of the paper level with the "shoulder" in the potmaker, leaving it sticking out on the flatter end.
Keep rolling until all the paper is wound on.	Step 4 – Crimp the paper on the flatter end.
The best way is to squish and twist at the same time, crushing the end of the paper together.	You may find that you need to shove down with a thumb to push the end into place.
Then pick up the disc from the potmaker . . .	. . . and twisting in the same direction . . .
. . . smash and flatten the end.	Step 5 – Remove the finished pot.
Step 6 – Fill with starter mix.	Step 7 – Add seeds. Morning glory. . .
. . . Strawberry	Step 8 – Water. And you're done!
Step 9 – Plant starts, pot and all, into the garden or . . .	. . . into larger pots before roots start to come through the paper.

Tips

1. Don't roll too tightly or you'll never get the pot off.
   
   
2. Use the full width of the paper for strips, or if you cut one in half by mistake, use two pieces, overlapping at the beginning by about an inch.
   
   
3. Use a small scoop, a seed shovel or a spoon to prevent spilling potting soil and seeds.
   
   
4. You can also root cuttings in these pots.
   
   
5. Group several pots together in a larger container for support and watering convenience.
   
   
6. Watering the pan instead of each separate pot will keep from distorting the pots and displacing the seeds.
   
   
7. Pots will disintegrate over the course of a few months in garden soil. Just leave them in place!