How to: Newspaper Pots

By Sam Winter, Online Editor
April 3, 2013

Looking for a fun, environmentally friendly way to start plants for your spring garden indoors? Check out this Origami method for making seedling pots.

 

You will need:

-One full page of your Mustang newspaper

 

Step 1

1) Unfold the newspaper

 

Step 2

2) Fold along the natural center crease

 

Step 3

3) Fold in half from the top of the paper to the bottom, then crease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 4

4) Undo the fold from step three

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 5

5) Fold the bottom right corner to the center line, creating an upside down triangle, or “squash” fold

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step five should look like this when completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 6

Turn the newspaper over, and repeat step five

 

Step 7

7) Fold the right flap over the left, like turning a page of a book 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 8

Turn the newspaper over, and repeat step seven
Step eight should look like this when completed

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 9

9) Fold the edge of the two “wings” into the center crease

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 10

Fold the new edges of the wings into the center crease

 

Step 11

11) Turn the newspaper over, and repeat steps nine and ten 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 12

12) Fold the top flaps down

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 13

13) Put your hand inside the pot and open

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 14

14) If you are bothered by the top flaps, feel free to tuck them inside the pot. Do not cut them off, as they add stability until soil is added 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Step 15

Fill your pot with soil, plant with seeds, and water regularly. Be sure to keep your seedlings on a tray to prevent water leaking onto the floor

 

Step 16

Once your seedlings have sprouted, transfer them into your garden. Newspaper is biodegradable, so the pot can be planted in the garden with the seedlings inside. Tear open the bottom of your pot to allow the roots to spread outward.