Newspaper Pots

[MonsterMum]

Sorry if this has been asked before, but having just made a load of the origami pots out of newspaper I have a couple of questions.

1.  Will the bottom be strong enough once it is full and has been watered?
2.  Can the plants be planted out still in these?  Obviously the newspaper is biodegradable but will it degrade quickly enough?  And I assume that the print won't do anything bad to the soil otherwise they wouldn't be suitable in the first place

[MonsterMum]

[SMP1704]

Blue Peter badge for working out how to do the origami pots - I decided life was too short for all that pfaffing - I just make tubes to the dimensions I need and use a bit of prittstik to keep them together ;D

In answer to your questions:

1.  Put them in a seed tray and they support each other and you won't need to move them again until you plant them out.

2.  Been wondering about that on my clay soil, I'm half expecting to dig up preserved pots but we'll see.  The roots will push through and find their own way, so don't worry about the paper restricting the plants growth.  In the v.v.v. small quantities, the newsprint does no harm (so I believe) but do avoid the pink pages of the FT as the dye used is a bit nasty - picked that up from another thread, so don't have the 'why' and 'how' details.

HTH

[loulou]

i tried to make paper pots  ??? not a chance so   i went to make a brew came back and the kids  had made one each not very pretty but they worked once dry so if i need pots i let the kids play gr8 kids happy ( ripping paper up and messing with water ) i get to sit down and have a brew  only trouble is i think the eldest is getting wise to it now  :-\

[Gordon]

Hi all

Heres A link for Newspaperpots they work really well have used about 40 of them this season already.

WWW.GEOCITIES.COM/NEWSPAPERPOTS

They are easy to make as well.

Gordon

[RobinOfTheHood]

WAHEY!

MY FIRST PAPER POT!!

Will have to recruit the kids for this....... ;)

[dandelion]

I've been busy folding ;D!



I used different newspapers to experiment with the sizes. This is the Guardian (Berliner format). 15 fit snugly into a a seed tray. I made smaller pots using the local paper.  I thought the pots where a bit thin using the instructions on http://www.geocities.com/NEWSPAPERPOTS/, so I didn't rip the paper in half as in step 2, but folded it.

[SMP1704]

Looking good, Dandelion

I really must have another go at those - it's not rocket science after all ;D

All tho my paper rolls do the job, those pots look much more versatile.

Happy folding ;D

[Gordon]

Hi Dandelion

Glad you are using the newspaper pots i also found that sometimes the pots were'nt very strong so i also doubled up the sheets when needed have got loads ready for next year so i dont have to panic like this year.

Happy folding to all.

Gordon