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A person holding a tp seed starter with a little sprout growing out of it with other tp tubes and sprouts in the back ground.
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How to Start Seeds Indoors Now in TP Tubes!

Learn how to start seeds indoors with this simple tutorial for kids! Kids will love planting seeds in recycled toilet paper tubes, watching the seeds grow, then planting them in the ground when the time is right.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time20 minutes
Course: Flower Craft, Nature craft/activity, Recycled Craft
Cuisine: Craft
Keyword: How to start flower seeds indoors, how to start seed indoors, How to start seeds indoors, recycle toilet paper tube, seed starting indoors, When should you start seeds indoors?, when to start seeds indoors
Servings: 1 Set of TP Tube planted seeds
Author: Shelly
Cost: $3

Equipment

  • none needed

Ingredients

Instructions

  • The fun begins by making seed starter pots from the TP tubes.
    You can leave the TP tubes full length or cut them in half. I chose to cut mine in half.
    Cut four ¾ inch slits into the tube on one end. The slits should be equal distances apart. Push the flaps into the center of the tube end one at a time. One end of the second flap will overlap the one end of the first flap.
    On the last flap, tuck the end of the fourth flap under the end of the first flap. This holds them in place. This is how I fold the flaps of a box in place too. 
    Make as many seed starter pots from the TP tubes as you need for your seed planting project. I made ten to fit in a small container and sprout the small packet of daisy seeds I purchased.
  • Place the potting soil or seed starting mix into the tubes by scooping it up with the tube itself or spooning it in with a spoon. Fill the TP tubes up to about ½ inch from the top. 
    Place them into a cake pan or storage container to keep them upright and 
    Take out the seeds you are to plant and put them in your palm. The daisy seeds I planted were small. Take a few of the tiny seeds and place them on top of the soil in each tube.
    Then cover them with the amount of soil that the directions said was appropriate. 
    Use light pressure to compact the soil. 
  • A spray bottle set on a spray mist setting waters the seeds without pouring on water that washes the soil and seeds away.
    I placed a piece of plastic wrap loosely over the top of the container for several days. This acts like a little green house. 
    Then set the container by a window, preferably a south window. Place it on a cutting board or something to keep water from hurting the surface.
    Water lightly each day and patiently wait for the seeds to come up.
  • When the outdoor conditions and timing are good (according to directions) then you can plant them, TP tube and all, into the ground outside.

Video

Notes

Complete instructions, tips, variations, and a link to a full length video are on the post.