From the page: A thousand colors in a few grams
Idea 7
Base for seedlings and pots
In nursery germination trays, each seedling grows in an isolated cell with its own drainage — that's how strong roots form without rotting. Plastic caps work on the same principle: small, shallow bottoms that are easy to empty, perfect for starting seedlings before transplanting.
What you need
- Plastic caps of the same size (as many as the seedlings you want)
- A hot knife or craft knife (adult use, with care)
- A tray or shallow board to group the caps
- Light substrate (sifted soil mixed with humus or coconut fiber)
- Fast-germinating seeds, like lettuce, arugula or basil
How to make it
-
1
Choose caps 1.5 to 2 inches (3 to 5 cm) in diameter, which comfortably hold the initial roots of vegetables and herbs. Wash them all with soap and water.
-
2
Make a small hole on the side edge of each cap, halfway up, for excess water to drain — without drainage, the seedling rots. A side hole, not one in the bottom, holds just the right amount of moisture.
-
3
Fill each cap with substrate almost to the edge, pressing lightly with a finger to settle it without compacting.
-
4
Place 2 to 3 seeds per cap and cover with a thin layer of substrate, about the thickness of the seed itself.
-
5
Arrange the caps on the tray, which will collect the water that drains and make bottom watering easier — that's how nurseries avoid wetting the new little leaves.
-
6
Keep in a bright, humid spot, misting with water in the morning, until the seedlings grow two true leaves — then they're ready for a pot or garden bed.
Finishing touches
Write each plant's name on a small popsicle stick stuck into the cap — a marker that is also born from something that would have been discarded. When you transplant, wash the caps and they're ready for the next round of seeds.
This is one of the ideas from the full page — see all the possibilities.
This page feeds the collective knowledge 🌱 — every discovery makes the next answer better.