Learning to start seeds is a must-have skill for every home gardener. Maybe you read my post on 17 Vegetables and Flowers to Never Buy as Seedlings and are determined to start your own seeds this year.
There are plenty of different kinds of seed starting pots you can make or buy.
In this post, we’re going to explore both low-cost and investment-worthy options for seed starting pots and briefly look at additional creative seed starting tips.
- Free/Repurposed Seed Starting Pot Options
- More Seed Starting Pot Options
- Low-Cost Seed Starting Tips
Whether you are the type of gardener who appreciates pots that are repurposed and kept out of the landfill, compostable and plantable, super-efficient, or aesthetically pleasing, there are options for you.
One thing I definitely recommend is choosing one type of pot to do seed starting with and becoming familiar with how long the pots hold onto water. Having good drainage and airflow is essential, no matter which type of pot you use for seed starting. No seedling will thrive in soggy or dried-out soil.
As a disclaimer, I haven’t tried every single one of these options, but I can weigh in more heavily on the ones I’ve personally tried.
I just wanted to present a bunch of different ideas for all budgets and aesthetics.
With that being said, let’s get into it!
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. This means that if you buy through my links, I could earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. I only discuss products that I love and think you’ll love, too. I’m glad you’re here and thanks for reading!
Free/Repurposed Seed Starting Pot Options
If you’ve never started seeds before, I would suggest looking at my seed starting guide first. Then come back and continue reading!
All you really need in a seed starting pot is something that 1) holds soil; 2) has good drainage; and 3) is small enough to fit under grow lights or on a sunny windowsill. In this section, I’ve put together a list of seed starting pot options that you can repurpose and/or get for free. Save money using materials you already have at home.
Whether you’re looking for an eco-friendly option, something compostable, or just something you can put together quickly, these seed starting pot options are a great starting point for a low-budget set-up.
Plantable Pots
DIY Paper Pots: Make these paper pots out of newspaper. You can plant the whole pot with the seedling and it will decompose in the ground. This is great to minimize root disturbance in plants. Garden Betty has a great tutorial on how to make your own.
- Pros: Inexpensive/free; minimizes root disturbance when transplanting
- Cons: Labor-intensive; pots can dry out quickly and require attentiveness
Cardboard Egg Cups: Cut apart cardboard egg trays (or leave them whole) and plant up with seeds like a cell tray. The whole “pot” can be transplanted with the seedling because it will break down in the ground. Do not use styrofoam egg trays!
- Pros: Repurposes cardboard egg trays; inexpensive; minimizes root disturbance when transplanting; great for small seedlings
- Cons: Cardboard pots can dry out quickly and require attentiveness; not great for growing large seedlings as they will need to be up-potted
Toilet Paper Rolls: Fold the bottom of the toiler paper roll inward to help hold soil in. Fill cardboard tubes with soil and plant with seeds. These pots, being made of cardboard, are able to be transplanted in the ground with your seedlings.
- Pros: Free; repurposes cardboard tubes; minimizes root disturbance when transplanting; deep pot is great for root development
- Cons: Cardboard pots can dry out quickly and require attentiveness; sometimes pots do not break down; may be hard to source/save up in large quantities
Reusable Pots
Berry Clamshell Containers: I save the plastic containers my berries and other produce come in to use for seed starting. Typically, I’ll sow several of one kind of seed in each container, then once they’ve germinated, I’ll prick them out and replant each seedling into its own pot. This is great for starting a bunch of seeds all at once without having to thin any out. I would recommend this method for tomatoes and onions specifically.
These kinds of containers also can be used with the Winter Sowing Method, which I’ll talk about at the end of this post.
You could also reuse cleaned plastic food containers (poke holes for drainage) or foil pans with lids.
- Pros: Recyclable and reusable for a few seasons; will keep soil moist for good germination; comes with a lid (instant humidity dome)
- Cons: Will have to prick out individual seedlings to transplant (will cause root disturbance); may be hard to source/save up in large quantities; flimsy plastic; takes up space to store
Used Annual Containers: If you or your neighbors or friends buy annual flowers and plants every year, save those containers to reuse for seed starting the following spring. Even though the containers are pretty flimsy, a little duct tape can work wonders, and hey, you already paid for the containers, so why not get a second use out of them? I used and reused my old annual containers until I could hardly stand it and then upgraded to nice, durable ones. It’s a good option and will keep containers like that out of the landfill if you or someone you know were planning to buy annuals anyway.
- Pros: Keeps these containers out of the landfill for a season or two; will keep soil moist for good germination; free/inexpensive
- Cons: Flimsy plastic; takes up space to store
Repurposed Party Cups: Save plastic party cups, and after washing, drill holes in the bottom for drainage. Leave some whole so that you can stack the drilled cup in the water-tight cup as a drip catcher. Placing a cup on top of the seedling cup can also work for a humidity dome.
In fact, I sometimes use these cups outside when I’ve direct-sowed a small number of seeds to aid germination by warming the soil and keeping the soil moist. A rock placed on top of the cup keeps it from blowing away.
- Pros: Repurposes single-use cups and reusable for a few seasons; inexpensive/free; great for seedlings that need 6+ weeks to grow indoors before transplant
- Cons: Cups can be too large for germinating small seeds; can take up too much space under lights; flimsy plastic; takes up space to store
More Seed Starting Pot Options
This next section features seed starting pots available for gardeners to buy. I’ve included a mix of plantable/compostable pots as well as durable, reusable ones.
I used many of the options I shared above when I first started gardening and had good success with them. However, last year I decided to upgrade my most-broken down containers and purchase new ones that both look nice and function better for my seed-starting needs.
If you’re also ready to invest in more durable pots or don’t have the time to be making your own pots, here are some more great options to consider.
Plantable Pots
Botanical Interests Cardboard Pots: If you’d rather not make your own paper pots or have trouble sourcing enough cardboard tubes, these cardboard pots from Botanical Interests may be the right option for you. These are made from “recycled, food-grade paperboard.” The pots easily hold soil and are plantable and compostable. Tear off the bottom before planting to help roots break through the pot.
- Pros: Easy to use; easy store unused pots from season to season; minimizes root disturbance when transplanting; peat-free
- Cons: Pots can dry out quickly and require attentiveness; sometimes pots do not break down completely; not reusable
Daniel’s Plants Naked Pots: Similarly, these peat-free pots hold soil and are plantable. They come in a few sizes and are a good option for gardeners who don’t want to have to deal with storing seed starting pots every year. I will admit, it is nice at planting time to be able to plant the entire pot in the ground and not have to fuss with getting the seedlings out of their pots.
- Pros: Relatively inexpensive; easy to use; minimizes root disturbance when transplanting; peat-free—”made from 100% forestry byproduct”
- Cons: Cannot be reused; sometimes pots do not break down completely; may dry out quickly
Peat Pellets: Pop these pellets in a tray, fill with hot water and wait for them to expand. Then plant seeds in each cell. The whole cell and seedling can be planted in the ground.
- Pros: Relatively inexpensive; easy to find in most big box stores; minimizes root disturbance when transplanting; no mess/no need for additional soil
- Cons: Large seedlings will need to be up-potted; cannot be reused; uses peat; may dry out quickly
Reusable Pots
Terracotta pots: Terracotta pots are great for seedlings because they’re breathable. The material lets your plant roots get plenty of oxygen, and they help soak up any extra water, so seedlings won’t end up sitting in soggy soil for too long. Glass jars work well as humidity domes for these little pots.
- Pros: Inexpensive; easy to find in most stores; good for plant roots; beautiful for a greenhouse aesthetic; comes in multiple sizes; reusable
- Cons: Heavy (at least if you have a large number in a tray!); may be difficult to remove seedlings from the pot; may need to be watered more frequently
Bootstrap Farmer 6-cell Trays: These strong, reusable cell trays come in a variety of colors that are all made of sturdy plastic material and have large openings in the bottom, which make it easy to pop the seedlings out. There are also slits on the side to help provide oxygen to plant roots. I have found that having a standardized set of pots saves space under my grow lights and helps me keep seedlings evenly watered. I linked the ones I personally use, but they also come in brighter colors as well as black and clear. You’ll also find larger pots and other types of trays for sale on Bootstrap Farmer’s website.
- Pros: Comes in multiple sizes; fits efficiently in most 1020 trays; easy to remove seedlings; high quality; reusable for many years; lots of colors to choose from
- Cons: Expensive; takes up space to store
Epic 4-Cell Seed Starting Trays: Like Bootstrap Farmer, these cell trays are made of tough, durable plastic and should last for years. They have a large hole at the bottom to pop the seedling out easily, as well as slits on the side to help provide oxygen to plant roots. There are two different depths available: 3″ and 4″. You’ll can find the smaller 6-cell trays here.
- Pros: Comes in multiple sizes; fits most 1020 trays; easy to remove seedlings; high quality; reusable for many years
- Cons: Expensive; takes up space to store
Low-Cost Seed Starting Tips
While having the right pot is important for seed starting indoors, there are some other tricks and tips you can use to help save money when seed starting.
Tip #1 Direct Sow
Skip the containers entirely by sowing seeds directly into the garden bed or raised beds. You could even make a “seedling bed” where you plant many seeds close together, then prick them out and replant at the appropriate spacing later. This helps because it’s easier to keep a smaller area misted or watered rather than a large garden.
Tip #2 Soil Blocking
Although soil blockers will be an initial investment, they should last a very long time and will not need to be repurchased or replaced every year, unlike some of the seed starting pots listed above. It can be a little tricky to get the right soil mix at the right consistency, but generally, seedlings love growing in soil blocks. Because of the blocks’ exposure to air, roots are “air pruned” and will tend to branch more instead of becoming root bound as they do in enclosed pots. It can be pretty messy, but if you ever played with mud pies as a kid, this will totally bring you back to your childhood!
Tip #3 Bottom Heat Alternatives
Alternatives to heat mats could be a heating pad topped with a blanket, warm windowsill enclosed by a curtain, or the top of the refrigerator. Look around your home for warm spots that could be used to germinate seedlings. It doesn’t even have to be well-lit because you can move the seed tray to light after it germinates if you can catch them right away.
Tip #4 Winter Sowing Method
The winter sowing method really deserves its own post, but I’ll briefly explain it here so you can see what it is. Basically, you plant seeds in enclosed containers like milk jugs (cut them open) or gallon zip-top bags and leave them outside to germinate, even if it’s cold. Kind of like creating a mini greenhouse. Then, once the seedlings are up, transplant them to your garden.
I believe the method came from trying to germinate seeds needing cold stratification or that are cold tolerant; however if you wait until the weather is warmish like in mid- to late spring, you can germinate warm season seeds, too.
Tip #5 Snail Method
This is a space-saving seed starting method I saw on Instagram last year and just was so intrigued by. This gardener, Farida Sober, used flexible foam to rolled up with soil (kind of like a cake roll if you know what I mean), turned it on its side, and planted seeds on top. Once the seeds were ready to be transplanted, she unrolled the whole thing and separated the seedlings.
Tip #6 Humidity Dome Alternatives
An upside-down plastic bin, glass cake domes, burlap, or plastic wrap all make good humidity dome alternatives.
Start Your Own Seeds This Gardening Season
Indoor seed starting doesn’t have to be expensive. At the same time, having the right supplies for your priorities can make seed starting a more enjoyable experience.
You may like the idea of spending a cozy winter evening making your own paper pots for seed starting. Or maybe you prefer having a matching set of charming terracotta pots. Or maybe you like the efficiency of using 6-cell trays.
It’s up to you to decide what to prioritize. Choose a method and budget that makes you excited to garden and start your own seeds. That’s really the core of why we garden: for the joy!
I hope this list of alternative seed starting supplies inspires you to start your own seeds for the first time or try out some new methods this year!