Use Milk Cartons as Seed Starters

Difficulty: easy

This guide provides a comprehensive method for upcycling milk cartons into seed starters, helping reduce waste while encouraging sustainable gardening practices.

Materials Needed

Empty milk carton	Buy
Seed-starting mix or potting soil	Buy
Seeds	Buy
Water	Buy

Tools Needed

Scissors	Buy
Craft knife	Buy
Marker or pen	Buy

Steps

Clean the milk carton
Thoroughly wash the milk carton with warm soapy water and rinse well. Ensure that there is no milk residue left inside.
Cut the carton
Using a pair of scissors, cut the milk carton in half or to the desired height. Make sure the edges are even.
Create drainage holes
Poke several small holes in the bottom of the carton for drainage using a craft knife or scissors.
Fill with soil
Fill the carton with seed-starting mix or potting soil, leaving about an inch from the top.
Plant the seeds
Follow the seed packet instructions for planting depth and space the seeds accordingly.
Water the seeds
Gently water the seeds to moisten the soil, ensuring not to overwater. The soil should be damp, not soggy.
Label the carton
Label the carton with the type of seeds planted and the date of planting.
Place in a sunny location
Place the carton in a warm, sunny location or under grow lights to help the seeds germinate.

Use Milk Cartons as Seed Starters

Materials Needed

Tools Needed

Steps

Recycling Categories

Consumer Goods

Electronics

Organic Waste

Industrial Items