Asked by: Tillie Carmo
home and garden landscaping

Can you use Styrofoam egg cartons to start seeds?

43
Styrofoam egg cartons can be used as well; however, remove the plant from the styrofoam carton before transplanting because it does not break down in the soil. Seeds will germinate in just about anything as long as it holds soil and provides adequate drainage. Back to the egg shells.


Similarly, can I use egg cartons to start seeds?

Cardboard egg cartons can be used to start a dozen seedlings, and then cut apart to plant each one when it's time to plant them in the garden. As with newspaper seedling pots, there's no need to remove the plants from the pots before planting, as the cardboard will break down in the soil as the plant grows.

Also Know, how do I transplant egg carton seedlings? How to Start Plants in Recycled Egg Cartons
  1. Mix your coffee grounds with potting soil and set aside.
  2. Cut the cups of your egg carton apart.
  3. Fill your individual egg cups about half full of the soil/grounds mixture.
  4. Add the seeds.
  5. Cover the seeds with a thin layer of soil/grounds mixture.

Also Know, can you plant seeds in a Styrofoam cup?

Growing New Seeds The Styrofoam won't leach dangerous chemicals into the soil while you're germinating your seeds, but remove the soil and seedlings from the cup when it's time to plant them outside; don't put the cup into the ground.

Can egg cartons be recycled?

Egg cartons made of cardboard can be recycled just like other types of cardboard. Foam cartons, however, are not part of your curbside program. You can also put cardboard egg cartons in a compost pile. They break down quickly and will help create rich fertilizer for your garden.

Related Question Answers

Abdennaim Rathore

Professional

What is the best soil mix for starting seeds?

For your seed to grow into a healthy seedling, the best seeding mix is a lightweight and well-drained soil that has a balanced mixture of organic materials like vermiculite or perlite.

Ashlea Hernandez

Professional

How many seeds should I plant per hole?

Like most things in gardening, there are always exceptions to this rule of 2-3 seeds per hole. If you're planting large seeds like cucumbers, melons, or pumpkins, you should only use one seed per hole. However, you can still plant seeds close together and then thin them out once they've established themselves.

Shea Campos

Explainer

Are egg cartons compostable?

Yes, egg cartons can be used as compost ingredients if they are made of cardboard. Cardboard egg cartons would be considered brown compost matter (source of carbon). Make sure you cut the egg carton into smaller pieces before you dump it in the compost heap. Do not use the egg cartons made with foam or Styrofoam.

Xiu Diamanti

Explainer

What can I use for seed trays?

10 Everyday Household Items That Make Perfect Seedling Starters
  1. Eggshells. Courtesy of Squawk Fox.
  2. K-Cups. Courtesy of Surf and Sunshine.
  3. Citrus Fruits. Courtesy of My Roman Apartment.
  4. Toilet Paper Rolls.
  5. Ice Cream Cones.
  6. Newspaper.
  7. Ice Cube Trays.
  8. Egg Cartons.

Ivaneide Bobsien

Explainer

What do I do after my seeds sprout?

Fill the containers and pack the soil firmly to eliminate gaps. Remember that most mixes contain few, if any, nutrients, so you'll need to feed the seedlings with liquid fertilizer a few weeks after they germinate, and continue until you transplant them into the garden.

Iraitz Aldudo

Pundit

What is the difference between seed starter and potting soil?

Experienced gardeners generally have their favorites, while beginners may be at a loss as to what potting media to select. Although potting soils may be used to start seeds, they tend to have a more coarse texture and may contain field soil, compost or composted manure along with vermiculite, peat moss or perlite.

Sayuri Bawarin

Pundit

What seeds should be soaked before planting?

In the vegetable garden, this means peas, beans, corn, pumpkins and squash; even chard and beets. Smaller seeds — lettuce, radishes, carrots, and the like — are hard to handle once their soaked and don't really need it anyway. Flower seed to soak? Sunflower, lupine, sweet pea, nasturtium take well to soaking.

Velma Dierich

Pundit

Is Styrofoam bad for plants?

The answer: Not really. In fact, if you are using a pot with little to no drainage, adding Styrofoam packing peanuts could do more harm than good. Deep plant roots can grow into the foam material, and without sufficient drainage, they can become waterlogged and rot or die.

Yasmeen Venkateshwara

Pundit

Can I use Styrofoam instead of perlite?

Styrofoam as Perlite Substitute. Perlite is exellent for amending soil used for container grown plants and for starting seedlings in a soil or soiless medium. Blending for about 1-2 minutes and then draining in a sieve will give you a nice Perlite substitute. It has the consistency of coarse sand, but very lightweight.

Jinxia Maksyutenko

Pundit

Can you plant seeds in plastic cups?

Just find two plastic cups, one of which must be clear to allow light through. If you are re-purposing the cups make sure they are clean. Fill the bottom cup with a seed starting mix and water. Put your seeds in the cup and cover the seeds with an appropriate depth of soil then add a little bit more water.

Blancanieves Orantos

Teacher

How long does it take for seeds to germinate in soil?

At sowing time, mark the pots with the type of plant, date of sowing, and days to germination (found on the seed packet). Some seeds take two weeks or more to sprout. Poor germination can be caused by overly wet or cold soil, which causes seeds to rot.

Wiebke Otlivschikov

Teacher

How do you germinate seeds in a cup?

How to Plant Seeds in Cups
  1. Choose a medium to large paper coffee cup, and punch drain holes in the bottom of the cup using a sharp object, like a nail.
  2. Line the bottom of the cup with small rocks or pebbles.
  3. Add potting soil to the cup, filling the cup three-quarters full.
  4. Insert several seeds into the soil, pushing down about ¼ inch.

Sales Suzanne

Teacher

Can you plant seeds in paper cups?

Starting the seeds and growing the plants in paper cups is economical, as well as gentler on the plant during transplant. Unlike transplants grown in seedling cells, those in paper cups can be planted still in their containers.

Erzsebet Olea

Teacher

How do you germinate seeds?

To germinate seeds, start by filling a seed tray with a growing medium made specifically for seeds. Then, lightly press the seeds into the growing medium with your fingers and cover them with a thin layer of the medium. After you've sown the seeds, put them in a spot that's between 60 and 80 °F and lightly water them.

Bartlomiej Benthien

Reviewer

How do you start seedlings at home?

How to Start Vegetable Seeds Indoors
  1. Purchase your seeds from a trusted source.
  2. Pot with seed-starting mix.
  3. Make sure your containers have drainage holes.
  4. Plant seeds at the proper depth.
  5. After sowing, set the containers in a warm location.
  6. Keep seed-starting mix moist.
  7. As soon as seedlings emerge, place pots in a bright location.

Loris Intxaurtieta

Reviewer

How do you grow plants in Styrofoam cups?

How to Grow Seeds in Styrofoam Cups
  1. Wash and rinse your Styrofoam cups thoroughly.
  2. Fill the cups with peat moss, potting soil or a 50/50 mixture of the two.
  3. Place the tray in a warm, sunny spot.
  4. Check your seeds often over a period of two weeks.
  5. Transplant the seedlings when they are large enough.

Arnelio Lennartz

Reviewer

What can you do with empty egg cartons?

11 Creative Egg Carton Uses:
  1. Make Egg Carton Flower Lights:
  2. Give 'Em to Your Chicken-Owning Friends:
  3. Grow Seedlings in Egg Cartons:
  4. Egg Carton Wreath:
  5. Use Egg Cartons to store Christmas Ornaments:
  6. Make DIY Fire Starters:
  7. Use Egg Cartons as Creative Gift Packaging:
  8. Use Egg Cartons as Paint Cups:

Tertuliano Jablonovsky

Reviewer

Why are egg cartons not recyclable?

Only clean, dry egg cartons can be put in recycling. If you place eggs back in the carton after cracking them, the carton is no longer recyclable: food residue is a contaminant for paper and plastic recycling.

Deepak Kulkarni

Supporter

Does Waste Management Recycle Styrofoam?

Clean styrofoam is free to recycle at CVRD Recycling Centres, private recycling depots, and some retailers. Separate coloured styrofoam from white styrofoam. Do not put any styrofoam in your curbside tote.

Co-Authored By:

EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

15

21st February, 2020

56

80% of readers found this page helpful.

3.9/5

Click a star to add your vote

Similar Asks
Trending