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Purple borage flower in bloom in bee garden image.

Growing Borage Seedlings in Paper Pots

Charlotte Anderson @ Carolina Honeybees, LLC
After starting borage from seed, learn how to use newspaper to make paper pots for the seedlings before transplanting to the garden
5 from 3 votes
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Tools

  • scissors
  • newspaper
  • small glass jar

Supplies
 

  • 1 bag potting soil
  • 1 bottle osmocote plant food

Instructions
 

  • Take a full page (single sheet) of newspaper and fold it in half lengthwise.
    Place a straight sided jar (I used a tall jelly jar) on the sheet with about 2” of newspaper extended-beyond the open top of the jar. Roll up the paper on the jar.
    Using folded newspaper to roll up a tube with a glass jar image.
  • Use your hand to gently punch the extended paper down into the jar.
    Don’t try to be neat here. Your goal is to get most of the loose paper crunched down inside the jar.
    Red arrow shows how paper is shaped around glass image.
  • Carefully remove the newspaper form from the jar. You have a shell much like a paper cup.
    Use both hands to fold the paper and form a rather tight-fitting bottom for your plant.
    You must rely just a bit on feel here and you get better with practice. Use both hands inside and outside the paper cups to form a base for your borage seedlings.
    Using hand to push in the bottom of paper pot image.
  • Add potting soil to your paper pots. You want to replant your seedling and have it at the same depth.
    Add enough soil to the bottom to ensure the planting depth doesn’t change.
    If there are very few roots sticking through my peat pellets, I remove the netting that covers them.
    But, you do not have to do this step – I would not stress the roots if they are growing out. Add enough potting soil to hold your seedling in place firmly.
    Small borage plant seedling being transplanted image.
  • Now water each one – I do this by hand and let the excess drip out. Then, place your paper potted borage seedlings back in their tray.
    Like any young plant, water as needed. As long as you do not overwater, these pots will last for weeks. What a great way to save.
    Borage transplants in paper pots in tray image.

Notes

** I add a small amount of pelletized plant food to each pot - this is optional.
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