These DIY paper plant pots are easy nature activities for kids or recycling projects for preschoolers. This hands-on project is a great addition to your nature crafts, Earth Day crafts, Arbor Day crafts, or gardening with kids lesson plans. These DIY planters are fun ideas for spring crafts or summer fun list for kids, too!
How To Make DIY Paper Plant Pots For Fun Nature Craft For Kids
Planting is a fun way to teach kids about gardening and where our food comes from — and what better way to do this than learning how to make DIY paper plant pots from recycled bags that are also biodegradable when you plant them.
Some people make these as recycled newspaper pots, but we used recycled brown paper bags from the grocery store.
Also, this nature activity is a great opportunity to discuss the importance of growing plants for birds and insects as pollinators in order to keep the cycle of plants and animals going.
The learning possibilities with gardening and planting with kids are endless.
How do you make planter pots from paper?
How to make DIY plant pots with recycled paper bags is easy:
- Cut the paper bag into a long strip and roll around a bottle.
- Then fold the bottom of the bag in on itself to make the bottom of the pot.
- Gently slide the paper pot off the bottle.
- Tuck or fold the loose side.
- Fill with dirt and seeds or plants as you would normally.
*Get the free printable craft instructions below.
These homemade pots are great eco-friendly DIY outdoor planter ideas and if you want to work on sustainability projects with kids.
CRAFT TIP: You can also recycle glass bottles and food containers to make and decorate planter pots for more recycled kids activities.
About Sustainable DIY Planters
This project came about because we wanted to create a biodegradable pot that we could just plant right into the ground or into the bigger planters after the seedlings grew big enough.
CRAFT TIP: Do not use the plastic lined paper bags or any bags that have been treated (like lawn bags, etc.)
We created this biodegradable planter and had a lot of fun making it.
(Plus, it’s a super easy craft for preschool, too.)
One of the great things about it is that you don’t have to be a gardener or have a spot for a garden.
These easy homemade flower pots can be planted right in the ground or in a planter that you keep inside or on the balcony. They are great DIY outdoor planter ideas for a variety of spaces.
We even made extras to give away to friends!
MORE GARDEN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS:
Fairy Container Garden Instructions for Kids
How To Plant a Victory Garden with Kids
Easy Earth Day Garden Activities For Kids for Recycling Crafts
How To Fold Sturdy Recycled Paper Pots for Seedlings: Step By Step Craft Instructions
Craft Step 1: Cut a Recyclable Brown Paper Bag (Or Recycled Newspaper)
Cute a strip of a brown paper bag and fold it in half, lengthwise.
Wrap the paper bag strip around a drink bottle to make a DIY paper planter.
Craft Step 2: Fold The Bottom of the Paper Bag To Form The Bottom of the Planter Pot
Turn the bottle over so you’re looking at the bottom of the bottle.
Fold the edges of the paper bag in toward the middle of the bottle’s bottom.
It doesn’t need to be perfect! Just move around the bottom of the bottle, folding the overhanging paper in as you go.
The brown paper grocery bag is sturdy, so it will stay folded in once you remove it from the bottle.
Craft Step 3: Shape Your Planter Pot and Plant!
Gently slide the paper pot off of the bottle.
Press your hands around the paper pot to form it more (if needed) and make sure the bottom is folded secure to form the bottom.
CRAFT TIP: Don’t use tape or it won’t be biodegradable.
You’ll Also Have Fun With This Paper Flower Craft with Growing Poem!
Before we get to how to make homemade flower pots craft directions, let’s talk about some fun children’s book pairings with this planter pot craft!
Best Gardening Books for Kids To Go With The Repurposed Paper Bag Seedling Planter
I love this topic because you can add some of the best gardening books for kids and also some fun fiction gardening story books. They make great pairings with our DIY recycled plant pots!
Here are some of our favorite children’s books about gardening
- Gardening Projects for Kids
- We Are The Gardeners
- Up In The Garden, Down In The Dirt (one of my favorites!)
- Trees, Leaves, Flowers and Seeds: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Plant Kingdom
- Easy Peasy Gardening For Kids
- Gardening Lab for Kids: 52 Fun Experiments to Learn, Grow, Harvest, Make, Play, and Enjoy Your Garden
- Grow: A Family Guide to Growing Fruits and Vegetables
OK! It’s time to learn how to make your DIY plant pots!
HOW TO MAKE DIY PLANT POTS
- DO THIS RELATED CRAFT NEXT FOR MORE FUN WITH PLANTS: Easy Pollinator Craft For Studying Pollination for Kids
DIY Plant Pots
Ingredients
- Brown paper grocery bags - recyclable (no plastic lining)
- Empty water or soft drink bottle
- Potting soil
- Seeds or seedlings - from plants or flowers of choice
Instructions
- Cut a strip of the bag (about 6-8 inches high).
- Fold the strip of the bag in half (lengthwise).
- Roll the strip of bag around the bottom of a soft drink or water bottle, leaving some bag overhanging at the bottom. (This is what we will fold up to make the bottom of the pot).
- Make the bottom of the paper pot: Turn the bottle over so you're looking at the bottom of the bottle. Fold the edges of the paper bag in toward the middle of the bottle's bottom. It doesn't need to be perfect! Just move around the bottom of the bottle, folding the overhanging paper in as you go.
- Gently slide the paper pot off of the bottle. Press your hands around the paper pot to form it more (if needed) and make sure the bottom is folded to form the bottom of the pot so no soil or seedlings fall out. You can also try to fold the hanging side into the other layers, if you want. We just left ours and it was fine because the bottom folds keep the pot together. (Just don't use tape or it won't be biodegradable.)
- Fill with soil and seeds, a seedling, or a small plant. When ready, plant pot and all in a container or right in the ground. The paper bag is biodegradable and will compost while your plant grows!
ALSO TRY: 7 Dandelion Kids Activities That Blow Away Boredom!
HAVE FUN LEARNING HOW TO MAKE DIY PAPER PLANT POTS WITH KIDS!
