You’ve had the wedding, handed out the cards, read the flyer. Now the good bit: turning the paper into flowers. Planting seed paper takes five minutes and no gardening talent whatsoever — here’s exactly how.
What you’ll need
The seed paper, a pot (or any patch of soil), peat-free compost, and water. That’s the list.
The six steps
Tear it up
Rip the paper into stamp-sized pieces. More edges means more seed-to-soil contact and better germination — and yes, tearing up a wedding invite feels wrong. Do it anyway.
Prep the pot
Fill a pot about three-quarters with peat-free compost, or rough up a patch of bare garden soil with a fork.
Lay the pieces flat
Spread them across the surface in a single layer — no stacking.
Cover lightly
About 5mm of compost over the top. A dusting. Seeds need to sense light to wake up — bury them deep and nothing happens.
Soak it
Water until the paper is properly saturated, then keep it moist every day. The paper breaks down as the seeds germinate — that’s the design.
Light and patience
Somewhere warm and bright — a windowsill is perfect. First shoots in 2–4 weeks, flowers over the following weeks.
When to plant
Spring and early summer give the fastest, showiest results. Autumn planting works too — wildflowers are hardy and some seeds will happily sit out winter and appear in spring. Indoors on a windowsill, any month works.
Troubleshooting
Nothing’s happened after two weeks — is it dead?
Almost certainly not. Germination runs anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks depending on warmth and light. Keep it moist and give it another fortnight before worrying.Can I plant the whole sheet without tearing it?
You can — it’ll still grow — but torn pieces germinate more evenly because more seeds touch the soil.Does printed ink affect the flowers?
No. Water-based inkjet inks are laid cold onto the sheet and don’t affect germination or the soil.Indoor or outdoor?
Either. Start indoors on a bright windowsill for reliability, then plant out once seedlings are a few centimetres tall — or sow straight into the garden from late spring.
Got paper to plant? Lovely. Need more? Blank seed paper and seeded printing ship next working day when you order by 11am.