Brits urged to soak cardboard boxes in water for 1 important reason

As online shopping continues to surge, households across the UK are left with stacks of leftover cardboard boxes. But instead of tossing them into the recycling bin, Brits are now being urged to soak them in water, all for a surprisingly useful and eco-friendly reason.

According to popular gardening content creator @JoesGarden on TikTok, soaking cardboard for just ten minutes can turn your old delivery boxes into biodegradable seed pots. The trick helps reduce waste while giving seedlings the healthiest possible start, all without the need for plastic trays or containers.

"The next time you get a delivery," Joe said, "instead of just throwing away the cardboard box, remove any plastic packaging and soak the cardboard in fresh water for about ten minutes."

Once damp and pliable, the cardboard can be trimmed into strips and moulded into pot shapes using any cylindrical object like a jar or tin. By pressing down on the base and securing it with an elastic band, the structure holds as it dries.

After just a few hours in a warm spot, you're left with sturdy, plantable seed pots ready to be filled with compost and seeds.

"These pots are ideal for starting seedlings," Joe added, "because they can be planted directly into the soil when the time comes, without disturbing the roots, something that's critical for healthy plant growth."

This technique is especially valuable for those growing delicate crops like beans, squash, or flowers that don't respond well to being moved or repotted.

The damp cardboard breaks down naturally in the soil, allowing roots to spread without obstruction and eliminating the risk of transplant shock.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) backed the use of biodegradable alternatives to plastic pots and has previously endorsed using everything from newspaper tubes to toilet rolls.

Cardboard, with its availability and compost-friendly nature, fits perfectly into this trend of sustainable gardening.

And the benefits don't end there. Using homemade pots cuts costs for home growers, encourages composting, and keeps cardboard waste out of bins.

So, if you've got a few boxes piling up in your hallway, hold off on flattening them just yet. A quick soak might just turn your packaging into the beginning of your most successful growing season yet.