Can Paper Towels Grow Microgreens Successfully? | Coco Coir vs Paper Towel 

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Two recommendations: 1. Switch to brown (unbleached) paper towels. White paper products of all types undergo significant chemical treatments to break down and whiten the cellulose; the more of that you remove from the medium the healthier your plants will be. It's quite possible that the stress you were seeing in the paper towel tray sprouts was due to these chemicals. 2. Use a wool carding brush to 'pre-soften' the towels before use. The needles in the brush will effectively puncture the towels as well as break up the fibre structure, allowing much easier penetration for the young roots. Try folding the towels once or twice and then place it on a surface that will permit the needles to travel all the way through the towels; a wooden cutting or soft plastic cutting board should work. Then just 'bounce' the brush up and down across the towel a few times. It will add less than a minute of time to your medium prep, so you'll gain not only on the cost of the medium, but also on your post-harvest cleanup. I'm enjoying your videos! Thanks for all your work!

I’m glad to see you give paper towels a serious try. I use them often where I can since dirt or coco is messy and time consuming to deal with. To make it fast, I cut down an entire roll to 9” with a sharp knife. Haven’t tried an electric knife yet but it would probably work nicely. Then just roll it out on your table and cut it to 19-1/2” length with scissors (I marked my table so I don’t have to measure each time). Looks like you are using Bounty towels, as I do as well. The Bounties hold more water than the cheaper ones. The biggest problem is that it works so differently than the dirt or coco. You had to spend a lot of time getting the dirt & coco process down pat. Paper towels are a completely different learning process that has to take place to get it working properly. You just have to be willing to put in the time and fail some. The deal with the paper towels is that they need about 2 more days to get to acceptable growth. I had a customer request Dandelion, which is a very slow growing plant. I started them on dirt, they germinated then died in about a week. My second try is on paper towels, 3 layers to hold water well. I spray them lightly, sometimes skipping a day if the paper towels are still wet. They are growing nicely. Never give up after an initial fail. Thanks for your GREAT and wonderful videos!

I've been growing microgreens for just a few months but I started with those trays and instead of paper towels I use toilet paper which makes it much easier for the sprout roots to break through. I've also experimented with a top layer of toilet paper and no weight and it worked great. My experiments have shown that the highest yield was 20g of seeds and i got a grow ratio of 21:1. I also didn't use any lights :)

I have been growing microgreens long before they were called that. We just called all of them “sprouts”. 😊I have never used anything but water and a plastic container. No soil or other growth medium. Weirdly enough they all grow straight up, none fell over and they grow to 7-10 cm without any problem. The roots intertwine making their own mat of solid roots that support the stems. I was looking at your system but noticed that the holes in the box is too large to sprout small seeds in it. Have you ever tried very fine layers of mesh on top? The seeds have something to grip on to and they won’t be floating away down the hole. I haven’t tried but guess that it will make the plant happier if it could dig itself through some layers of mesh. Won’t get the smell of rotting paper either.

Not to mention, paper towels have a wetting agent to help soak up water faster. The wetting agent is usually detergent but can be something you don't want your food growing in. This is also why paper towels streak glass.

This was very interesting. A simple way to overcome the paper towel penetration issue would be, possibly, to take a thick sewing needle and just make a full set of holes 1 cm apart all the way around the roll top to bottom. will take a few minutes. the germination was great on both. penetration of the radicals was slower. The paper towel trays could have been left 2 more days and the harvest weight would have been the same. The leaf weight would have been better as well. The cost of grow medium and its availability definitely outweighs the day or two extra i would think. WDYT?

Palate cleanser "coffee" I LOVE IT! I think maybe if you have some kind of roller or maybe a meat tenderizer to poke tiny holes in the paper towels it would help. Just a thought.

You two are great! Love this one, Its cool to see how you can grow Microgreens on more readily available mediums. Thanks for taking the time to share what you learn.

I use 4-5 layers of paper towels, and it works just fine

I use paper towels and cover with plastic wrap not touching the seeds (until they are germinated) and have no problems.

You guys are great. I've been growing broccoli and radish on top of 3 plies of paper towels for a year or so. No fertilizer. I top water and pour the standing water out of the no hole tray immediately. I water twice a day.The used paper towel goes out to the chickens. I cannot seem to grow sunflowers with this method, but I'll try a paper towel cover on top. Thank you for all your efforts.

Thanks so much for this test! When I first tried paper towels, it was in 5x5 trays and folded so that it was 4 thicknesses. And yes, I misted more than 2x per day, as I remember.(That was before I started a spreadsheet to keep a record of my grows.) Used broccoli. Maybe the thickness allowed both for more water retention, and therefore faster germination and more place for the radicles to attach? Didn't get much height, and used scissors to harvest after lifting the whole grow out of the trays. Am running a tiny test right now on radish and mustard on 5x5 with layers of coco and paper towels to see how the rooting compares. I'm not as worried about harvest weight because I'm just growing for my own consumption, but flavor is a value for me. You guys are the best! ♥

As you said there is a wide variation with paper towels. I use Walmart extra strength and get good root penetration. I tried dollartree brand and it was a failure. I thought being a thinner paper towel was better, but the roots had a hard time getting through. I use a potting mix, and then put the paper tucked in all 4 corners of the tray. The reason I do that is it pulls moisture from the soil and I have redworms in my trays. Usually by harvest day the worms have eaten most of the paper towel. It keeps my micros clean, but also allows me to grow organic. I have trays I have planted almost 60 times this way. Some seeds work better than others for the paper towel method. Works good for home use.

I love your exhaustive experimentation as well as your willingness to share that information. I hope to be in a similar position someday soon.

maybe try getting one of those metal horse combs or a wire brush and poking it through the paper towels so theres tons of mini holes.

You guys make great videos. Great content, great camera work, and no annoying loop music in the background. Well done.

Would love to see a video with more information on the business side of things! Such as how you find and maintain relationships with customers, how do you get product to your customers, how do you price things, what was your start up cost, etc :)

I like the way you cut the Radish. Pull it towards you a little and slice it shallow. Great way to do it and will try tomorrow. Parents are having a small gathering to sample some wine they have made this year and asked me to bring some greens by! Have learned a ton from you guys the last couple months, and feel confident bringing over Speckled Peas, Purple Radish, and Sunflower! Planning for a live harvest of some Purple Radish :) Thank you! Mike

Great video. Seems like a hydrophilic mesh screen would be ideal. I'm sure many creative ways to add small holes to the paper towel. Would encourage unbleached paper towels. 2 ply towels can also be separated into single ply when dry (may be thinner than dedicated 1 ply towels). In further refining paper towel as medium, using its wicking quality may be a consideration - from bottom tray reservoir. Finally, a little stress may not be a bad thing. Xenohormesis suggests that plants produce healthy compounds as a survival mechanism. Are mildly stressed microgreens more healthy than unstressed microgreens?

Nice work. Perhaps TP for bottom paper layer because it dissolves in water. Plus it is even cheaper than PT. You make me wanna try. Neat setup.

I usually use plain tissue paper (facial) and had been doing it for months on my sporadic microgreens growing

Great presentation as always! I got into microgreens thanks to your channel. I've tried a different paper towel experiment that worked well for me using the same mesh tray (though I've only tested it on pea sprouts) I put the seeds directly on the mesh tray and then paper towel on top, which I then soak and put a weight on top. The radicals mostly grow downwards and grab unto the mesh tray. I remove the paper towel after a few days when everything has germinated and start bottom watering. I mainly did this because I was inconsistent about spraying twice a day and had the tray fail on me on a prior attempt.

The first book I bought on Microgreens (over 13 years ago) used paper towels as the primary grow substrate.

I'd be curious to see if leaving the paper towel on top for longer and then switching to bottom watering before removing it would allow it to separate more easily. Also, multiple layers of paper towels on the bottom could allow rooting to take place quicker and help retain moisture. I might have to do a trial of my own. :-)

Hello, you two are so wonderful, thank you for all educations. I did use lunch paper napkin. Just one layer. Fit well on green tray With ociansolution.I will be keep leaning from you two. Thanks again. 😊

Thanks for this content! In the growing space I'm preparing I will not have space to manage the compost of Coco so I also meant to investigate paper!

I am fairly new to growing microgreens, but I am thinking I might try screen (made for food dehydrators) for structure for the roots to grab, and then maybe four layers of paper towel beneath to hold moisture.

The problem here is the incorrect use of the paper towel. For seeds that are bigger than the holes in the tray (for example, radishes, cilantro, chick pea, green pea etc.), just put the seeds on the tray and cover with the paper towel to keep them moist. Once the roots are grown, you don't need the paper towel and you will be as good as all other techniques.

Just thinking, we always snip away when harvesting so that we get the plant away from the growth medium. But with something such as paper towel where the medium is too heavy and will be left behind (as happened when you pulled a root through) Wouldnt we just be able to pluck them all out and eat the entire thing?

I've used polyester quilt batting to grow microgreens for a bearded dragon to eat inside his terrarium. Seemed to work pretty well and he loved them, but its the only medium I've ever tried.

Use neem oil in hot water and spray it on the paper towels to protect against mold and insects.

What I love about this channel is how they try everything out that way I know not what to do lol. So no paper towels , check.

The coco fiber has it's own nutrients, more so than the bleached paper towels. I think Lou B is right to switch to brown paper towels and maybe add nutrient water a day earlier for the paper towel group. I am interested in your techniques for growing food in space where space is limited in a station.

9:22 "Having a top layer paper towel is gonna be the way to go!" 10:18 "I think that top paper towel is kinda useless on this tray." That's what I call try and error :) Nice experiment.

Coco coire matting seems like it may be an option, then it's a thin sheet with no mess but enough substrate for them to take root.

Have you tried ; Charmin ( yes , toilet paper ) for medium above paper towel To encourage roots to target the softer medium so it doesn't root upward?

I’m in Brazil and eager to try out some “germination paper” that I’ve found. They are about 30 bucks for 500 A4 sheets, with neutral pH, open and porous. Believe it or not, the coco coir is actually very expensive around here, as most of it is exported :( I think that even phenolic foam would be cheaper around here, but I also didn’t get to test it as it’s only sold in bulk. Loved your channel btw! Keep it up!

Before composting I would throw those mediums to Chickens if you have them, they will get a bit of food and scratch that up real well for you as well as drop in a few nitrogen pellets for you.

Shamwow is an interesting option for a growing medium.

Green horn here. Can you put plastic wrap over the seeds to keep moister in? Can you blend the paper towels or recycled paper with sterile water to make your own paper media? I would think it would have more open pores and can be fluffier for the roots to bind to and you can put the plastic wrap over that? I have filtered well water, do I have to add anything to the water? Do you test your water to see what minerals you have? Thanks

Dude i love your channel! You motivated me to grow microgreens. Wish me luck :D

Such dramatic difference in their growth pattern! Thank you for sharing these results.

Use the costco ones, they have great water retention and can store a lot more than other brands, plus they don't dissolve. Been using em with great success, only problem is that if the roots get into the towel, its easy you break em when pulling em out.

This is what I intend to try. Two trays of a size which will slot into each other. The bottom tray with water in. The top tray with holes in bottom. A layer or two of paper towels topped off with a little vermiculite into which seeds are sown. The paper towels should act as a wick for self watering. Keep in dark until sprouting and then under growlight. I think this might work?

I use plain old cheap paper towels from Walmart and it works just fine. I mist mine twice a day with a water bottle. I cover mine with a lid until day three or four. Then uncover and bottom water. I wash the bottom tray everytime I water. Some stress is good for plants.

the paper towel is treated with beach when made. this would explain the reluctance to penetrate downwards; also would cause the yellowing of leaf.

Thanks my friend 2024

Use some kind of spiked roller to put regular holes in any paper towels. Something like a pizza docker or cylindrical hair brush

My paper towel sprouts did great with double paper towel and raised lid on top.

Thank you for finally explaining what you do with the left over medium. I had asked in an earlier video but don't know if I got an answer.....

I start by peeling the paper towels apart so that it is easier for the radicals to drive through

Hi guys, I'm trying china rose on kitchen towel and with the same green trays you are using right now. I suggest you to use another white tray (the mesh one)On top of the seeds. By doing so, for the first few days, you will be able to spray water on the seeds without lifting the white tray, and that will prevent losses on germination

Best growing video I've seen Thank you 👍

I think that is if the flavors we’re pretty much the same, then you have to look, what is the easiest way to grow them without so much hassle! I would pick the coco coir!!

For the paper towels, maybe try poking some holes with some kind of multi tip serrated tool, or, try shredding the paper towels first to then plant in a paper confetti medium. I liked the way the paper towel ones looked, the leaves had a gradient green to yellow which was pretty.

You guys are great! Thank you for taking the time to do these tests! 👍

Try commercial brown hand paper. A LOT cheaper than even paper towel. Like 3$ for 1000 feet. Also not bleached. If you run a meat tenderizer on the paper it might loosen up the fibers.

It might cost more for the coco coir, but after you harvest the sprouts, the coco coir can be used for bedding in a worm bin.

you can look up Mike Vanduzee. He grows microgreens in standard plastic containers with slots on ether end of the lid and puts paper towels through the opposite ends and fills the container with water. The paper towel absorbs the water . I did it without soil first and i am able to pull a couple of them out to put in my hydroponic downspouts. I imagine you could do the same thing with 1020 trays. With Mikes setup you can set it and forget it because the paper towel continues to pull the water up to the seeds. You could also put soil on the trays on top of the paper and it would auto water the seeds.

I've never had any germination or rooting problems using cheap dollar store paper towels. I don't stack them though. I always use blackout domes and mist twice daily until it can be bottom watered.

I use a double layer of paper towel on the bottom, and another double layer on top until they’ve germinated and grown a bit. Then I bottom water with a solution of MaxiGro hydroponics nutrients.

thank you for this. Can you reuse the coco coir?

Blend the paper and press the water out...it makes it easier..fluffy cloud look

Great video. Since the ultimate issue is money, and savings per tray add up. The idea of paper towels is cheaper but the roots have difficulty embedding into the paper.. Have you considered using screens? Yes it would require a custom tray but made reusable could be cheaper over time. For instance...Bottom tray. insert tray you use now. Paper towel layer to hold moisture. Custom insert screen over damp paper towel. seeds. top cover. The custom screen would give the roots something to grab seeking the moisture. and if you used a plastic screen or grid. Clean up would consist of scraping one side with semi sharp putty knife then pressure spray or scrape other side. But then again im sure the savings in coco would be lost in labor and initial screen purchase. Who knows.

I definitely would of poked holes in the paper towels rack. Lay the paper towels down and poke through with a very small diameter skewer rod so seeds completely sink through. Just to give the roots a little help/guide busting through the paper layer.

The ph of the paper towel is probably a factor. It may be worth adding a small pinch of sodium bicarbonate to the first watering and testing if that makes a difference.

I wonder if you soak the paper towels for 2 days before seeding to get a more mushy medium for the roots to dig into?

Would having water in the tray underneath help encourage the radicals to grow downward through the towel?

I LOVE YOUR IDEAS THANKS FOR SHARING I AM TRYING OUT YOUR PLASTIC CONTAINER MICRO GREENS SYSTEM WITH 12IN X 10FT ALUMINUM ROOF PANS AND COTTON FABRIC IN 5 GALLON BUCKETS OF WATER. THANKS AGAIN

Have you thought about using food grade Hydrogen Peroxide diluted and sprayed over bottom water tray or directly on paper towels? This would add extra Oxygen and cut way down on molds and bacteria.

I've also used synthetic paper towels though they don't compost the radical penetration is far greater and the towel won't fall apart when wet

I have always used 3 layers of paper towel on the bottom. Where do I find these awesome large trays?

How about an experiment with guaze and tissue papers (like the wrapping paper tissue paper & simple toilet paper)? Covered with parchment paper to keep the moisture in? Just a thought. I love the experiments yall do. So thought provoking!!

You guys are so inspiring

EXCELLENT testing approach. I'm new and starting TODAY with growing (with seed potting soil), but curious to watch your f/u vids. A couple thoughts: 1) Tasting... you introduced a coffee beverage rinse between first and 2nd taste tests, then I think nothing introduced to "reset" your pallet with subsequent tastes. How might that change taste perception? 2) Do you have a way to test nutritional difference? Maybe it's negligible, but curious. I'd think greens grown in natural medium would be far more nutritious, but that's my assumption. NICE work!

Maybe one layer of paper towel and a layer of some kind of reusable nostick sheet like teflon baking cloth? I wonder if perforating the paper towel (drill the roll) would help penetration.

haven't checked in in awhile -- hope all is well -- i've been sprouting in clay pot bottoms and have really good luck -- two bottoms per station - one up one down.. grows great sprouts.

Well, maybe try shredded newspaper or shredded paper towels; something that might act more as a soil than a woven fabric?

Hey guys, thanks for the video. I have been just thinking about light schedule for a day. Have you been trying some different kind of schedules for ligting? Like 18/16 , 16/8, 24/7, 12/12 and ohers. I have two possibilities. First is that microgreens can handle 24/7 and they do best with this kind of schedule (they grow nonstop so you shorten growing time) but second thing is, what if they would love to rest during some hours and as a result they would look better and actually grow the same time. Have a good one!

Good vid....ty. If consider the lesser germination, time involved, and especially the greens absorbing what toxins are in the paper towels, the soil or coco is the obvious choice unless soil not available. Can the same thing be accomplished by spraying the product 2-3 times a day vs. using the mesh trays and water underneath or is it critical to have the roots get direct water? I know with fruit trees, more nutrients are absorbed via the leaves than the roots. Look forward to a response if have a moment.

paper towels has 2 plies, I split paper towel into 2 separate sheets and use only 1 sheet. It's thinner and roots can poke through easily & save paper I use 2 trays ( bottom w/ no holes, , top tray perforated) The bottom of tray i leave about 1/2 inch water and let the extra paper on each end to touch water ....".self wicking water". ( NOTE: I would have a few small rocks or something so the top tray would be about 1-3 mm above water, or slight tough okay, but not submerged in water). I spray it little bit of water to moist the paper & seeds then I cover the top with dark breathable cover.. Leave it and forget it (but do check it from time to time). The idea is similar to hydroponics...Once the roots It works w/ small trays. I ve never tried big trays like you. The idea is doing hydroponics.. I did this a few times, but i'm not into microgreens. Just a thought for some of you out there to test it out further. Thank you (Btw,for big seeds, I think do w/ muslin fabric to retain moisture better)

Greetings. I had the idea of shredding the paper towels as a growth medium. ie paper shredder. Might give the roots something to grab onto. Thank you You guys ROCK!!

My guess is if you put like perforated plastic sheets with smaller holes size then your seeds on top instead of paper tower it could make things easier for commercial scale also try NFT spreader mat it's designed for even water flow with good Co2 ratio and it expands a little when contact with water easier for roots to get where you want them to go.

I just finished a full indoor growing area. You guys are great. I follow every video. You are very cute. Like really cute, but she's a better draw for viewers.

On The Grow: Could you germinate smaller seeds in a jar first and then when they are big enough so they don't fall through the holes in the tray, transfer them to the tray with water underneath?

I think you should (and please) also test tissue paper (the dry variant) and toilet paper (cheap one-ply paper-looking, and slightly-more-expensive multi-ply softer-looking/fluffier-looking) as well, in a new test including the papel towel and Coco Coir (or what else you use now). I think the tissue paper or toilet paper might be either more cost effective, or more root-growth effective or sprout-effective. The point being that if you can get a 10% loss for 20% lower cost (including the costs of the lighting and air conditioning), it would be a better business choice.

Excellent presentation. Thank you.

Leather craft stores sell a tool that looks like the rowl of a spur and if you the paper towel on some kind of sponge surface or maybe a cork board and rolled it back and forth a little to create micro perforations, you might get better penetration while still keeping cost low. You could also lay down a sheet of baking paper, insert a small nail into each of the holds in a block in the bottom tray and cover them with an inch thick or so later of hot glue, the resulting tool could then be used as a perforation tool to be used to punch a layer of baking paper instead of using paper towels but it would hold less water. Or just use it to make better perforations in a layer of paper towels.

Could you use coffee grounds with something mixed in?

Great video but Wouldnt different paper towels retain. More soil or not be as good as the other one i was wondering if different towels work also would you think that a Cloth towel Would retain moisture better or worse Because i think if you tried growing microgreens on sponges would be cool because sponges are know for keeping in moisture, also i was Thinking if you grew microgreens instead of soil u could put a banana peel let it decompose and plant a microgreen in it i know microgreens dont need alot of nutritional value but it would be intresting it would also be cool if you compared your favorite mediums to grow microgreens in. Great video, Have a great day and stay safe!

I love your experiments! I saw a video on another channel where they grew microgreens on coco coir with paper towel on top. I wonder if that would work better than paper towel alone?

Kitchen scissors/shears would harvest without tearing the seedling or pulling the grow medium up into your product.

What if you try paper towel on top of Soil or coco? Will it keep the finish product cleaner

Maybe try blue "shop" paper towels, available at Home Depot and other hardware and automotive stores. Maybe Amazon too. Much thicker and more absorbant than standard household paper towels.

Very nice experiment. Appreciate your efforts and information 😃

You can grow directly onto terracotta trays or saucers. Terracotta absorbs excess moisture, and the radicals adhere to it well.

You could use cloth, like burlap. That will absorb more water and avoid getting the coir in the harvest product. To harvest, just take out of the tray, put on table and pass a knife cutting the roots while holding the cloth making easier and cleaner. And may be cheaper than coir.

These trays look great … where do you find them?

Thank you for posting your experiments. I use paper towel in a perforated tray for broccoli microgreens in an automated flood and drain system. I feel that the medium is the root mass, not the paper towel. I use paper towel because without paper towel, and with no medium, too many seeds were moving from the 1020 perforated tray into the flood tray. I do not stack the trays, they are open on top, but in an enclosed, ventilated, dark box until the led lights are turned on on day 6. I set the flood cycle to every 3 hours for the first 5 days, then every 5 hours for days 6 through 9, and every 10 hours on day 10 (harvest day). I am also growing sunflowers in another tray (with no medium, no paper towel) in the same flood tray, so my timing is based more on the needs of the sunflower, which are more challenging. For the sunflower, I warm the trays to 85F for the first 3 days, 80F for days 4 and 5, 75F for days 6-9 and ambient temperature, usually 65F the day before harvest. My system is entirely automated so I could turn it on and let it run unattended until harvest on day 10. However, I tend to look at it every day and about day 5 or 6 add a mild hydroponic nutrient solution to the reservoir. It also works without nutrient solution on plain water. I like the paper towel and no medium method for easy cleanup, just flip the tray into the compost bin and rip a few roots that penetrated the perforated tray.