Seed Paper Printing

Seed Paper Printing Tips

Plantable seed paper printing is an eco-friendly and unique way to create memorable and sustainable paper products. Here are some tips to help you get the most out of your plantable seed paper printing projects:

Ink coverage

Try to keep ink coverage fairly low if you can. We don't set a limit on ink coverage but keeping some areas white so the seeds can be seen adds a lovely visual element to seed paper products.

Colours & Design

Create your artwork in CMYK colour format. Our heat-free press prints in CMYK at 1200dpi. When designing for seed paper, keep in mind that the paper itself will have a unique texture and look. The inks will create a matte finish once printed as they will be absorbed into the paper. Strong bold colours and minimalistic designs work best but full colour images and designs also print well. We can arrange a test print on request for a small charge.

QR Codes

Consider adding a QR code people can scan to download your details or visit your website before planting the seed paper. This is a popular option with our customers. Due to the random placements of seeds on each sheet occasionally the seeds can be positined in the middle of QR codes which can cause issues when scanning them. Make sure you include alternative contact information alongside so all the bases are covered.

Planting instructions

We recommend including instructions on how to plant the paper somewhere in your design.

How to Plant Seed Paper

We recommend soaking the seed paper overnight first. Thereafter, the paper can then be planted with a thin layer of soil underneath and on top of the seed paper. Be sure to keep the soil moist at all times, because this will give the seeds the best chance of germination. The seed paper we use is manufactured in the UK, using native UK wildflower seeds which include: Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black Knapweed, Black Medick, Meadow Buttercup, Musk Mallow, Ox-Eye Daisy, Ribwort Plantain, Red Campion, Salad Burnet, Self Heal, White Campion & Yarrow.

Environmental Benefits

Wildflowers are beneficial to both insects and the environment in many ways. Here are some ways in which wildflowers can provide important benefits:

Pollination

Wildflowers provide nectar and pollen to insects, such as bees and butterflies, which play a crucial role in pollination. By providing a diverse range of flowering plants, wildflowers support the pollination of other plants in the ecosystem, including food crops.

Habitat

Wildflowers provide important habitat and shelter for insects, especially for those that have specialized needs. For example, some species of butterflies can only lay their eggs on specific types of plants. By providing a diverse range of wildflowers, insects are more likely to find the habitat and resources they need to survive.

Soil health

Wildflowers can help improve soil health by increasing the organic matter content, promoting the growth of beneficial microorganisms, and reducing erosion. The root systems of wildflowers can also help improve soil structure, making it more porous and better able to absorb and retain water.

Biodiversity:

Wildflowers contribute to the overall biodiversity of an ecosystem, which is important for maintaining ecosystem health and resilience. By providing a diverse range of plants and habitats, wildflowers can support a wide range of wildlife, including insects, birds, and mammals.

Overall, wildflowers play a crucial role in supporting the health of both insects and the environment. By promoting the growth of wildflowers, we can help to support a more diverse and healthy ecosystem.

Seed Paper Finishing

Alongside full colour digital printing, we also offer additional finishing options for our seed paper products. These include hole punching/drilling for swing tags, binding and stitching for notebooks and die-cutting which enables us to create shaped seed paper business cards and other products. Popular shapes include circles, hearts, butterflies, flowers etc. We have some existing cutting tools for different shapes that can be used. Reach out to our friendly team for more information.

Seed Mix

The wildflower seed paper we use for printing includes the following seed mix:

Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black Knapweed, Black Medick, Meadow Buttercup, Musk Mallow, Ox-Eye Daisy, Ribwort Plantain, Red Campion, Salad Burnet, Self Heal, White Campion, Yarrow & Grass Seed.