Ages: 2 years and up
Your indoor gardener may not get your “bad hair day” jokes, but the fun of this grassy-haired friend won’t be lost on him. Like a Chia Pet, the project requires just a sprinkling of seeds, a bit of sun, and a few drops of patience.
Materials
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- One 9- or 12-ounce plastic cup
- 1 to 1 1/4 cups of potting soil
- 1 tablespoon of grass seeds (we bought rye grass at a garden center)
- Decorations, such as office dot stickers, markers, and ribbon (for safety, it should measure less than 6 inches long)
- Instructions
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- Fill the cup halfway with soil. Divide the remaining soil in two, then have your child measure the seeds and stir them into one of these halves. Tip:To speed germination, you can first soak the seeds in water overnight.
- Spoon the seed-filled soil into the cup, then top it with the remaining soil (this final layer should be about 1/8 to 1/4 inch deep). Water the soil well.
- Let your child decorate the cup with stickers and markers. Finally, leave the plant in a warm, sunny spot to sprout. Water as necessary to keep the soil about as wet as a damp sponge.