Potting time
- Add Soil
Once your jar seeds have sprouted leaves or you see the roots are full and crowded at the bottom of the jar, it is a good time to move them to soil so they have a better chance at long-term survival.
Sourcing Soil
Using indoor formula potting soil is nice, but not necessary. Many of us have old pots sitting around with plants that have died. Or many of us have fertile soil in our yards from where we planted annuals the year before. If you are an urban dweller, scooping a jar of soil from your local park isn’t a crime, as long as you don’t scoop up any plants or bulbs in the process. Sometimes buying soil is unnecessary for a small project involving children. It is easy to find fertile recycled soil.
Repurpose a Pot
Find pots in a similar fashion. Recycle what you have. You can also make a pot by cutting 1-4 drainage holes in a plastic food container. It is a nice way to find a use for a container that has long lost its lid and is not in use much anymore.
Fill the pot with soil, leaving at least a ½ inch of space remaining. Some seeds, like pepper seeds start best in soil. Trial and error will best determine what seeds do well in your home in the jar and in soil.
Caring For Your Plants
In order to flower and bear fruit, your plant must have exposure to other plants and natural elements. Allow your plant a little time with the window open, or even better, outside. Also, try to keep them near other plants. Insects that pollinate may need to give your plants a little love. Sometimes, that pesky fly in the house may be doing you a favor as it bumps into the window trying to escape. As it bounces around the house, bumping into your plants along the way, it is inadvertently pollinating.
Educate Your Kids About Plants
Creating a plant book of pictures and observations is a tip for your older children. For your younger children, as much hands on activity you allow, the more ownership they have and the more they learn about growing plants. Encourage talking and whispering to your plants. Explain to your child how plants soak in the carbon dioxide in our breath and in return give us oxygen. Indoor growing is completely possible and definitely a fun way to incorporate more green into your home. Happy planting!
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Plants grow from seeds, because the seeds contain within themselves an embryonic plant and stored food. Thanks for the information. This is the type of indoor gardening.