Planting Paperwhites

I found my new favorite way to plant flowers with my kids. No dirt needed! This was the cleanest project we’ve done in a while. We planted Paperwhite bulbs and have really enjoyed watching them grow bit by bit and blossom in the middle of winter. 

• I got the bulbs at our local gardening store. I planted a couple at the beginning of January and the kids just helped me plant two more jars to start growing in the next couple of weeks. Seriously, the best way to plant with kids…
• We used one glass container and one bag of rocks ($1.00 each at the dollar store)
• Fill the container 2/3 full with rocks (or sand…)

• Place a bulb on the rocks pointed end up.

• Fill with the rest of the rocks leaving the top half of each bulb exposed.

• Fill the container with water, as close as possible to the bottom of the bulb without the water touching the bottom of the bulb. If the water is too high the bulb may rot, if it is too low the roots may dry out.
• We used a squirty bottle to “water” the rocks See that?! No dirt. No mess!
• Place the container in a cool, dark spot and roots will appear within two weeks. We put ours in a darker corner in the garage.

• When green shoots appear, move the container to a cool, sunny spot. Ours have been sitting on the kitchen table with light from the windows. They grow bit by bit and blooms appear 3 to 4 weeks after the shoots appear.

We’ll let these bloom as long as they want, then swap them out for the new bulbs the kids just planted. I’m loving having pretty flowers this time of the year and the kids have really enjoyed watching them grow and change each day!

• Read “Paperwhite” by Nancy Elizabeth Wallace … I just happened to see this book at our library the last time we visited. How perfect! They plant paperwhite bulbs just like we did.

Growing a Garden Indoors (or Seeds)

You could do this activity for G = garden, growing or S = seeds, soil, spring.

1. Each of the kids got a plastic baseball card holder. Available here.
2. They helped spoon dirt into each section (about half full)
3. Then they chose from our seeds whatever they wanted to plant. We had cucumbers, zucchini, carrots, peppers, and tomatoes.
4. Drop a few seeds in each section
5. Add a little more soil
6. Then squirt a few squirts of water with a squirt bottle.
7. Label each section so you know what was growing.
8. Use a hole punch to punch two holes at the top.
9. Hang in the window with suction cups. I didn't trust our little dollar store suction cups, so I also taped around the edges. They didn’t fall down and we really enjoyed watching the little sprouts get big enough to transplant outside! In cooler weather, transplant into bigger pots and set in a sunny window.

Growing Grass (or seeds)

Great to use for G week (grow grass) or S week (seeds, soil).

1. Let the kids decorate their cup with a face. Googly eyes always make it more fun. I like planting the seeds in clear cups so we can watch the roots growing too.
2. Fill the cup about 2/3 full with dirt.
3. Sprinkle grass seeds on top and covered with a little more soil.
4. Water until moist with a squirt bottle and sit in a sunny window.
5. Don't forget to give them a little spritz when they start looking dry.
6. We talked about what seeds need to grow ... soil, water, sunlight.

It took about 1 week exactly to start seeing tiny sprouts, then in another week, they were getting very tall! The kids think it's fun to give them a haircut every now and then too.

Grow

• Plant assorted seeds between wet paper towel & place in a ziploc baggie. Place in a sunny spot & they will sprout in a few days.
• Plant a small garden ... use an egg carton, fill each space with potting soil. Help the kids plant a few seeds in each space (carrots, radishes, peppers, corn). Use popsicle sticks to label each space. Water & wrap with plastic wrap to create a greenhouse. The kids get so excited to see their seeds begin to sprout. These can be transferred outside when they get bigger!
• Cut the bottom 1" off a long celery stalk. Place in a clear cup of water dyed with food coloring. The kids can watch the color travel through the celery stalk.
• Make simple plant sequence cards ... Use index cards, on the first draw dirt & a seed. On the second, draw a seed with roots. On the third, draw a seed with roots & a plant beginning to grow. On the last, draw the seed with a full-grown plant or flower. Help the kids put them in the right order.
• Measure your kids on a growth chart to see how much they've grown! I made this wooden ruler when my kids were little. We mark it every year on their birthday and half-birthday. I write the date, their age, and their name.
• Read "The Tiny Seed" by Eric Carle
• Plant your own instant garden ... Draw rows on a long roll of brown paper to resemble a garden. Cut pictures of plants and flowers from gardening/seed catalogs and glue them on to your garden.
• Grow a Grassy Letter ... Let the kids place a layer of soil in a pie tin. Use a craft stick to write the first letter of his name in the soil. Help him sprinkle grass seed over his letter. Lightly water the grass seed. In a few days, the grass will sprout in the shape of their letter!

snack idea: sunflower seeds