Branch of Science: Biology
Concept: Seeds and Sprouts

PLANTABLE PLANTER

Inside a tiny grass seed is a plant embryo and a store of food to help it grow. When the seed is soaked in water, that’s the new plant’s cue to press its way out and sprout. Use a short tube to create a cute container for your sprouting seeds, and then plant them—tube and all—in your yard.

You’ll Need:

• Ruler
• Short tube
• Scissors
• Felt-tipped pens
• 3/4 cup (177 grams) of potting soil
• 1 teaspoon of grass seed
• Water

Put It Together:

1. Draw four 1-inch (2.5-cm) lines at equal distances around one end of your tube. Cut along each line to make four small flaps.
2. Fold the flaps so that each flap overlaps the one before it. Tuck one side of the last flap under the first flap. Press the flaps tightly to make a flat bottom for your planter.

   

3. Using the felt-tipped pens, draw a face on the planter.
4. Fill the planter 3/4 full of potting soil. Spread the seeds on top of the soil. Add a thin layer of soil to cover the seeds.

   

5. Water the seeds, but be careful not to add so much water that the roll is drenched.
6. Place your planter in a warm place. Keep the soil moist but not soaked. Your seeds should sprout hair in 5 to 14 days.
7. Plant your sprouts, tube and all, in a bald spot in your lawn.

Tip: Set your planter on a plate to catch any dirty water that might leak from the bottom.

Reusable Knowledge

Even inside a seed, the embryo has a top and a bottom. One end is set to become roots. The other will become a stem. But you don’t have to worry about planting your seeds upside down. Plants sense gravity. Roots and stems will turn to grow in the right direction. A bonus to starting seed in this planter is that it will break down in the ground and become soil. You won’t even have to disturb your sprouts to move them to your lawn.