Daisies, tulips and sunflowers, OH MY! At Lightbridge Academy child care centers we love the brightness that spring flowers bring to the outside of our centers. You can do the same to liven up your home with this fun and easy at home recycled flower pot project to make with your child! Have your preschooler’s shoes served their purpose? You can take them and give them a new green life. Old Crocs and rain boots make for excellent flower pots along with used up coffee cans, vegetable cans and empty soda bottles. With a little bit of imagination and creativity the possibilities are endless!
What you’ll need:
- Old shoe, coffee/vegetable can or 2 liter soda bottle
- Mesh (optional)
- 1 to 2 cups of soil (depending on your recycled container)
- Flower or herb seeds – tip: if planting seeds in a durable coffee can, sunflowers are an excellent choice for first time planters and your child will be amazed at how quickly they grow! In about one week the seeds will begin sprouting and should be a fully grown sunflower at two feet tall in only one month’s time.
If using an old soda bottle, remove the label and carefully cut the bottle in half, keeping only the lower part to use as the flower pot. If you’re using a child size Croc, the mesh is not necessary because the holes are small enough to contain the soil, but if you are using an adult size, the mesh will coat the inside of the shoe to ensure the safety of your seeds. Have your child then decorate the exterior part of their new ‘flower pot’ with any design their little heart desires – you’ll be astounded by what they come up with! Ta-da! You and your green-thumbed star have just made your very own recycled and innovative flower pot.
To begin the planting process, make sure your flower pots are cleaned thoroughly. Fill the objects with soil, just enough to pack the shoe, can or soda bottle you are using to reach the top of the rim without having an over flow. If your child is too young for the detailed work, you can have your toddler poke small holes in the dirt and then give them 3-4 seeds to bury about 2 inches deep into the soil, depending on the type of flower they are planting (double check the instructions on the seed package). Make sure they are covered completely.
When you’re all done planting, have your little one pick a sunny spot inside or outside your home. Teach them the importance of caring for their newly planted seeds by watering them together every day so you can both watch them blossom and grow.
