This blog will briefly describe and offer instructions on three fun gardening projects to start with your kids so you can spend some quality time together on those cold, rainy days! They may like it so much they even join our kids gardening club.
Force Bulbs Indoors
Did you know that you can trick bulbs into blooming indoors out of season just by providing them with the right growing conditions? As the whole gardening process takes a few months to complete, this is an excellent weekend activity idea for you and your kids to enjoy doing together.
How To Do It With Your Kids:
You’ll want to select your variety of bulb(s) carefully as not every bulb thrives well in an indoor environment. It is possible to plant spring bulbs in pots so that they will bloom indoors at the end of winter, given you stick to cold-hardy varieties like these:
- Tulips
- Daffodils
- Crocus
- Hyacinth
- Amaryllis
- Narcissus
With their bottoms about 1/4 inch above the surface of water in a small vase, place water-forced bulbs tip-end up. Use this method of forcing amaryllis, hyacinth, and narcissus. In the gardening world, these varieties are favored for forcing because their roots reach well into the water.
Potting soil should be used to force other bulb types. Leaving half-to-two thirds of the bulb exposed, help your kids plant the bulbs about an inch apart, with the tip-end up. Covering the entire bulb will cause them to die. It is important to keep your soil moist after planting but not soggy. Have your children create their own DIY watering calendars to remind them when their soil needs watering!
Because they do not require chilling, paperwhite narcissus and amaryllis are the easiest bulbs to force, and likely the best option for your kids. Plants should be kept away from drafts and heat sources once they have bloomed to prolong the blooming process. Similarly, when gardening with potted bulbs—keep the soil moist but not wet.
Adopt a Houseplant
The benefits of having your kids take care of their own houseplants are many, including increased patience and self-confidence. If you are looking for indoor plants to grow with your children, consider these beginner-friendly varieties:
- Snake Plant
- Philodendron
- Spider Plant
- Aloe Vera
- ZZ Plant
- Nerve Plant
- Peace Lily
These indoor houseplants are all excellent options to grow with your kids because their care needs are very simple. With the correct amounts of sunlight, water, food, and soil, you’ll have beautiful family-grown plants in no time. Give your children the option of choosing their plant variety and indoor plant container to make this an even more engaging and informative activity. You can explain to them the different parts of the plant once it sprouts or roots, or have them draw pictures of it and keep a journal recording its growth process!
Grow an Indoor Herb Garden
Give your kids the opportunity to get their hands dirty with their own homegrown indoor herb garden. In this hands-on gardening activity, they will continue to harvest yields of delicious herbs from their gardening efforts for more rainy days than you can count!
You will need:
- An apron or old T-shirt
- Children-friendly gardening tools
- Bag of potting soil
- Empty yogurt containers
- 4-6 potted herbs or seeds
- Watering can
- Paint and stickers (optional)
How To Do It With Your Kids:
- Remove the lids and rinse yogurt containers. Make four drainage holes in the bottom.
- Paint the pots and let them dry.
- Plant your herbs after half filling the pots with your soil mix.
- Create a tray for the pots using a shallow plastic container, such as an empty salad or fruit container. After watering your herbs, this will collect any excess water that has drained through so you don’t end up with a mess. Make sure your herbs are planted in a place with a lot of natural sunlight.
You can create lasting memories with your children by teaching them how to care for houseplants, herb gardens, and flower bulbs indoors. Visit us at Plant Perfect Garden Center in Bismarck for other indoor gardening activities!