PLANTS FROM TRASH (K-3)
Nature is the best recycler. Some plants even "recycle" themselves.
New plants can grow from plant seeds, and in some cases, from parts
of plants. Did you know that some of the things we often throw away
in the trash can be grown into attractive houseplants? All you need
are a sunny window, some water or potting soil, flower pots or
containers, and a little tender loving care.
- Tip: Try and use containers that would otherwise be thrown out. That way you will be:
- 1. reducing the amount of waste thrown out
- 2. recycling the "waste plant parts", and
- 3. reusing items that would otherwise be waste!
Source: "The Pits", Rare Pit & Plant Council
MATERIALS:
- water
- potting soil
- containers for plants
- seeds, pits, fruit, or vegetable parts (see Procedure section
below to findout what plant pieces or parts can be used)
- knife (have an adult do any required cutting)
- newspaper
- May need: toothpicks, pebbles, plastic wrap, ziploc bag, peat
moss, paper towel
PROCEDURE:
A. Plants from Plant Parts:
- White Potato in Soil:
- Take a white potato that is showing "eyes" and
cut a section that includes an eye (about 1
square inch). Place it in a pot of moist soil,
about 2" deep. Keep the plant moist but do not
"drown" it. Field potatoes are planted this
way.
- Sweet Potato in Water:
- In the middle of a sweet potato, stick 3 to 4
toothpicks evenly spaced. Place the potato in
a glass of water and put it in a sunny window.
Either end can be rooted. Keep the water level
high, and after a week or more the potato will
usually sprout roots and vine-like stems and
leaves.
- Carrot Top in Water:
- Cut about 1" - 1 1/2" off the top of 4 to 6
carrots. Fill a shallow bowl 2/3 full of
washed pebbles (pebbles help support the
tops.) Place the carrot tops over the pebbles.
Add water to the level of the pebbles and
maintain this level at all times. Soon the
tops will sprout pretty foliage.
- Pineapple in Water:
- To separate the top from the fruit, hold the
fruit firmly with one hand and twist the leafy
head with the other. The top should come right
off. Remove the lower leaves until the stump
is about 1 1/2" long. Put the top in a glass
of water and change the water weekly. When
roots are 3" to 4" long, transplant to a pot.
B. Plants from Seeds:
- Avocado Pits:
- Remove the pit from an avocado and allow it to
dry for 2-3 days. Peel away as much of the
onion-like skin as possible. One-third of the
way down, inset four toothpicks at regular
intervals. The flat end is the bottom and the
pointed end is the top.
Put the pit in a glass of water so that 1/2"
of water covers the base of the pit. When the
roots are 4" long, transplant the pit to a pot
and keep it in a bright, warm window. Keep the
soil evenly moist at all times.
- Mini-Fruit Trees:
- Citrus plants can be grown from seeds removed
from oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and
tangerines. Soak the seeds overnight in water.
Plant 1/2" in moist potting soil. Cover the
pot with a plastic bag or a piece of plastic
wrap, and put in a warm spot. When the seeds
start to grow (in a few weeks), remove the
plastic. Keep the plant in a warm, sunny
window.
- Beans, Peas, and Lentils:
- Soak dried beans, peas, or lentils overnight
in warm water. Fill a pot 2/3 full with
potting soil. Place three seeds on the top of
the soil and cover with 1/2" of soil. Cover
the pot with plastic wrap. After the seeds
start to grow, remove the plastic. Put the
plant in a warm, sunny window, and keep the
soil evenly moist. It may be necessary to tie
the plants to a small stake as they grow.
- Herbs:
- Use anise, caraway, coriander, celery, dill,
or fennel seed. Fill a 6" pot 2/3 full with
moist potting soil. Place six seeds on top of
the soil and cover with 1/2" of soil. Cover
the pot with plastic wrap and place in a warm
spot. After the seeds begin to grow (3-8
days), remove the plastic and place the plant
in a sunny window. After a few weeks, you will
have a lovely feathery foliage that can be
snipped and used in cooking.
- Peanuts:
- Make sure you use fresh, unroasted peanuts.
Fill a large, 4" deep plastic bowl 2/3 full
with moist potting soil. Shell four peanuts
and place them on top of the soil, covering
them with 1" of soil. The plant will sprout
quickly. In a couple of months small, yellow,
pealike flowers will develop along the lower
part of the stem. After the flower fades, the
ovary swells and starts to grow toward the
ground and pushes into the soil. Peanuts will
be ready to harvest in about six months.
C. Plants from Exotic Fruits:
- Mango:
- In the center of the mango, there is a large
hairy husk with a pit in it. Scrape off all
the excess flesh from the husk and gently pry
open with a dull knife. The pit is best
started in a sphagnum bag. Fill a Ziploc bag
with dampened peat moss or sphagnum. Place the
pit in the bag and make sure it is completely
surrounded by moss. Check every day to make
sure the pit is not dried out or rotted from
too much moisture. When the roots are 4" long,
transplant to a pot that is at least 1" larger
than the pit.
- Papaya:
- Papayas are not easy to grow because the
plants have a tendency to dampen off (die) at
about 6" tall. When you cut the papaya open,
you will find hundreds of black seeds
surrounded by a gelatinous aril (seed
covering). To remove the aril, spread some
seeds on a paper towel and roll them with your
fingers until the aril squashes off. Plant
the seeds immediately in a container with
sterile potting soil. Give them bottom heat
and high humidity until they pass the critical
stage of 6" high. Papayas are rapid growers,
and once they are established, they will not
need a lot of water and fertilizer.
- Tamarind:
- Tamarind pods look like brown lima beans. The
outer shell is brittle and easily peels back,
revealing a sticky, brown, pulp. Within this
pulp there are five or six shiny black pits.
Nick the pits (with a nail file) and soak them
until they swell, usually in a few hours.
Plant the pits in a container with potting
soil and place in a sunny window. Tamarinds
are water-loving plants and should never be
allowed to dry out. As they grow, pinch them
back to make the plant fuller.
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