Plastic Cup Mini Greenhouses

I love planting with kids! Watching a tiny seed transform into a little sprout and eventually a plant that’s big enough to be transferred outdoors is such a magical process for little ones.

It allows them to learn all about how to care for plants and what plants need in order to thrive. Plus, there’s such a sense of accomplishment that comes with growing your very own plant from seed. 

These plastic cup greenhouses are perfect for planting with kids. They speed the up the sprouting process, they almost always ensure success and they're a great way to put random leftover birthday party cups to good use.

You Will Need:

• coloured plastic cups
• clear plastic cups that are slightly smaller or larger than your coloured cups
• a push pin
• potting soil
• seeds (try to choose something with a short germination period)
• water

Instructions:

It's incredibly easy to make mini greenhouses. Here's how!

1. Use the push pin to poke several holes in the bottom of your coloured cup. This will allow for some drainage, should your plants be overwatered.

2. Fill your cup nearly to the top with potting soil and pat it down gently.

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3. Carefully place your seeds in your soil-filled cup, making sure to leave some space between each one. You can plant as few or as many as you like, but we usually use 3 - 5 seeds per greenhouse.

Cover your seeds with an additional scoop of soil and once again, pat it down gently.

4. Give your seeds some water. I find that using a spray or squeeze bottle gives little ones more control and avoids big spills and overwatering disasters.

5. Place your clear cup over your solid coloured cup to form a greenhouse. This will lock in the moisture and warmth, allowing your seeds to germinate quickly, while still allowing you to see what’s going on inside.  Place your greenhouses on a tray and put them near a window that will get lots of light.

Now all that’s left to do is to keep a close eye on your greenhouses!  Add a little water every day or two and it won’t be long before you see some little sprouts popping up.  Good luck!