Make Your Own Wildflower Seed Bombs
By Becky Griffith, NIU STEAM Educator
Spring has sprung, which means it’s time to begin planting flowers. A fun and simple diy project is making wildflower seed bombs. These can make great gifts, too!
Wildflower Seed Bombs
Materials needed:
- 2 small bins or bowls
- Metal Strainer
- Spoon
- Wildflower seeds
- Egg carton
- Paper pulp
- Shredded newspaper
- Water
- Blender (The consistency of the paper can dull the blender’s blades, so it’s best to use an old blender for this work if you have one.)
- Begin by making your paper pulp. Shred several sheets of newspaper and place them in a blender with approximately 1 cup of water. (Note: If you begin with too much water, you’ll need to add more paper to achieve the proper consistency.) Use the blender to mix the paper and water to reach a soup-like consistency. The paper should be wet and squishy, but more solid-like than liquid. Dump your paper pulp into one of your small bins.
- Once you’ve made your pulp, you’re ready to create your seed bombs. Set out your empty bin next to your bin filled with pulp and place your strainer on top of the empty bin. Grab a handful of pulp and place it on top of the strainer. Press down on the pulp to squeeze some of the excess water into the bin below.
- Use a spoon to scoop out some wildflower seeds and place them on top of the paper pulp. Then, scoop out another handful of pulp and cover the seeds with the pulp. Press down on the pulp to press out excess water. Use your hands to squeeze out additional water and shape into a ball. If you see any exposed seeds in your ball, use some additional pulp to cover the seeds. Place the paper pulp in an egg carton to dry.
- To plant your seed bombs, select a clear area that gets at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day. Scatter the bombs on moist soil and water the area immediately. Continue regularly watering the area as it begins to grow.
These make great gifts for Mother’s Day or Teacher Appreciation Day. Just place in a clear bag, secure with a ribbon and add a card. You can include planting and watering instructions on your card.
