Recycle and grow at the same time with this Cress Porcupine!
Cress is so easy and quick to grow, it’s an old favorite as a kids activity – other cress ideas include an eggshell or yoghurt pot which is painted with a face.
The Cress Porcupine grows porcupine spikes rather than hair!
Cress Porcupine You will need:
- A small plastic drinking bottle (square rather than round)
- Googly eyes
- Kitchen paper
- Cress seeds
- Water
- Cling film/Saran wrap
How to grow a Cress Porcupine
- Lay the plastic bottle on it’s side and cut out the top side of it. Keep the plastic near the front of the bottle opening in tact.
- Stick some googly eyes on near the bottle opening.
- Take 5 pieces of kitchen paper and place them on top of one another.
- Fold the paper in half and then half again.
- Run the paper under running water quickly and on both sides. It should be wet but not dripping.
- Place the wet kitchen paper inside the bottle. You might have to cut the end of it off for it to fit.
- Sprinkle a thin layer of cress seeds over the wet paper – make sure they are evenly spread.
- Cover the bottle in cling film/Saran wrap so the seeds are sealed in. We’re creating a greenhouse effect.
- Put the Cress Porcupine in a dark, warm place until the shoots are 1cm tall.
- Then move it to a windowsill. The cress will be ready to eat in 12 days maximum from when you first plant it.
Tips for growing cress
If you only have a round bottle, steady it by putting four pieces of plasticine at the bottom. These can be made to look like feet.
Keep a close eye on your cress. You need to check on it every day and make sure the kitchen paper is always wet.
