Moving Forward Family Services’s 10th Anniversary Event: Plant A Seed Activity

Tag us on instagram and show us your growing plants! @songbirdtherapybc

Here are some general instructions for growing your new seeds! I encourage you to get curious, learn more about your seed and what it needs to thrive. I have included some links to some further instructions and great youtube videos!

They will need more room to grow into vegetables than your egg cartoon container. You can use anything you have around the house! Empty plant pots, containers, coffee tins, produce/berry containers, as long as it has drainage holes. Or, if you have an outdoor garden space, they will be happy to grow there.

Please be aware your egg carton also has a drainage hole, when you water it, water will run out the bottom! It can be helpful to keep a plate under any container to catch access water.

Radish: Does best if grown in a bigger pot/ garden bed and outdoors right away. Seed and growing info found here. Watch this example video for more instructions.

Lettuce: Will thrive in your windowsill, in a garden bed, or container! Handles rehoming well. Seed and growing info found here. Watch this example video for more instructions.

Spinach: Will prefer outdoors but will handle your windowsill! Seed and grow info found here. Watch this example video for more instructions.

If you place your little seeds in their new homes within a day or two of receiving your egg cartoon, then they can stay in their new larger home until they are fully grown! You can cut the sides of the egg carton and take out the whole contents (dirt and all), use your fingers to dig a small hole in the new dirt, and plant your seed.

(You can also use the egg carton to measure the size of the hole you will need)

If you decide to keep your seeds in their egg carton homes for later replanting; keep the cover on until you see little green leaves start to poke out from the dirt.

You can now leave the cover off, and let them get lot’s of sun (or, you can use a grow light!)

When your plant first starts to grow, you will notice two little leaves first. These are called SEED leaves, and they look similar to this:

You can continue to grow your seedling until you see at least 2-3 TRUE leaves before replanting them in their larger home.

Here is a helpful video clip:  https://www.youtube.com/shorts/nf4JAI3UA-g

Water regularly, keep the dirt moist, but not soaked.

If you see more than one plant growing in each container, you can remove the smaller ones. You can replant them somewhere else and they will keep growing too!

When they’re ready to repot, here is how to rehome (transplant) your plants:

How to Transplant Seedlings

Prepare the new spot first: Whether it’s a bigger pot or an outdoor garden bed, loosen the soil and dig a small hole that’s big enough to fit the seedling’s root ball. You can use the egg carton to press a hole in the dirt to match the size you need!

Water before moving: Water your seedlings lightly a few hours before transplanting (repotting). Moist soil holds together better and reduces stress on the plant, just like we need nourishment to help us cope with stress!

Therapy Reflection! This plant is moving from one small home into a bigger one—when in your life have you experienced a change that gave you room to grow? What helped you feel supported during that time?

Loosen the seedling carefully: Gently squeeze the sides of the egg carton or use a small tool (like a spoon, pencil, or plant label) to ease the soil away from the edges. Avoid pulling on the stem as it’s delicate and can snap. Try to keep as much soil around the roots as possible. Here is a helpful video https://www.youtube.com/shorts/F3Ji9AyAwIA

If you have more than one plant growing and the roots are tightly wound, gently rub them between your fingers and help them break apart. Sometimes roots break off, and that’s ok!

Place in the new hole: Lower the seedling into the hole, keeping it upright and fill in with dirt around the roots gently, pressing the soil down.

Water again: Give the seedling a gentle watering to help the soil settle around the roots and reduce transplant shock. Change can be hard on us all!

Provide shade (if outdoors): For the first couple of days, protect new transplants from strong sun or wind, either with light shade cloth or by planting in the evening.

If replanting your egg cartoon seedling is not accessible for you, that is a-ok. You can watch your little seed grow through the beginning of its life cycle, watching it develop new leaves and change a little everyday. Maybe this little plant’s role is to spark curiosity about gardening and to learn more! Gardening is all about learning. And all you need to try again is some potting mix, a container, and some seeds!