Our kids love gardening. We decided to add a new decorative element inside the house with this Easy DIY Rainforest Inspired Container Garden.
This is a fun and easy project that gives children and adults instant gratification. These plants are easy to care for and add a fun decorative feature for the classroom or home. This also makes a great gift!
You will need:
- A selection of plants that would grow in a rainforest. We used: The Peace Lily (Spahiphyllum friedrichstahlli), a Fern, and a Zebra Plant
- Container large enough for your selection of plants
- Soil
- Moss (dried)
- Water
- Trowel
- Kids’ gardening gloves (optional)
Add some soil to your planter. This is a fun thing for children to do. It should be enough soil to fill the container by about two thirds, leaving enough room for the plants you purchased. Have a child dig a hole in the center of the planter with a trowel for your focal plant. Then, plant the focal plant in the hole and smooth the soil around it. Do this with your remaining plants. We used three, but you can use more or less depending on the size of your container. Our container was re-purposed and already full of soil. We had bulk moss left from a fairy themed baby sprinkle a few years ago. It has come in handy for lots of projects!
Have the children water the plants so that they are moist but not too wet. Then, have them spread the moss all around the plants. This looks pretty and also helps keep the plants moist underneath. Children in a classroom or at home can care for their container garden.
Here are some more rainforest themed educational activities by the #TeachECE team.
- Phonemic Awareness Activity: Rainforest Animal Slide by Growing Book by Book
- Find the Hidden Preschool Letters-Rainforest Alphabet Game by Learning to Walk
- Rainforest Matching Activity for Preschoolers by Life Over C’s
- Leaf Cutter Ant Craft by Still Playing School
- Rainforest Fine Motor Activities by Munchkins and Moms
- Rainforest Tree Frog Math Games by The Preschool Toolbox
We were just talking about doing some container gardening. Thanks so much for the ideas.
Hi Growing Book by Book.
I hope you enjoy your container gardening project.
: 0 ) Theresa
What a beautiful container garden. This is a project that the adults can enjoy just as much as the kids and it would make a great gift, too!
Thank you Shelah.
I have to admit that I did enjoy this as much as they did. This would be a good gift for teachers or Grandparents' Day.
: 0 ) Theresa
That is a beautiful plant! My kids would love helping pot it!
This is such a cute idea! I like the theme 🙂
Hi Clarissa.
Our kids love to get their hands in the dirt. The gloves were a novelty which they enjoyed this time.
: 0 ) Theresa
Thank you Bev.
It was fun to work with a theme in the design. That ruled out a lot of houseplants at the nursery and also helped us to pick plants that thrive under the same conditions.
: 0 ) Theresa
This looks like a lot of fun. My son loves gardening and I bet he'd love a container garden!
Omg how cute is this?' My daughter would love to make a garden!!!
Hi Stefanie.
This might be a fun project for your son.
: 0 ) Theresa
Hi CourtneyLynne.
I imagine your daughter would have fun with this. And, it's super easy!
: 0 ) Theresa
Very pretty. I love how this turned out. Might have to make one for my house.
Thank you Tamara!
: 0 ) Theresa
What a great idea!! I seriously have a brown thumb but I think I could actually handle this. thanks so much for sharing!
Thank you Mrs Tee!
I hope you get the chance to try it out. It may just turn your thumb green!
: 0 ) Theresa
This seems like a lot of fun! My little guy would have a BLAST with this! Going to have to try it!
Hi Jennifer.
I hope our little guy enjoys it!
: 0 ) Theresa
This is a great idea. I always garden outside with my boys, it never crossed my mind, to give them a potted plant to care for indoors.
Thank you. I hope your boys enjoy giving it a try. : 0 )
I already told them about this. and they are currently looking for the ideal plants. One wants a peppermint plant as he is very fond of his fresh peppermint tea.
That will be wonderful! Peppermint to harvest for tea is a great idea.