Cress creatures - using terra cotta containers for sprouting flower seeds - includes related information on needed materials and nursery sources

Flower & Garden Magazine, Feb-March, 1994 by Kay Melchisedech Olson

Wrapping a bean seed into the folds of a wet paper towel is one of the first growing projects many children experience. Watching the be and begin to form a plant stalk almost brings the fairy tale to life.

Older children, though less impressed with "Once Upon A Time" stories, still marvel at the miracles of nature. Yet most kids over the age of seven demand more stimulating projects to hold their interest and channel their enthusiasm. Making cress creatures -- terra cotta forms for seed sprouting -- is a great group project for older children as well as adults.

You may have seen the commercial versions of cress creatures advertised on television and for sale in retail stores around the Christmas season. These plant pets usually come in the shape of animals; chia seeds planted on their surfaces sprout to produce a green coat.

As a school. scout or other group project, making cress creatures is an inexpensive and creative way for older children to rediscover the wonder of seed sprouting. After fashioning their own creations from clay, kids can enhance the effect by growing curly cress or chia sprouts on designated areas of the creatures. Heads grow hair, mouse ears turn green and clay shoes sprout into fuzzy green slippers. A group of 24 kids can each make and plant their cress creatures for about $3 apiece.

To find a source for the terra cotta clay, check under the "Ceramics -- Equipment & Supplies" entry in the Yellow P a g e s. The clay is often sold in bulk, which is great for group projects. A 50-pound package usually does not cost more than $15 and this amount should easily yield 24 to 25 creatures.

The finished clay projects must be fired in a kiln before the seed-planting phase can begin. If your group doesn't have access to a kiln, check the Yellow Pages again (look under "Ceramic Products -- Decorative"). The FLOWER & GARDEN staff called Ginny's Country Ceramics in Stilwell, Kansas, and the folks there were able to schedule our clay creations into the kiln between other projects they fire during the course of their work week. The charge for firing two dozen works of clay art was $15.

The only other expense involved is purchasing the seed, which should cost well under $10. Solicit secondhand donations for the remaining supplies, such as board scraps on which to form the creations, rolling pins to work the clay and forks to form grooves for the seeds.

The most important secret to successful cress creatures is to design them correctly. The cress seedlings will sprout right on the terra cotta so they'll need to have grooves to get a foothold, plus they'll have to absorb moisture from the terra cotta. Keeping these factors in mind, make the cress creatures hollow, with a hole at the top. Molding the clay around an inflated balloon is an easy way to create a hollow form. The clay must air dry for several days before firing, so don't be too anxious to remove the balloon and risk having the clay creation collapse.

When the clay dries to firmness, however, the balloon should be deflated and removed. When making the clay creature, consider where the cress will be planted and how the finished project will look when the seedling sprout. Apply grooves with a toothpick or fork to the areas where seeds will be planted. Keep in mind that horizontal grooves will hold the seeds in place better than vertical ones, as wet, slippery seeds tend to slide down vertical grooves and collect at the bottom of the creature.

The clay should be kneaded well before molding to eliminate any air bubbles. During the firing process, trapped air will become so hot that the clay explodes, shattering the creature and sometimes neighboring creations in the kiln as well. (Of the two dozen cress creatures the FLOWER & GARDEN staff had fired, however, not a single one was a kiln explosion casualty.) Once the clay creatures have been fired, they will be as sturdy, and as fragile, as a terra cotta flower pot.

Prepare the seeds the day before you plan to plant the cress projects, by placing the seeds in a jar and covering them with water. The seed will have a gelatinlike coating after being soaked in water. This somewhat sticky substance makes the seed easy to spread on the creatures.

The clay creatures can be immersed in water prior to planting, allowing the terra cotta to absorb moisture that will be needed for the emerging seedlings. But sometimes the seeds are so slippery that it is easier to spread them on dry terra cotta.

Spread the seeds, using spoons, spatulas or fingers, only on the grooved portions of the creature. Then place it on a plant tray or watertight saucer for the growing phase. Make make the hollow part of the cress creature is full of water, which will be absorbed into the terra cotta and used by the seeds for sprouting and growing. If the creatures "leak," mist them several times a day to keep the terra cotta moist. If frequent misting isn't feasible, you may want to start the cress creatures under clear plastic bags to help retain moisture.