POLLINATOR POTS
Karel de Pourcq, Pep Freixanet, Gina Maskell, Andrea Troncoso
Karel de Pourcq, Pep Freixanet, Gina Maskell, Andrea Troncoso
Humans are not the only creatures that live in cities. In Barcelona, we share the space with many flora and fauna, such as orange trees and the common blackbird. However, there aren't many liveable habitats for these bountiful urban creatures. Specifically, fragmented and low quality habitats affect pollinators such as honey bees and butterflies in our city. Pollinators facilitate many plants' production of fruits and seeds by spreading pollen.
PRESTEPS:Â You can start some of your pollinator-friendly seeds early! For example, seeding in small egg cups. This should be done a couple weeks before you want to make your pots. That way you can transplant the small seedlings in due time.
1.
Brainstorm which shape would work best for your plastic pot. Think about where you will put your pot. - For example, will you hang it?
2.
Trace that shape onto a sheet of paper.
3.
Design how you will plant your pot(s). a) Refer to the pollinator cards (additional resources), seed packets, and other online resources. b) Keep in mind flower colour and shapes. c) Which pollinators do you want to attract? d) Do you want to use cooking herbs? Tea herbs? e) What does my seed or seedling need? - How should you plant the seeds? - How much space do they need? - When should you plant them? - When do they flower?
4.
When your designs are ready, it's time to start making our plastic pot!
5.
Trace or draw points with a marker where you will cut the plastic bottle.
6.
Using an X-Acto knife or scissors (depending on the thickness of the plastic bottle), carefully cut the bottle into a pot.
7.
Make sure to poke a few holes in the bottom for water to drain out.
8.
If you would like to make a hanging pot or decorate your pot with duct tape, it is easier to do so before you fill your pot with soil.
9.
If you would like to keep soil from falling through the small holes, you can fill about a 2-4 cm layer of gravel or small stones at the bottom of your pot.
10.
Then, fill your pot almost to the top with soil or soil-compost mix. Leave about a cm of space. - You can test which soil mix works best for you!
11.
Plant your seeds, cuttings, or young plants! Seeds do not need to be planted so deep. - If the seed is bigger than a needle head, so that you can grasp it, poke a hole with your forefinger, knuckle deep. Place 2-3 seeds in this hole and pinch closed. You would do this for calendula or sage seeds. - If the seeds are very small, so that you cannot grasp a single seed, draw a 1-3cm line in the soil, only as deep as your fingernail. Spread a pinch of these tiny seeds along the line and then pinch closed. - If you are transplanting a young plant, make a hole for the plant that will completely cover the roots of the plant, so that the soil even covers the stem of the plant a little.
12.
Make sure to give your newly planted seeds or freshly transplanted seedlings some water!
13.
Afterwards, label what was planted, with the plant name and the date. You can do this by writing on a popsicle stick and sticking it in the soil next to your new plants.
14.
Place your pot and watch for pollinators!
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