How to Grow Grass in a Cup

Grass seeds grow readily in a variety of environments, both outdoors and indoors. Show children the wonder of planting and encourage an interest in seeds with a grass-growing project. With only basic materials and a bit of time and effort, you can grow grass in a cup for an enlightening year-round project. Children will likely enjoy the process of planting and then tending their tiny grass seeds. Once the seeds germinate and grow, children can then "mow" the grass with standard scissors.

Styrofoam cups (one for each child)

Potting soil

Grass seeds

Spray bottle (filled with water)

Scissors

Fill each Styrofoam cup to the top with potting soil.

Provide each child with approximately 1 tbsp. of grass seed. Direct the children to sprinkle the grass seeds evenly over the top of the soil in the cups.

Sprinkle a very thin layer of potting soil over the grass seeds (approximately 1/8-inch thick).

Spray the surface of the soil evenly with water from the spray bottle.

Place the cups in an indoor location where the seeds can germinate. Light and warmth is not necessary for grass seed germination.

Spray the soil surface twice each day (morning and evening) with the spray bottle to keep the potting soil evenly moist.

Watch for the grass seeds to germinate within one to two weeks. Continue to keep the potting soil moist with daily misting from the spray bottle even after the seeds sprout.

Move the cups with sprouted grass to a location that receives sunlight to help the grass sprouts grow well.

Show the children how to cut off the grass sprouts with a scissors when the grass grows to a height of 2 to 3 inches.

Allow the children to draw a face or design on the side of the cup with markers or paint before planting the grass seeds, if you desire.