Page 88 - Sunday Fun Day

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PRESENT IN A POT
Everyone loves a pretty plant, especially when it’s in a pretty pot too! These early flowering bulbs make a perfect gift to brighten up the winter.
You will need:
amaryllis bulbs (These can make some animals very sick if they eat them,
so be careful to keep them away from your pets)
plant pots, a few centimetres wider than the bulbs
potting soil
acrylic paint
paintbrushes
permanent marker pens
ribbon
Amaryllis bulbs normally grow in the spring, but you can make them think it’s time to start growing by keeping them inside where it’s warmer!
Make sure you plant the bulbs six weeks before you plan to give them as a gift, to allow them enough time to grow.
Before you plant your bulbs, decorate your pot. Use acrylic
paint or marker pens to draw a fun pattern or a picture on your pot. Or you could paint your pot a cheerful colour and tie a ribbon around it in a pretty bow.
Once you’ve finished your pot and the paint has dried completely, it’s time to plant your bulbs.
First, fill your pot to the halfway point with potting soil. Place your bulb – pointy end up – on the soil. Then carefully fill the pot with soil around the bulb, until only the top third of the bulb is uncovered. Press the soil firmly down around the bulb. Water well, and then put your pot in a warm, dark place.
Leave your pot there for about two weeks, until you see the tip of the first green shoot. At this point, bring your pot out into a warm, bright place. Start to water it again, just enough to keep the soil moist – be careful not to make the bulb too wet.
Watch your green shoots grow
and make buds. Give them to your friends and family just as they’re ready to burst into beautiful flowers!