It’s relatively easy to grow
houseplants from food using the seeds, pits and parts of fruits and vegetables that you would
normally throw away. It takes more time
and patience than buying a plant at the store, but I think it's a good trade off. I'm taking my Grandma's favorite saying to heart - 'Use it up, wear it out, make it do new, do without'.
If you have kids (whether or not you’re
homeschooling) you can make this a family project and use it to teach them the
concept of life cycles, simple plant biology and much more. A quick search online will yield multiple
ideas and helpful materials.
I’d really recommend also planting some seeds that are quick
to grow so that the kids (and you) won’t get bored while waiting the month or so it can take
the seeds I’ve listed below. While they’re
not houseplants, lettuce seeds sprout within days, as do lentils and mung beans
(which I’ll discuss at the end of this post).
The bonus with these is that they take up little space and can go from
pot to plate, which will provide valuable lessons in where our food comes
from. That extra nutrition won’t hurt
you or your wallet either!
Avocado
When you’re finished making
and enjoying that luscious guacamole, don’t toss the avocado pit! Rinse the pit to get rid of any pulp and grab
a small glass or small mason jar and 2 or 3 toothpicks. Insert the toothpicks, at an angle, into the
sides of the pit. You’ll want the flat
part facing down. The toothpicks will
help to hold the top half of the pit out of the water.
Fill the glass or jar with
enough water to cover the bottom half of the pit. This should be put in a dark place (cabinet,
garage, etc) for 2-4 weeks and the water should be checked regularly. I usually
change the water every couple of days and never let the water level fall below
the pit.
The pit will split in half
as it begins to root. This will be
followed by a small shoot. Once the shoot
is about an inch and a half long, you can place it in a pot of soil. Keep the shoot just above the soil and,
because you want to help acclimate it to the outdoors, you’ll need to cover it
for the first few days to protect it from direct sun.
Sweet potato
Sweet potato vines make beautiful, leafy houseplants. Simply cut off a few inches from the pointed end of the potato and plant it, cut side down, in a pot of soil. Keep it watered and you'll have a vine within a few weeks. You can also start it the same way as you would an avocado - placing the potato end in water.
A word of caution: These vines are poisonous once they've sprouted, so please keep them out of reach of children. The containers can always be moved into reaching distance for watering and then put back out of reach.
Pineapple
Pineapples are a type of
bromeliad and can make wonderful houseplants (don’t expect to grow fruit
though!) and are fairly easy to start.
Use fresh pineapple to make a smoothie or to broil on the barbeque, but
don’t toss the pineapple top!
When
cutting, keep about an inch of the fruit (attached to the leaves) and let this
dry for a few days. You’ll need to bury the fruit portion in potting soil and
then water. Water often because the soil
needs to stay wet. Rooting will take
about two weeks. You may not be
successful at first, but a way to check is to see if the central leaf is
growing. If it is, then roots are
taking. If not, you’ll have to toss it
and try again.
Keep the plant in a sunny
window and it should do well!
Mango
There are two different methods of rooting mango pits, both of which I’m in the process of trying (sorry, no pictures yet!).
The first method involves planting the pit, including the fibers it will be covered with, in potting soil and then watering.Easy, peasy.
The second method requires removing the husk (with fibers).Be sure not to cut or damage the seeds inside.The seeds will be shaped a bit like a lima bean.Lightly push the seed into a container of potting soil.It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks to sprout.
Mung
beans and lentils
Sprouted mung beans are
most often used in stirfrys and other oriental dishes. Sprouted lentils are more often used in
salads and sandwiches. Both contain a
lot of nutrition and add a bit of crunch to foods. The following links will take you to information and simple instructions for mung beans and lentils
