Looking for an easy winter project that will keep your kids interested during the cold months? Starting a garden indoors is one way to do it. Many children think that you take out the plants in the spring and then everything grows and dies in the fall. With a simple 150-watt HPS lamp, reflector, and a few seed trays, you can give your kids the experience of watching plants grow in winter. The setup is relatively inexpensive and you can remove it when the spring months roll around.
What do you need to start your project? If you’re smart, keep an eye out for cheap seeds as summer ends and fall begins. Stores will want to get rid of your supply. Simple vegetables that don’t require a lot of space are a great option. Alternatively, choose some flowering plants. Also, pick up some inexpensive seed trays while you shop. Some stores will also offer their planting mixes at a discount in the fall. The hardware you need for the project is also easy. You will want a 150 watt HPS lamp and a small reflector kit. The other items you will need are a pair of hooks and two lengths of chain.
Install your hooks above the surface where you want to grow the plants. Use the hooks and chain to suspend the lamp. Place your 150 watt HPS lamp in the reflector and plug it in. You should have an area of intense light on the surface where the plants will grow. Now is the time to get the kids’ hands dirty. Ask them to fill the seed trays with the potting mix. Poke holes in the ground with your finger and drop in some seeds. Cover the holes with more soil. Gently water the plants. Put them under the high pressure sodium lamp.
Now, every day, the children will have to turn the lights on and off. The optimal time for the lamps to be on is 14-16 hours a day. You may want to invest in a timer for this project if you don’t want to rely on your children’s memory. Within a few weeks, you will have plants growing in the dead of winter. You can transplant the plants after the last frost or decide to keep them indoors. After the winter, unplug the 150-watt HPS and put it away until next winter.
