Mix Together Your “Base” Mix:
- 5 cups plant based compost
- 2-3 cups powdered clay (you can find it in craft shops. We got our clay powder at Continental Clay in Minneapolis. Tell them you are making seed bombs and they can get the right clay powder for you).
Notes About Making Your “Base” Mix
- The clay helps bind the seed bomb together.
- Test your mixture. Create your mix, take a handful and add water. Form a ball. If it has trouble staying together, use more water. If it still has trouble, add more clay.
Buy Your Seed Mix
We use the Insectopia seed mix from Prairie Moon Nursery. Black Eyed Susan seeds are also a good choice if you want a single seed mix. It is critical that you choose seeds that haven’t been treated with pesticides, particularly neonicotinoids.
The Process – Materials
- Two bowls for the clay/compost mix
- Large spoons to scoop out mix
- A water container with a spout so people can wash hands
- Paper towels to dry hands
- Bags for seed bombs if people are taking them home.
- Spray bottles filled with water
The Process – How to Make a Seed Bomb
- Put a few table spoons of the clay/compost mix in the seed bomb makers cupped hand
- Spray the mixture a few times with water
- Put a pitch of seeds on top of the mix
- Ask the seed bomb maker to make a ball and make sure the seeds are incorporated into the mix (smaller children will make something more like a seed “pancake” and that is ok as long as the mix is sticking together. You may need to help small children a little bit).
- You may need to add more water or clay/compost mix depending on how well the mix is staying together.
- Put the seed bomb in a bag.
Let Them Know What to Do with Their Seed Bomb
Let your seed bomb maker know that because you have added water to the mix, they have two days to “plant” their seed bomb. If they want to keep them longer than that, they can keep them in the refrigerator.
They can throw or crumble their seed bomb in an area where they want native plants to grow. They won’t grow anywhere there is already grass.
Some of the seeds in the seed mix may need to “winter over” so they won’t come up until next year.
The Most Fun
People often ask if this is the best way to plant native plant seeds. Who knows if it is the BEST way to plant seeds. It is certainly the most FUN way to plant seeds.
What Will Happen – Will My Seed Bombs Sprout?
Seed bomb seeds typically sprout within 1 to 4 weeks after being planted and watered. However, some seeds may take longer to germinate, and certain species might require a full dormancy period (like a winter) before they sprout the following year. Factors like temperature, moisture, and the specific type of seeds used can influence the germination time. Seed bombs have about a 50% success rate.
Have fun making your seed bombs!!!
