Thames & Kosmos BOTANY Experimental Greenhouse Science Kit Experiment Manual

EXPERIMENT MANUAL

WARNING.

ot suitable for children under 5 years.

N

›››

or use under adult supervision.

F

›››

ead the instructions before use, follow

R

›››

them and keep them for reference.

Franckh -Kosmos Verl ags-GmbH & Co . KG, Pfizer str. 5-7, 70184 Stu ttgart, Ger many | [phone] | www.kosmos .de
Thame s & Kosmos, 301 Frie ndship St., P rovidence , RI, 02903, USA
Thame s & Kosmos UK Ltd, G oudhurst, K ent, TN17 2QZ

| 1-800-587-2872 | www.t hamesandk osmos.com

, United King dom | 01580 21200 0 | www.th amesandkos mos.co.uk

› › › IMPORTANT INFORMATION

WARNING.

Not suitable for children under 3 years. Choking
hazard — small parts may be swallowed or
inhaled. Strangulation hazard — long cords may
become wrapped around the neck.
This kit contains functional sharp points, corners,
or edges. Do not injure yourself!
Keep the packaging and instructions as they
contain important information.

Handling Precautions for Plaster/Gypsum
(used in Experiment 26)

Advice for Adult Supervisors

››› This chemical toy is not suitable for children under

5 years. For use under adult supervision. Keep this
chemical toy set out of reach of children under 5

years old.
››› Store chemical toys out of reach of young children.
››› Read and follow these instructions, the safety

rules, and the first aid information and keep them

for reference.
››› Incorrect use of chemicals (the plaster, particularly

swallowing or inhaling it) can cause injury and

damage to health. Only carry out those activities

which are listed in the instructions.
››› Because children’s abilities vary so much, even

within age groups, supervising adults should

exercise discretion as to which activities are

suitable and safe for them. The instructions should

enable supervisors to assess any activity to

establish its suitability for a particular child.
››› The super vising adult should discuss the warnings,

safety information and the possible hazards with

the child or children before commencing the

activities.
››› The area surrounding the activity should be kept

clear of any obstructions and away from the

storage of food. It should be well lit and ventilated

and close to a water supply. A solid table with a

heat resistant top should be provided. When

working with plaster wear suitable clothes that

can get dirty.
››› The working area should be cleaned immediately

after carrying out the activity.
››› Disposal: Spilled or leftover plaster should be

placed in the household trash.

Safety Rules for Handling Plaster

››› Keep younger children under the specified age limit

and animal s away from the activity area.
››› Store chemical toys out of reach of young children.
››› Wash hands af ter carrying out activities.
››› Clean all equipment after use.

WARNING:

CHOKING HAZARD — Small

parts. Not for children under 3 yrs.

››› Do not use any equipment which has not been

supplied with the set or recommended in the

instructions for use.
››› Do not eat, drink or smoke in the activity area.
››› Do not place the material in the mouth.
››› Do not inhale dust or powder.
››› Do not apply to the body.

First Aid Information

››› In case of eye contact: Wash out eye with plenty of

water, holding eye open. Seek immediate medical

advice.
››› If swallowed: Wash out mouth with water, drink

some fresh water. Do not induce vomiting. Seek

immediate medical advice.
››› In case of doubt seek medical advice without delay:

Take the chemical and/or product together with

the container with you.
››› In case of injury always seek medical advice .

Resetting the Thermometer

For safety reason s, the red liquid i nside the therm ometer tube
can beco me split up, with po ckets of air stuck between
sections of red liquid. This can hap pen when the the rmometer
is shake n too much during tr ansport. Som e of the red liquid
can appe ar to hang, stuck near the top of t he thermometer,
and interfere with your temperature measurements. Here are
instru ctions to fix t his. An adult must do this, b ecause it
involves he ating water:

1. Heat some water o n the stove until it reaches about 70 °C ,
and pour it into a mug.

2. Hold t he thermomete r by the top and lower the botto m (the
end with t he red liquid-f illed bulb) into t he hot water.

3. Watch the t hread of red liqui d inside the tube . It will rise up
to the upper end of th e tube.

4. Place th e thermomete r vertically in ano ther, empty mug to
cool.

5. The uppe r section of red l iquid should now b e integrated
with the l iquid below it. You may need to re peat this a few
times to g et all of the red liq uid to connect in th e same
column.

6. When th e entire column of r ed liquid is conne cted together
in the sam e section, the n your thermome ter is ready to use fo r
experiments again.

For ques tions, pleas e contact:
USA: T hames & Kosmos : 1-800-587-2872
www.thamesandkosmos.com
UK: Th ames & Kosmos U K Ltd: 01580 21200 0
www.thamesandkosmos.co.uk

Dear Parents!

Botany: Experimental Greenhouse

This greenhouse science kit offers five­year-olds a playful way to help them
grow their first plants and learn about
botany! They can start their experiments
quickly with the carefully selected fast­growing plant varieties included.

Other experiments will require a little
more time. Please explain to your child
that it can take time and a little bit of
patience to grow plants, and that good
things come to those who wait.

Each experiment is labeled with
the approximate time it will

3

require. This way, you will
know how much time to plan or

how long it will take to see any results.

Help your child find a well-lit and well­ventilated location for the greenhouse.
Your child will also need a workplace that
can stand getting a little messy, where he
or she can experiment in peace.

The best thing would be a table right
against a window, where the greenhouse
can simply be left in place, or set it out of
the way on a wide window ledge. Cover
your table, e.g. with old newspapers.
Always keep some paper towels on hand
during the experiments, since gardeners
are always spilling a little dirt or water.

567004-02-080716

And just as with real experimental
research or gardening, it is always a good
idea to wear old clothes that you don’t
mind getting a little dirty. After
experimenting, wash your hands and the
equipment thoroughly.

Please be ready to support your little
scientist whenever your help might be
needed. Completely review the step-by­step instructions together. Please be sure
to help your child get the additionally
required materials that are not included
in the kit.

It’s always best to get everything ready
before each experiment: The list above
each experiment shows you what
materials are needed for the experiment.

Even though working with plaster is
not particularly dangerous, you should
always assist your child when working
with plaster. Please read the safety
instructions on the inside front cover
carefully and explain them to your child.

The plaster work should not be done in
the kitchen to avoid being close to food.
Containers and utensils that have come
into contact with plaster should not be

used in the kitchen.

Here’s wishing you a lot of
fun and a green thumb!



› › › KIT CONTENTS

7

4

9

8

16

1

10

5

15

11

12

14

Checklist: Find – Inspect – Check off

No. Description Quantity Item No.

1 Greenhouse base 1 708733
2 Greenhouse domes 1 708734
3 Plant pot 7 705804
4 Measuring cup (100 ml) 2 708166
5 Measuring cup (30 ml) 3 065100
6 Soil pellet 6 773001
7 Cress seed packet 1 705133
8 Zinnia seed packet 1 711561
9 Pea seed packet 1 717945
10 Drinking straw 5 705325
11 Yarn 1 702751
12 Pipette 2 232134
13 Thermometer 1 702280
14 Wooden stick 6 705296
15 Wooden spatula 2 000239
16 Plaster gypsum (bag) 1 771052
17 Paper sheet of cut-outs 1 711482

2

17

13

GOOD TO KNOW!

››› If you are missing any

parts, please contact
Thames & Kosmos
customer service.

Any materials not included in
the kit are marked with this
symbol
need” heading.

under the “You will

3

6



› › › TABLE OF CONTENTS

Botany: Experimental Greenhouse

Getting Started ..................

Growing Your

First Plants ........................ 

Cress, zinnia, and more!

What Your Plants

Need to Grow ............. 

Experiments with water,

light, and heat

The Young Botanist ........................ 

Science experiments with plants

Green Thumb Gardening ................ 

Planting an herb garden and more

Natural Crafts for

Every Season .................................... 

Creative craft ideas using plants

Dear Kids!

Allow us to introduce ourselves: We
are Peter Pepper, Edgar Eggplant, and
Carrie Carrot. The three of us will be
guiding you through this manual.

Peter Pepper will explain what

is actually going on in the
experiments and what you

can learn from them.

Edgar Eggplant will be warning
you about possible dangers.
Whenever you see him, it
means “Heads up! Keep your
eyes open!” He will also give

you a few handy tips.

Carrie Carrot will tell

you a lot of fun and interesting

things!

You will also need: Paper towels, knife, scissors,

colored pencils, tape, watercolor paints,
paintbrush, toothpicks, paper, drinking glass,
empty yogurt container, shoe box, cardboard, old
nylon socks, old wool socks, salt, water, dish
liquid, fruits and vegetables (e.g. avocados,
lemons, peppers), plant seeds from hardware
store or garden center, soil

Have a good time in the

amazing world of plants!

Your friends,

Carrie, Peter & Edgar



GETTING STARTED

Assembly

Remove the dome from the plastic sheet.
Smooth the edges with a little
sandpaper. Have a grown-up help you.

Ideally, place your greenhouse on a
window ledge, where it will be warm
and bright.

Ventilation

The domes of your greenhouse have
ventilation slots that can be opened and
closed. Leave the dome closed until you
see the first sprouts. That way, the soil
won't dry out so quickly. Then, when you
see the first little plants, open the
ventilation slots to let the plants
breathe.

Thermometer

Dome

Measuring cup



Watering

When you water, you have to be very
careful not to wash away the seeds or
disturb the seedlings. It’s easiest if you
use a pipette.

Botany: Experimental Greenhouse

Important! Make sure that your

young plants always have moist

soil! That is very important. To

help you remember, you will find little

watering cans on the cutout sheet.

How to use a pipette:

1

1 Squeeze the top part of the pipette

between your thumb and forefinger
and dip the pipette in the water.

2

As soon as you loosen the pressure,

the liquid will rise up the pipette.

3

Then, by reapplying pressure

carefully, you can squeeze the
water out drop by drop.

1 2 3

Wouldn’t you like to have an
automatic watering system?

Then take a look at Experiment 9.

Cut them out and tape them in a

location where you will often look: on

your bedroom door, for example, or the

bathroom mirror.

Temperature

Place the thermometer
in one of the specially­designed
compartments and
check the temperature
regularly.

If it gets too hot, open the ventilation
slots and/or set the greenhouse in a
shadier location. If it’s too cool, look for
a spot with more sun and close the
ventilation slots. You can also compare
the temperature under the dome with
the temperature outside it.

Thermometer



Growing Your
First Plants



Growing Your First Plants

EXPERIMENT 1

10

Soil absorbs water

YOU WILL NEED

Water

1

2

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Your soil pellets are made of
ground and compressed coco
fibers. These fibers are extracted
from the shells of coconuts.

Most potting soils are made of
peat, which comes from raised
bogs. These are unique habitats for
many rare animal and plant
species. Every year, huge quantities
of peat are mined, which destroys
the raised bogs!

Peat-free potting soils are now
widely available. They are made of
compost or wood fibers. Help
protect the bogs and the animals
and plants that live there by using
peat-free potting soils.

3

10 Minutes

The soil pellet soaks up water
and expands. From the tightly
compressed pellet, you get loose
soil that you can use for planting.
Soil can hold a lot of water!



EXPERIMENT 2

Growing cress

YOU WILL NEED

Paper towels
Water

3

6

–

3

Pour some of the

cress seeds into

your hand.

1

2

4

5

It’s easy to observe germination
and growth with cress plants

because they sprout quickly. Seeds

contain all of the food, or nutrients,

that young plants need for their

early growth, so they can also

grow on a damp paper towel.

Don’t plant the seeds too

close together, or they will

crowd each other and not

grow well. Little plants are also

called seedlings.



Plant Profiles

In these profiles, you will find things

you should know about the seeds
from this kit, as well as a lot of other
common plants. This is what the
profile symbols mean:

Growing Your First Plants

Cress

Plant in the
greenhouse

Plant outside

Time it takes to sprout

Ideal growing
conditions

Care instructions

Harvesting
instructions

Flowers

Special
characteristics

Sprinkle onto moist soil and
press down lightly.

March–September

3–6 Days

Germination temperature
10–20 °C (50–68 °F)

Keep soil moist and in a
shady spot

2 weeks after sowing

Stems and leaves are rich
in vitamins
Good in salads or on a
sandwich

You will be able to do more cress
experiments soon. Take a look at

Experiments 11, 13, and 17.



EXPERIMENT 3

Growing zinnias

YOU WILL NEED

3 x

1

1

2

Water
Tap e

3

4

Cut out a name tag from the
cut-out paper sheet and label it.

Tape it to a toothpick. Now you
can stick it into the pot with your
plant so it is clear what is growing
in the pot.

Start by planting three pots

with zinnia seeds!

5

6

1



Dwarf zinnia

Plant about half a centimeter
deep, not too close together,
and cover with soil.

Growing Your First Plants

From the end of April

8–14 Days

Germination temperature
18–22 °C (65–72 °F)

Very lile water and fertilizer

July–September

Re-flowers well and can
therefore be cut for indoor
arrangements.

You will be able to do more zinnia

experiments soon. Take a look at

Experiments 12 and 14.

It’s easy to observe germination
and growth with a cress plant,

since they need a lot less time to

grow than peas. The seed contains

all the nutrients that the young

plants need for their early growth,

so they can also grow on a damp

paper towel.



EXPERIMENT 4

Thirsty peas

YOU WILL NEED

Colored pencils
Water

3

2

1

2

4



2

You can see that the peas have grown quite a bit bigger.

They have absorbed water and swollen up.

When that happens, their tissue and cell parts expand.

The peas become soft, and they are ready to sprout.

Growing Your First Plants

Peas

Let the pea seeds swell up with water.
Then plant them individually in the
soil about 4–5 cm apart.
Cover loosely with soil.

Mid-March to mid-April

5 Days at 20 °C (68 °F)

Germination temperature
15–20 °C (59–68 °F)

Water regularly, but do not
keep it too moist, as the peas
might get moldy.

Blossom from May to June

Vitamin- and mineral-rich
vegetable



EXPERIMENT 5

Root growth

3

1

YOU WILL NEED

Paper towels
Water
Tap e

3 4

2

3

Keep the paper

towels moist!

3x Paper towels,

wadded up

After a few days, you will clearly see the roots growing
downward. Now, turn the dome upside down so the

roots point up. You will observe that the sprouts can tell

the difference between up and down, and the roots will

soon start growing downward again!

5



It’s easy to observe the peas sprouting through the
transparent sides of the dome. After a few days, little

roots will make their appearance out of a tiny hole in

the side of the pea.

You will be able to do more pea experiments

soon. Take a look at Experiment 10.

What Your Plants
Need to Grow



EXPERIMENT 6

1

Plants need water

YOU WILL NEED

Note! After you pick

the dandelion, a whitish

sap will drip out of the

stalk. Be careful not to

get any on your clothes

— the stains are hard to

wash out.

Dandelion stem
Water

2

Plants are made of tiny building

blocks called cells. Only when

plant cells are well supplied with

water will they be firm and solid,

giving the plant structure and

stability. If they don’t have water,

they will be limp and the plant

will collapse.

1

1

Make a lengthwise cut
in the dandelion stalk

before placing it in the

water. That way, you will

get funny-looking curls.

3 Hours

3



What Your Plants Need to Grow

EXPERIMENT 7

5

How plants drink
water

YOU WILL NEED

4 x

Scissors
Tap e
Drinking glass
Drinking water

2

1

3

4

You will quickly notice

that it gets harder and

harder to suck the water

upward as the straw gets

longer. Trees nevertheless

manage to transport water

many yards from their roots

up to their leaves.



EXPERIMENT 8

Coloring flowers

YOU WILL NEED

1

*You can use liquid

food coloring, egg

dye tablets, or ink.

Water
Food coloring*
White flower, such as a carnation

The flower should be
freshly cut.

The colored water rises up the
flower stalk through narrow

tubes to the flower petals. You

can clearly see the veins as they
take up the dye. The dye allows you
to see not only that the flower
sucks up water, but also how fast
the water travels.

1

2

If you divide the stalk in

two and put each half in

a cup with a different

color, you will get a

two-colored flower.

3

1



What Your Plants Need to Grow

EXPERIMENT 9

Automatic
watering system

YOU WILL NEED

Scissors
Water

2

3

You can use the

zinnia seedlings from

Experiment 3.

1

3

The yarn consists of many individual fibers with small spaces between

them that allow it soak up water like a sponge. In time, the volume of

water becomes too much for the yarn the hold and the water drips from the

lower end into the soil in the flowerpot. The wool yarn then sucks up more

fresh water from the measuring cup.

In this way, the plant in the pot is supplied with fresh water as long as there

is water in the cup.



EXPERIMENT 10

10

Plants need nutrients

YOU WILL NEED

2 x

Paper towels
Water
Tap e

Use the sprouted peas from

Experiment 5!

1

2

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Most plants are green! And there
is a very important reason for
that. The leaves use this green
coloring to capture sunlight and
produce sugar and oxygen from
water and air (more precisely, the
gas carbon dioxide in the air).

This process is known as
photosynthesis. It’s a hard word to
pronounce, but the process is very
important for plants and for us
humans too. The plants are able
to make new leaves with the
sugar. And we humans need the
oxygen to breathe!



3

To germinate, all that peas need

is the food contained inside them.

But when they grow bigger, they

need additional nutrients. They get

those nutrients from the soil, but not

from the damp paper towel. That is

why over a long period of time the

pea plant will grow better in the

soil-filled pot.

What Your Plants Need to Grow

EXPERIMENT 11

Plants need light

YOU WILL NEED

Sprouted cress

2

3

1

3

The cress beneath the

3

cardboard shapes

doesn’t get any light. It

stops producing green

coloring and turns quite

pale. Over time, it will

die. Plants need light in

order to live and grow!



EXPERIMENT 12

1

Plants need warmth

YOU WILL NEED

2 x

Water

You can use the

zinnia seedlings from

Experiment 3.

1



External conditions are very important when
growing plants. In order to thrive, they need

nutrients, as you found out in Experiment 10.

They also need water, warmth, and air. Under the

dome, the warmed air isn’t carried away as easily

as outside, which is why they grow faster there than if they don’t have a

roof over their head. You can buy vegetables from supermarkets even

in the winter, thanks to large-scale greenhouses. It would be too cold

in many parts of the country to grow plants outside during the

winter, but in a greenhouse it is warm even in winter.

The Young
Botanist



EXPERIMENT 13

3

Contaminated soil

YOU WILL NEED

3 x

Sprouted cress

3 x

Water
Salt
Dish soap
Tap e

1

2

Water

3



The cress doesn’t like the new
watering liquid. The test

samples shrivel because salt
and dish soap have a harmful
effect on plants.

But maybe the dish soap you
have at home is biodegradable!

In that case, the cress plants can

recover if you start giving them

plain water again after three days.

Try it!

Salt

Dish
soap

4

3

The Young Botanist

EXPERIMENT 14

Sweaty plants

YOU WILL NEED

3 x

Water

2

2

1

You can perform the same
experiment with a larger
potted plant or a tree outside

in the garden.

Place a plastic bag over a twig
with leaves on it and tie it tightly
closed with a piece of string.
After a little while, you will see
droplets of water on the inside of
the bag.

Plants take up water and nutrients from the ground with

their roots. They release excess water through tiny openings

on the underside of their leaves. The water vapor condenses,

meaning it turns to liquid again, which is visible as little

droplets on the dome. If you open the ventilation slots, some

of the moisture can evaporate to the outside again and the

dome won’t fog up so easily.



EXPERIMENT 15

2

An adult can help you make

the cardboard pea maze!

Pea labyrinth

YOU WILL NEED

Scissors
Clean, empty yogurt cup
Water
Cotton wadding
Shoe box (ideally with flip-up top)
Extra cardboard

1

Use a shoe box

Cut holes.

(or another
suitable box),
some pieces of
cardboard, and
some tape to
assemble a pea
maze as shown
here.



2

3

Cut a hole in the
top of the box,
at the top of the
pea maze. Make
sure that light can
enter the box only
through this hole.

The Young Botanist

4

5

Pea seed

6

Check the pot often to

7

make sure the soil is moist.

Open the box very
carefully so you do not disturb
the plant or pot. After watering,
close the box carefully.

Your plant senses the direction
the light is coming from and
grows toward it. It can even wind
its way through a maze over the
course of a few weeks! This
works because the side of the
stem that is darker grows
faster, so the stem bends
toward the light.

2

8



EXPERIMENT 16

4

Ghost peas

YOU WILL NEED

Dried peas

(from the supermarket)

Water
Clean empty aluminum can (optional)

The peas soak up water. When

they do this, they get bigger

and need more room. The peas
at the very top are pushed off by
the ones underneath and fall from
the cup onto the floor of the
greenhouse. Each time that happens
you hear a clicking sound, which
can seem a little spooky when
there’s nobody around to be making
the sound!

1

2

4 Hours

You can also put the cup with
peas and water inside a tin can,

and then set the can in a kitchen

cupboard. Who do you think you

might be able to spook that way?



3

The Young Botanist

EXPERIMENT 17

Cress and grass

YOU WILL NEED

Sprouted cress

Small patch of living grass sod
Scissors

2

1

Ask a grown-up to cut a little

section of grass sod from the

yard or park.

1

3

1

After you cut the tops off, the grass grows back and it will soon look

the way it did before you cut it, while the cress does not grow back.

That is because of the so-called growth point of the plant. The growth

point is the point at which the plant starts to grow. With grass, this point

lies just above the ground. Even when you cut the grass, the growth point

is not removed, and the grass can grow back. The cress growth point lies

much higher, right under the green top. So if it gets cut off, the cress

can’t grow anymore.



EXPERIMENT 18

Plant cuttings

YOU WILL NEED

2

*Not all plants are suitable for

growing from cuttings. Try it

with geraniums, spider plants,

rosemary, lavender, roses,

philodendron, or begonias.

Watch out for thorns!

Cuttings from suitable plants*
Water

2

Also try cutting a dandelion
stem into little pieces and

placing them on a damp paper

towel. You will be astounded to
see how new plants can grow out of
these little plant pieces too.

1

3

2

4



In addition to growing from seeds as you saw in
previous experiments, plants can also grow from

cuttings. Each cutting should have at least one bud or

leaf above it. In water, roots will form, and the new plant

can then be planted in fresh soil.

The Young Botanist

EXPERIMENT 19

The water lily

YOU WILL NEED

Water
Scissors

10

1

2

3

4

10 Minutes

The paper absorbs water, which
pushes into tiny spaces in the
paper fibers. As the paper swells
up and the folds expand, the
flower gradually opens,
mimicking how a water lily
flower opens up in the
sunshine.

5



EXPERIMENT 20

The green carrot

YOU WILL NEED

Carrot with part of stem
Knife
Water

2

1

3



A carrot has the ability to
grow a whole new plant out

of some of its parts. All you

have to do is provide favorable

growing conditions (enough

light, air, and moisture).

Do you see the nice green

young shoots growing

out of my head?

Green Thumb
Gardening



EXPERIMENT 21

8

14

–

My herb garden

YOU WILL NEED

Soil*
Small scoop or old spoon
Herb seeds
Water
Tap e

1

*Use a high-quality potting soil,

as normal potting soil often
contains too much fertilizer.

Always water the soil so that it

is only slightly damp. Make sure

the soil is not sopping wet.

Use the blank plant

labels from the cut-out

paper sheet to label the

herbs in your garden.

Chives

Dill

You can also use your
greenhouse as an herb garden.
You’re already an expert at
growing cress. Now you can try your
hand with parsley, chives, dill, and a
variety of other herbs.



Parsley

2

Chives

Green Thumb Gardening

Parsley

Cover seeds well with soil,
as they prefer to sprout in
the dark, and keep moist.

Sow in rows, cover with just
a lile soil, and press down.

Starting mid-May

8–14 Days

Germination temperature
10–20 °C (50–68 °F), sunny or
semi-shady location, sandy
soil with lime or bone meal

Water liberally and harvest
often.

June / July

Outside starting in May, then
continuously

High in vitamins A and C

April–August

8–14 Days

Germination temperature
15–20 °C (59–68 °F)
Loose, fertile soil, sun to
half-shade

Regularly loosen the soil
and do not water too much,
because parsley can’t stand
waterlogged soil.

June / July

The whole year, as soon as
the plants are big enough

The roots are winter-hardy,
and will send out new
shoots early in the year.



EXPERIMENT 22

Avocado plant

YOU WILL NEED

Avocado pit
Water

2

3 x

4

Important! The brown

coating on the avocado pit

inhibits sprouting, so it has to

be removed. It’s easiest if the

avocado pit is already wet.

Take it out of the water, remove

the coating, and suspend it in

fresh water again. The avocado

pit can’t take direct sun.

1

3

Of course, you can also try growing other
types of fruit plants in your greenhouse. Try

sprouting a lemon seed. Then be sure to set

the pot under the greenhouse dome, so you
can have the best germination conditions for
your little fruit orchard.



4

Green Thumb Gardening

Avocado

Remove the pit from the fruit
and suspend it in water with
toothpicks.

2 Weeks – 4 Months

Germination temperature 20–25 °C
(68–77 °F)

Refill the water as it evaporates
from the glass. When the roots
are 3–4 cm long, carefully re-pot
into a flowerpot with poing soil.
Give it plenty of sun, warmth, and
adequate water.

Due to its shape and green,
wrinkly outer peel, the avocado is
also known as an alligator pear.



EXPERIMENT 23

2

An adult should help you

remove the seeds from the

pepper with a knife.

My vegetable garden

YOU WILL NEED

Red pepper
Knife
Saucer
Water

3

1

2

4

5

When your plants grow larger,
you will have to plant them in a
larger pot and give them a little
stake or pole to cling to.



Place the pot under

the greenhouse

dome.

You can also grow other types of vegetables in your

greenhouse. Try growing peppers, zucchinis, or

tomatoes. Replant them outside or in larger pots as

soon as they start to outgrow the greenhouse.

2

Green Thumb Gardening

Pepper

Soak dried seeds for 2 days and let
them swell up or use fresh seeds
right from a pepper. Plant the seeds
about 1 cm deep in the soil and
press down firmly. Seeds should be
planted about 2 cm apart.

Middle to end of May

5–14 Days

Germination temperature 28–32 °C
(82–90 °F)

Water regularly, but don’t let the
soil get too wet. Fertilize regularly
and support the plants with a stake.

July – September/October

Originally from South America,
the pepper is one of the very oldest
cultivated plants.



Tomato

Zucchini

Space seeds far apart or plant
in individual pots, cover with
some soil, and press down.

From mid-May

7–14 Days

Germination temperature
15–25 °C (59–77 °F)

Water well and fertilize
regularly.

From end of June to October

for zucchini of about 15–20
cm, which taste the best

Plant seeds about 1 cm
deep in the soil, keep warm
and evenly moist until
germination.

Mid-May

8–14 Days

Germination temperature
20–22 °C (68–72 °F)
In a sunny location

Water and fertilize
regularly. If 4–5 flowering
stalks are present, regularly
remove any side shoots or
suckers.

Starting in July



Zucchini can grow to be
huge; the largest one ever
harvested was 2.3 m long and
weighed almost 30 kg.

You will usually need a
stake for the plants to
cling to.

EXPERIMENT 24

8

–

My sea of flowers

YOU WILL NEED

Soil
Small scoop or old spoon
Flower seeds
Tap e

25

Green Thumb Gardening

The zinnias from
Experiment 3 will go really

well in the sea of flowers,
too! The chocolate cosmos is a
really cool plant. It gives off a
delicious chocolaty smell!

Cosmos and sweet peas work well here. You can start them in your
little pots and then replant them into balcony planters or large flowerpots.
You will have to provide your flowers with plenty of water.



Cosmos

Sweet peas

Plant a seed in the soil
every 5 cm, 4–5 cm deep.

Cover seeds with a layer of
soil 0.5 cm deep, press down,
and water.

Starting in May

14–20 Days

Germination temperature

15–20 °C (59–68 °F), full sun

Always keep soil moist

July–October

Aracts buerflies

March–April

14–21 Days

Germination temperature
about 15 °C (59 °F), full sun

Water liberally and fertilize
occasionally

June to September

The more often you cut
them, the beer they will
bloom.



Green Thumb Gardening

Chocolate cosmos

Plant the seeds about 0.5 cm deep
and water carefully.

April–May

20–25 Days

Germination temperature 18–20 °C
(64–68 °F), full sun

Water amply, loosening the soil
regularly to prevent it from geing
waterlogged.

July–October

Its sweet chocolate-like smell
aracts bees, bumblebees, and
buerflies.

In the summer, you can set your flowers

on the terrace or balcony. Maybe you’ll
get a visit from a butterfly. The cosmos

flowers, in particular, provide a lot of
nutrition with their pollen and nectar.



Natural Crafts
for Every Season



Natural Crafts for Every Season

EXPERIMENT 25

2

Grass head

YOU WILL NEED

Old nylon stocking
Grass seeds (from a home center)
Soil
Small scoop or old spoon
Pins
Water

1

Grass seeds

2

4

I

V

T

E

A

E

R

C

a

l

l

g

n

o

l

r

a

y

e

3

6

As the grass seeds germinate,
they grow out through the sock.
Green hairs start to sprout on the
head and then grow longer and
longer.

5

2

When the grass is long
enough, you can give

Grass Head a haircut.
How would he look with
a ponytail or mohawk?



EXPERIMENT 26

Beetle and
snail

YOU WILL NEED

2 x

Water
Clean, empty yogurt cup
Paint brush
Paints in various colors

I

V

T

E

A

E

R

C

a

l

l

g

n

o

l

r

a

y

e

1

Plaster

Warning! Before you start,

be sure to read the safety

advice on the inside front

cover of this manual.

Plaster

1

3 x

These two bugs are
guaranteed not to eat your
plants, so feel free to
decorate your greenhouse
with them.



2

1

You can use the plaster

molds over and over

again and make new

beetles and snails using

different colors.

3

Natural Crafts for Every Season

EXPERIMENT 27

2

Summer sock garden

YOU WILL NEED

Sunny meadow in summer
Old wool socks
Soil
Small scoop or old spoon

3

The seeds get caught in your socks and remain stuck
there. They start growing in the soil and, before long,
you will have a surprise sock garden in your flowerpot.

EXPERIMENT 28

3

1

Play in
a sunny
meadow in
your socks.

2

I

T

V

A

E

E

R

C

r

e

i

n

m

s

m

u

1

Forcing branches

YOU WILL NEED

Cherry tree or forsythia branches
Vase
Knife or clippers

If you put the branches inside, the brightness and
heat will send the signal that it’s spring. The buds
will bloom and leaves will sprout from the twigs.
Doing this is called “forcing the branches.”

2

T

I

V

A

E

E

R

C

r

i

e

n

t

n

w

i



EXPERIMENT 29

2

2

From tiny acorns...

YOU WILL NEED

Acorn
Water

After a few days, the acorn’s shell will split
and a thick root will grow down into the

water. On the other side of the acorn, a

tender shoot will grow toward the sky.

EXPERIMENT 30

15

–

Leaf rubbings

30

1

1

I

T

V

A

E

E

R

C

i

n

n

m

u

t

a

u

3

Make sure the

acorn is only

halfway in the

water! Leave your

little oak tree inside

the house until

springtime.

I

T

V

A

E

E

R

C

i

1

n

n

m

u

t

a

u

2

YOU WILL NEED

Different leaves
Paper
Soft crayons or pencils

With the rubbing technique,
you will not only be able to
see the exact shape of the
leaf, but the pattern of
veins as well.



3

Also try tree bark! Hold the paper
against a tree trunk and rub
softly over it. You will be amazed
how many different patterns of
tree bark there are.

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More than one hundred years of expertise in
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product that bears the Kosmos name. Kosmos
experiment kits are designed by an experienced team
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While the majority of our products are made in
Germany, all of our products, regardless of origin,
follow the same rigid quality standards.

1st Edition 2012
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