DIY Birthday Gifts Mason Jar Planter
Sheri Ann Richerson from ExperimentalHomesteader.com shows you step-by-step how to make this DIY Birthday Gifts Mason Jar Planter. Of course, this DIY Mason Jar Planter is so cute that it would work for Valentine's Day, a pick me up for a friend who is feeling down or under the weather and - really - for any gift giving occasion. For this project you need some bulbs - paperwhites, crocus, tulip, daffodils, etc., a mason jar, some type of stone, ribbon and other decorations. This is a super easy DIY project that is ideal for spring and sure to make someone's day! Please leave questions and comments below!
In This Article
Supplies for a Mason Jar Bulb Planter Gift
This project uses a mason jar, decorative stones, a suitable flower bulb and a few finishing touches such as ribbon. Paperwhites are often chosen for indoor forcing because they can bloom without a lengthy cold treatment, while tulips, crocuses and many daffodils usually need a suitable chilling period before they will bloom indoors. That distinction matters when you're putting together a last-minute gift. Choose a bulb whose growing needs fit the time available rather than assuming every variety will flower immediately in a jar.
A clear glass jar allows the recipient to see the roots forming among the stones. Choose a clean jar without chips, and use enough stones to keep the bulb upright. Keep the bulb above the standing water rather than leaving its base submerged, which can encourage rot. If you prefer to plant in potting mix, use a container with drainage rather than treating an ordinary sealed mason jar as a pot with a drainage hole.
Putting the Gift Together
Begin with a stable layer of clean pebbles or decorative stones. Position the bulb with its pointed end up and add enough stones around it to hold it in place without crushing it. For a bulb that can be forced in water, add water to just below the base so the roots can reach the moisture as they develop. Check the water level regularly, and follow the needs of the particular bulb species. Place the arrangement in suitable light and temperature conditions until growth begins.
Finish the jar with ribbon, a gift tag or another small decoration that can be removed for watering. A handmade tag explaining the kind of bulb and how to care for it will make the gift more useful than a jar with no directions. If you're making several gifts, keep the decorations simple enough to repeat without turning an easy project into an all-day task.
When to Give a Mason Jar Bulb Planter
The project works for a birthday, Valentine's Day or a thoughtful encouragement gift, just as the original video suggests. It can also be used as a winter project when the garden is quiet and you want something living and green indoors. If the recipient has cats or dogs, check the species first: many popular spring bulbs, including daffodils and tulips, are toxic to pets. Choose a different plant or make sure the arrangement can be kept somewhere animals cannot reach it.
This video shows the original project. Watch it for the visual details and use the guidance above to adapt the planter for the bulbs you have available.
Printable Step-by-Step How-To Card
Use the card below to follow the supplies and steps for this project, and refer to my original story and images above for the details of how I made it.
How to Make a Mason Jar Bulb Planter Gift
Make a decorative indoor bulb gift with a mason jar, stones and appropriate bulbs.
Materials
- Clean mason jar without cracks
- Clean pebbles or decorative stones
- Paperwhite bulb or another bulb suited to the intended forcing method
- Water
- Ribbon, removable gift tag and other decorations
Instructions
- Choose a healthy bulb. Paperwhites can be forced indoors without the chilling period required by many tulips and crocuses.
- Clean the jar and stones. Put a stable layer of pebbles in the bottom of the jar.
- Place the bulb upright with its pointed end up and add stones around it to support it.
- For a bulb suited to water forcing, add water only to just below the bulb's base; allow roots to reach the water, but do not submerge the bulb.
- Place the jar where the chosen bulb can begin rooting and growing under suitable light and temperature conditions.
- Check the water level regularly, keeping the bulb itself above the water to discourage rot.
- Tie on ribbon and add a removable gift tag explaining the bulb variety and basic care instructions.
- Give the planter as a living gift, keeping it out of reach of pets if the bulb species is toxic.
Notes
This printable card summarizes the author's original hands-on tutorial. Consult the accompanying article for photographs, equipment details, and the original experience.
Watch the Mason Jar Planter Tutorial
Have you ever given someone a living plant in a recycled jar? I would love to know which flowers you've had the best luck forcing indoors.
