Plantable Card - Growing you own cotton

Cotton grows is the most common textile fibre grown in the world. When grown non-organically, cotton growing uses an enormous amount of water and chemicals to produce a decent crop. By growing your own cotton, you will help reduce the impact industrial cotton growing has on the environment, and set yourself a fun and exciting challenge in the process.

Cotton is not normally grown in the UK. It is used to hot, wet and humid conditions and a long, sunny season in order to produce its fluffy cotton heads. However, it is possible to grow cotton in a greenhouse or polytunnel if you live in the south of the UK. For the best results, grow it in a good, fertile soil, and a warm, humid spot in a south-facing position undercover.

http://www.goselfsufficient.co.uk/grow-your-own-cotton.html

The seeds could be used within plantable card and used as swing tags, and have a step by step guide.

Stock:

Made from recycled paper and colored with organic pigments and soy-based inks.

The product is made with flat seeds, for example poppies, daisies and herbs.  These are blended into the pulp mixture created from recycled newspapers, magazines, etc.) then are pressed, set and dried.  The paper product and seeds eventually return to Mother Earth and sprout herbs or flowers thus giving back! 

Step by Step to planting:

SUPPLY LIST

• a pot for planting
• some good potting soil
• plantable paper
• water
• a sunny corner

STEP 1 - PREPARE YOUR POT

Fill your pot 2/3 full with good potting soil. Tamp down the soil and add more if necessary. You want the pot to be firmly full, but not packed. The paper can be planted indoors or outside, so you get to choose according to the temperature and conditions at the time of planting (we don't recommend planting outside if it's blizzarding or desert-hot!).

STEP 2 - PLANT THE PAPER

Take your plantable paper and tear it into small pieces, about 1 inch. Cover the soil in the prepared pot with the paper. It's okay if the paper overlaps. Spread a 1/2 inch layer of soil over the plantable paper pieces and tamp down gently.

STEP 3 - WATER DURING GERMINATION

After planting the paper in your pot, give it a good soak. You want the paper and the soil to be nicely damp but not swimming in water. During the first 10 days, keep the paper moist at all times. The water is necessary for germination.

STEP 4 - CARE AFTER GERMINATION

On sprouts appear, continue to keep the paper moist but be careful not to overwater. Once sturdy plants appear, water as needed. Here's what the pot looks like after planting a greeting card:

http://www.botanicalpaperworks.com/how_plantable_paper_works