You Can Grow Plants from These Biodegradable Pencils and I Want Them

Have you heard of sprout pencils? Is it a pencil? Or is it a seed? Actually, Sprout pencils are both! This concept from a Danish-start up company is such an awesome and creative way to teach kids about seeds and gardening. I love a really fun and unexpected product and this one qualifies. Sprout pencils are not only useful, but useful and great for nature!

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Sprout Pencils

Sprout Plantable Graphite Pencils with Seeds are made with eco-friendly and non-toxic wood.

That means, once your kids finish using the pencils, or they’re too short to write with, they can plant them and they’ll grow into plants.

Seriously!

How do Sprout Pencils Work?

So how do Sprout pencils work exactly? Sprout designed the pencils to include a biodegradable seed capsule.

Sprout pencil planted in a flower pot held by someone — Let’s plant our pencil!

The pencils are made with 100% natural clay and graphite core, as well as wood from fully-sustainable forests.

There is absolutely no lead in this pencil, so they’re totally safe to plant.

Sprout Pencils Seed Capsule

As for the seed capsule, that’s located at the end of the pencil where the eraser would normally be.

What’s inside that capsule?

Well, that’s a surprise, but they promise the seed variety is “coveted.”

What Plants Sprout with Plantable Pencils?

Some Sprout pencils may include basil seeds, while others may contain sunflower seeds.

Each seed will be a surprise, which is probably why Sprout recommends planting the used pencil in a pot with a drainage hole (rather than directly in the ground or garden bed).

Sprout pencils grown in ceramic planters with big green plants — Plan your sprout pencils in a planter pot before putting them in the ground- Source: Amazon

How to Plant Your Pencil

Simply plant the stub of the Sprout pencil upside down and at a slight angle in the potting soil.
Don’t go too deep; they recommend having the dirt just cover the seed capsule.
Then water the Sprout pencil regularly so the soil stays moist.

Like other plants, make sure it gets natural sunlight, but not too much direct sunlight.

Sprout pencils- a pencil taken apart with seeds in it on a black background — This is what the seeds look like in the sprout pencils- Source: Amazon

Pencils with Seeds Are Awesome

Over time the pencil will turn into a plant. See what I mean? These pencils are totally awesome! It’s also a great lesson in sustainability.

Sprout pencils can teach kids to think outside the box and learn about reusing items. It’s innovative, it’s educational, and it’s a ton of fun. Sprout pencils also make great gifts — including ones for Teacher Appreciation Week!