WHEN?

• In Wellington, October (after the morning frosts) is the ideal time to throw your seed bombs.

• Ideally before a good rain – or if you prefer to toss them like the Green Guerrillas – you can give them a bit of a watering after throwing them.
  

STEP ONE – WHERE AND HOW TO PLANT

• No digging is required. Ideally, scatter or poke seed bombs into moist soil or compost, leaving the tops uncovered in a sunny spot in your garden bed or pot (and steer clear of grass or areas you may mow).

• Leave at least 10 cm between each little seed bomb.

STEP TWO – GERMINATION

• Sprouts are expected in 2-4 weeks (weather permitting).

• Keep them well-watered, especially during germination, for the best chance of success. When given adequate rainfall (or watering) along with enough sunlight and warmth, the wildflower seeds contained in the ball will start to germinate, and small sprouts will emerge.

• This process usually requires 4 to 6 weeks following scattering.

STEP THREE – BOMBS BREAK DOWN

• As time passes, the ball will gradually dissipate and fade from sight, allowing a vibrant patch of young plants to emerge, which will ultimately grow into stunning wildflowers.

STEP FOUR - WILDFLOWERS BLOOM

• Here comes the bees...

• Will the bombs entirely break down?
  Everything in the bombs will break down naturally.

• How tall are the wildflowers?
  Wildflower height range: 5cm -100cm.

• How long will the plants survive?
  These plants will last for 1-2 years (most are annuals, some may be biannneials)

• How long will it take for them to flower?
  Each wildflower species has a different flowering time and length of time taken to come into flower. Some will bloom in the first year (within 4-12 weeks), and others will take a bit longer to show their true colours.

• WHAT ARE THEY:
  These little ingenious capsules of goodness have a protective clay shell that deters hungry critters, such as birds and insects. While the seeds are cocooned in a nutrient-rich, weed-free seedling potting mix that’s perfect for germination.

• HOW DO THEY WORK?
  In dry areas, the ball’s shape provides sufficient shade to conserve moisture. If it’s windy, the clay prevents the seeds from blowing away and stops them from getting washed away in heavy rain. Then, as the seeds begin to germinate, the ball breaks apart. The small pile of crumbles provides the start for the root system, but is still heavy enough to anchor the emerging seeds to the ground. Genious!

• We’ve used a range of seeds and had fun trying different seed bomb making-methods to increase the chances of success. Enjoy the surprise of what pops up! (All dyes are non-toxic, and the clay is a mixture of old potters ’ clay, local clay and air-dry clay.)   

• While these annuals will support the bees this summer, they are not native to Aotearoa. We have taken care to avoid anything that may be invasive (using local, high-quality Kind Seeds). If you would prefer to receive native seeds instead, please feel free to pop by our Studio to swap for native Napuka (Hebe) seeds.

• Napuka are native to specific locations within the Wellington region.

• Napuka (like many native seeds) require a lot more care to grow (so you won’t be helping the bees this summer – but they will help the bees for many summers to come once they have established!).

• Napuka can grow to be 1-2m high.

• Please email us before you arrive, so we can have the seeds ready for you. Email: rachel@scenario.co.nz

The seed bombs and the flowers that may grow are not edible.