Transplanting Flowers           Materials needed: Purchase from a garden center some brightly colored flowers. The best flowers to transplant are: Zinnias, daisies, pansies and Marigolds. Purchase 2 large bags of Potting soil, and large clay pots with water trays for each senior.  

Other Materials Needed: Watering cans, plastic gloves, newspaper or plastic drop clothes, old metal tablespoons and folks for digging soil, large plastic cups for water, paper placemates, paper towels and handwipes, stones for the bottom of the pot. 

 

Setup For Transplanting Flowers: 

 1. Cover a large table with newspaper or a plastic drop cloth.  2. Assemble on a cart: bags of soil, flowers, stones, a watering can filled with water, metal tablespoons & large forks (for digging), large plastic cups, plastic gloves, paper towels, handwipes, paper placemates. 

 3. After you cover your table with newspaper, set a paper placemate where each senior will be seated and set up each senior's planting equipment on that placemate.  First, place a clay pot with a water tray beneath it and make sure to put some small stones in the bottom of each pot. Next, fill the pots with soil ( about 3/4 full ).  Alongside the pots place a tablespoon and a fork for each senior. The Tablespoon will be used to dig a hole in the soil large enough to fit their flower. The fork will be used to press down the soil after the flower is planted. Also, give each senior a large plastic cup filled with water, so they can fill the hole in the dirt with some water before and after planting. Make sure each senior has a pair of plastic gloves, and help each senior to get their gloves on. Make sure the seniors are wearing their gloves while they are planting.  

 4. For cleanup, you will need some  paper towels and a box of hand wipes.

Planting Instructions: 

 1. Instruct your seniors to dig a hole in the center of the soil deep enough to fit their flower along with it's roots.

 2. Have them pour some water into the hole before planting their flower.

 3. Once the flower is planted they can press the soil down around the flower with their fingers and with the fork.  Then, have the seniors water their flower again.

 4. Once they are finished planting, each senior can bring their potted flower outside and find a sunny area where their plant can grow and blossom.