I mentioned wheat grass centerpieces in an earlier post about saving money on centerpieces. I've noticed a lot of people searching for more information, so I thought I would share my experience with growing wheatgrass to you.
This centerpiece is fun and casual and would work for a summer wedding or event. For a spring twist on this centerpiece you could replace the gerberas with tulips.
Here is a list of items that you will need to grow this centerpiece yourself. First go to Ikea and buy some cute containers for a great price. Miracle Gro potting soil is a must - the fertilizers in the soil make a huge difference in the lushness of the grass. I bought my wheatgrass seeds from wheatgrasskits.com. I bought the fifty pound bag, but ten pounds should be enough for twenty-five small centerpieces like the one I've shown. I also bought a bottle of Mold Control from wheatgrasskits.com. Wheatgrass is prone to mold, so you have to take a few preventative measures. Finally, you need florist's water tubes, floral preservative, and gerbera daisies to complete the look.
I soaked my seeds in water and the Mold Control prior to planting for six hours. Wheatgrasskits.com recommends soaking them for no longer than 8 hours to prevent mold growth. Mix the Mold Control into the water before soaking the seeds, taking special care to use the concentration suggested on the bottle.
While the seeds are soaking, fill your containers with the Miracle Gro potting soil until the soil level was two inches from the top of the container. This two inch allowance hides the lower sheath of the grasses – which is a thin and unsightly portion of the grass.
Then make sure the soil in the containers is damp, and ready to receive the seeds. Be sure not to water-log the soil, or you may end up growing mold. If there are no holes at the bottom of your container, then this will be a concern during the entire growing process.
After soaking the seeds, make sure to rinse them well. Mold Control residue will inhibit the germination of the seeds. Now you are ready to cover the soil with a layer of seeds. Once the seeds are down, place the pots out of reach of children and pets. Water from beneath every two to three days and watch your seeds grow. Ideal growing conditions are 70 degrees Fahrenheit with bright indirect sunlight. I grew mine indoors next to a large North-facing window.
It only takes me one week to grow lush centerpieces during summer, but I would recommend leaving yourself at ten days if you are trying to grow wheatgrass in the middle of winter. If the grass is too tall you can carefully trim it with scissors a couple of days before your event. But if it is too short there is not much you can do.
The day before the event you can finish off the look by adding the gerbera daisies. Start by mixing the floral preservative into water. Make sure to follow the instructions on the packets exactly, so that the concentration is correct. Then fill the water tubes with the water and insert one gerbera into each tube. Finally, stick the tip of the water tube down through the layer of seeds into the soil.
Now your centerpieces are ready to go. Make sure to wipe any water or soil off the bottom of the pot before placing it on the table.