Silly Pets and More. :) My silly Pet W/O
Written: Jun 01 '01 (Updated Jun 01 '01)
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Pros: A pet that you don't have to clean up after!
Cons: Doesn't always grow well. Messy, Rather Expensive!
The Bottom Line: Chia Pets and Chia Heads make an interesting and Unique gift for about anyone. Or be traditional and Adopt a dog or cat at your local animal Shelter.
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| ggrimes1221's Full Review: Chia Pet |
This write-off is in honor of "bluehawq's" first. She has decided to call it "My Silly Pet". Though we may not all have silly pets, we may know someone who does. Below is a list of participants, please be sure to check all these fine people out. And always remember to spay or neuter your pet!
bluehawq | surferdude7 | nikjdog | catladyfromnpt
AngelaBar | CJsMommy | jro26 | Whitty
viper1963 | KittyOKC | Third_Man | thom413
debbie26 | Cartman_2K | GinaHill | AinsleyJo
marytara | susiewho | caleo | Ali78
disartain | djsplendid | mom2girlz | Sarahlynn
nwinston | frazzledspice | pmills1210 | fostrmom2mny
ggrimes1221 | HazelWebster | char.mike
altaloma | jo.com | Presleysmama
nanct | micheich | sherrywilliam
bpotter1 | Sephiroth2000 | Macresarf1
PalmerLD | Patch3boys | manky
When I was first invited to join this write off, I was excited and also skeptical at the same time because this is my first time to participate in a write off, but with help from some good friends, I've learned a few things about write offs and have been looking forward to this for a long time. Being that this was the Silly Pet Stories write off, I have spent practically the last month trying to think of what to write and searching the site for something to write about.
Without much sucess, I was about ready to give up until I ran across this category this morning on the Chia Pet. My first thought was "how much sillier can it get!"
The Chia Pet was first introduced in the early 1980's, with only a couple of selections to choose from. My first Chia Pet was one of the original designs the Chia Puppy. Currently the Chia animal line includes a puppy, rabbit, frog, hippo, cow, pig, kitten, dino, elephant, and turtle. The tree was soon added to the pet line. In 1996 four Chia Heads were introduced . They are Chia Guy, Chia Clown, Chia Professor, and Chia Kid.
The Chia Pet line is distributed by Joseph Enterprises, who explains that Chia seeds are a member of the watercress family. "Chia" is the common name for salvia columbariae. Joseph Enterprises tell us that while the Chia plant growth is edible, however the company has never applied for FDA approval and can not promote their products as a food source.
Getting your Chia Pet or Chia Head to grow
Add 1/4 cup of water to 2 teaspoons of Chia seeds. Stir the mixture after 15 minutes to moisten all seeds, then let it set for 24 hours. This process softens the seed coat and begins the growth cycle of your Chia seeds. In another container, also soak your Chia planter for 24 hours
This is a very messy procedure! While children usually love a Chia Pet, this part of the preparation should be supervised by an adult. After your seeds have soaked you will need to carefully place them in the grooves on you pet. The instructions will tell you to use a spatula, or a small knife, but I found only my fingers would work to get the planter fully covered.
Next you fill the container [small hole in the top] completely with water. The clay decanter [your pet] will absorb the water rather quickly so you have to check it daily to keep it full. YES, it will also leak, which is another mess, however it does come with an unatractive drip tray to catch the leaks. This too must be emptied everyday to prevent it from becoming stagnant, and causing a soured odor! Oh wait, I think I said in my pros, this was a pet I didn't have to clean up after... I better go back and change that!
The instructions say seeds should sprout in 3-5 days if kept moist, and with my experience "Some Did" "Most Didn't" ! You can also put a plastic bag over your "pet" to hold in moisture, that is said to help promote even growth. After seeds have sprouted, you are instructed to move your "pet" to a sunny location. Spritz your pet with a water mist every few days and you should get a lucious growth of "hair"! Key word here is should!
Can my Chia Pet be reused?
Each "pet" or "head" comes with enough seeds for 3 seperate growings. You should scrub the old growth from your decanter with a brush and soak in a mixture of 1tbs of bleach to 1 gallon of water to remove and residue or mildew from the clay. After fully cleaning your decanter let completely dry then repeat steps in how to grow using the extra seeds that came with your kit or you may also use herb seeds such as parsley, basil, alfalfa or thyme.
Chia Pets and Chia heads are mostly sold only during the Holiday season, but some stores carry them year round. Each decanter is a handmade piece of pottery so mass production is limited. Used decanters can be found at many flea markets and garage sales and will work just as well as a newly purchased kit, if the cleaning procedures and propper seeds are used.
The latest product in this line is the Chia Herb Garden. I personally have not used this item so I'm not certain how it would differ from growing fresh herbs from seeds in a regular pot as apposed to purchacing a pre-packaged Chia Kit. The Chia Herb Kit doesn't use traditional potting soil, but comes with a special growing sponge that is placed in terra-cotta pots. The price for this kit is about $15.00 US.
The moral of this "Silly Pet Story" is that while the Chia Pet makes a fun and unique gift, most people will find they don't work as well as advertised. The care and upkeep is found to be more than you would originally think. Seldom have I ever seen one that has the gorgeous full growth it shows on the box or in advertising. Most will tire of them rather quickly and the poor little orphaned "pet" will find itself residing in some dark cabinet, alone, neglected and hairless! If you have one of these forgotten "pets", put it in your next garage sale and allow someone to "adopt" it for a quarter or two. If you are lucky you might get a dollar for it if it's still in good shape.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 15
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: Whole Family
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ggrimes1221
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Location: Knoxville TN
Reviews written: 204
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