This step-by-step guide by eHow explains how to create your own mini-ecosystem using little more than a plastic soda bottle, some soil, and a few seeds.
Start by rinsing out a 2-liter soda bottle and cutting it just around where the neck starts to “bottleneck” towards the cap. Or, if the bottle is relatively straight, around three-quarters of the way up.
Lightly place around 8 to 10 centimeters (3 to 4 inches) of potting soil in the bottom of the bottle. Then place four to six seeds just a couple of centimeters (1 inch) into the soil. Although you can use more or less any type of seeds, eHow recommends bean seeds as they are hardy and easy to grow. After, sprinkle a pinch of grass seed on top and lightly cover them with soil.
Dampen the bottle with a glug of water, but do not drench it. Next, place the top of the bottle (with the screw cap off) upside down into the base and seal the edges with tape.
Finally, place the bottle in a partially sunny spot – a window sill would be perfect.
You won’t need to water your bottle again, and over the course of days you’ll see your “jungle in a jar” begin to grow and thrive. You can even introduce a snail or a worm into the bottle to see how it affects the ecosystem. If you'd like to make something a little more fancy, you can even try it with a glass bottle or a jar.
[H/T: eHow]
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