Hi, starting bonsai from seeds is only rewarding if you have a lot of other plants to work on while you're waiting (3-5 yrs), so you'll be better off with something either from a nursery, or bonsai 'store' or even with a house plant which you transform. Please please do some reading before you do anything else, however, as they can't really be grown like house plants (beyond beginning that way) and need special care. Some good starter places are www.bonsai4me.com, www.bonsaihunk.us/cultural.html, and possibly the Sunset book on bonsai (from any garden ctre). As you want to grow it indoors, but not in a particularly suitable environment (for tropical plants - really the only kind that can be grown indoors), you'll definitely want to be able to choose carefully before spending, and before having your kids start to love it and then watch it die. Good luck!

Kalonkakon, what a wonderful idea! And I love the way you will make it a parable for their lives and their learning. I really like Rodney's salad idea because you can make something for the class to eat without having to cook it. These are the things that grow fast, are good in a salad, and can be successful indoors: all the greens (as mentioned above): lettuce (there are LOTS of different kinds and colors and shapes), spinach, bright lights chard (very pretty), mustard greens, kale, arugula, mizuna, tatsoi. These are all things that would be in a mesclun mix, and I've grown them indoors under lights with good success. You can add to this some pea shoots. Research this a bit -- you buy the seeds that are meant for shoots and grow them in a soil-less mix. They grow very fast and are sweet. You can't use normal pea seeds as they may contain bacteria, and you'll be eating the actual plant -- the ones for shoots are certified for shoot growing. Radishes and chives sound great to add to a salad, and I know radishes grow quickly, but I don't know if they would bulb up under indoor conditions--I don't have experience. Herbs, as mentioned above, are a really nice idea, too. Just keep in mind that some herbs tend to take a long time to germinate (parsley takes up to 3 weeks!) and they also take some time to become plants, so they would be great to send home with the kids (they can keep them growing at home on a window sill), but maybe not the best for your quicker salad. (They could be used to teach patience :) ) With some grow lights and/or a south facing window, some potting soil, and a bunch of seeds, you can absolutely grow a salad in several weeks, and make this teaching moment come true. Lucky you -- a class of only 24! Have fun! Elisa This post was edited by elisa_Z5 on Sat, Jul 13, 13 at 23:22

The recommendations so far are probably the best plants for the job, but, if you're wanting other ideas: I see no problems: Chlorophytum comosum (spider plant) (educational bonus: can give kids offsets to take home) Dracaena sanderiana Dracaena sanderiana 'Lucky Bamboo' (educational bonus: visible root system if grown in water) Dracaena deremensis 'Warneckii' Dracaena deremensis 'Janet Craig' (especially the "compacta" variety) Dracaena fragrans (corn plant) Sansevieria trifasciata 'Futura' (snake plant) slight problems: Aechmea fasciata (urn plant) (would prefer bright light) Aglaonema spp. (is toxic if chewed) Araucaria heterophylla (Norfolk Island pine) (would prefer bright light, cool temperatures) Aspidistra elatior (cast-iron plant) (goes dormant in winter) Beaucarnea recurvata (ponytail palm) (would prefer bright light) Chamaedorea elegans (parlor palm) (humidity might be an issue) Chamaedorea metallica (small fishtail palm) (humidity and light might be issues) Davallia trichomanoides (rabbit's-foot fern) (they're a little fussy; also go dormant in winter) Dieffenbachia spp. (is toxic if chewed) Dracaena marginata (would prefer bright light) Epipremnum aureum (pothos) (is toxic if chewed) Ficus benjamina (ficus tree) (can be difficult) Ficus binnendijkii (long-leaf fig) (said to be difficult, though that's not been my experience) Ficus elastica (rubber plant) (can be difficult) Ficus lyrata (fiddle-leaf fig) (can be difficult) Monstera deliciosa (split-leaf philodendron) (is toxic if chewed) Philodendron spp. (is toxic if chewed) Spathiphyllum spp. (peace lily) (is toxic if chewed) Tillandsia ionantha (air plant) (would prefer bright light) Zamioculcas zamiifolia (ZZ plant) (is toxic if chewed)

Its leaves have some burnt tips and that could mean there is too much fluoride in the soil... ==>> no.. it means it has been abused.. as in not watered properly.. and that could be a function of the poor old media in a relatively small pot.. for a HUGE tree .. the media can NOT process enough water for that TREE in a pot ... besides.. didnt you imply this was found at the curb in the garbage???? .. how do we get to flouride from there??? do NOT jump to conclusions like that ... RHIZ!!!!!! it was a JOKE!!! ... crimminey ... i was worried the OP would be upset ... and he isnt.. but my 10 year GW friend nails me to the wall.. whats that all about??? where you been.. on vacation???? ken PS: i live in a world where words mean things.. and i like to think that soil is mother earth .. and media is what goes in pots... 99% of the time.. soil does NOT function properly in pots .... now you can surely call it soil.. but when you start to learn about the engineered qualities of potting MEDIA... you should come to understand.. that the same word.. should not be used for two different things ... Here is a link that might be useful: propagation hints