What can you do with a pine cone?

Here are some fabulous ways to turn pine cones into beautiful works of art:

Pine Cone Roses.
Pine Cone Wreath.
Pine Cone Topiary.
Halloween Pine Cone Spider.
Lighted Pine Cone Arrangement.
Scented Pine Cone Fire Starters.
Ombre Pine Cones.
Pine Cone Bird Feeder.

Correspondingly, can you eat pine cones?

That's not to say pine cones are edible, but humans have been consuming them in various ways for a very long time. The most popular method to bring pine cone goodness into your diet, is with pine nuts. Only 20 varieties of pine tree worldwide produce cones with large enough pine nuts for harvesting.

Beside above, how do you bake pine cones to kill bugs? Drying & Opening Pine Cones

Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and spread pine cones across it in a single layer.
Remove from oven and let them rest for a couple days before cutting or using in crafts.
This drying process will kill any bugs and melt the sap due to the heat.

In this regard, how do you decorate pine cones?

Create a pinecone tree on a cone-shaped foam base. Anchor the base in a container, then wire the cones onto 2" wooden floral picks. Insert picks downward into the foam, starting at the bottom with the largest cones and working to the top with the smaller ones. Conceal the foam by tucking sheet moss among the pinecones.

Do pine cones have bugs?

There are many insects that prefer to munch on developing pine cones and if the pine cones are brought inside to sit indoors, the bugs will almost certainly crawl out and become a nuisance in your home. Pine cones may also have sap in them still which could make a mess if not dried properly.

29 Related Question Answers Found

What is the point of a pine cone?

The main function of a pine cone is to keep a pine tree's seeds safe. Pine cones close their scales to protect the seeds from cold temperatures, wind and even animals that might try to eat them. Pine cones open up and release their seeds when it is warm and it is easier for the seed to germinate.

What happens if you eat a pine cone?

Pine cones themselves, which are a kind of seed pod, are in some instances edible while the seeds of all pine cone varieties contained within the rough outer shells can be safely eaten. They have a mildly nutty flavour and texture similar to sunflower seeds.

What happens when you put a pine cone in water?

When you put your cones into the water, they closed, and they did it pretty quickly. But then when you put them in the oven for a while, they opened back up again. The big differences are that the water is cold and wet and the oven is warm and dry.

Are pine cones poisonous?

Pine cones are dangerous for puppies to chew on. Pine cones are bad for puppies to eat. While they aren't toxic, eating them can cause problems such as intestinal blockages and vomiting. Safer alternatives for chewing exist and care should be taken to avoid pine cones.

Can you grow a tree from a pine cone?

Pine cone seeds, properly stratified, can be germinated fairly easily to cultivate new trees. When you have harvested the cone from a local tree, you are more likely to grow a tree that will be successful in your climate. Collect seed in the fall when cones begin to open. Open cones have already dropped their seeds.

Are pine cones good fire starters?

Dry pine cones make excellent fire starters and frequently are used as such in wood stoves and fireplaces. Although they do release some creosote, pine cones can be burned as tinder in a wood stove when properly used.

Is Pine toxic to humans?

Not all pine varieties are edible, however; the ponderosa pine and several others varieties of pine trees can cause illness and death in cattle and other animals. One evergreen conifer, the yew, contains a toxic substance that is potentially fatal if ingested by humans.

How do you paint pine cones for Christmas?

Simply dunk the pine cone into the paint. Remove it and shake off as much excess paint off the pine cone as you can. Set the pine cones out on waxed paper to dry overnight. The pine cones will probably close up.

How do you decorate pine cones for Christmas?

Paint the pinecones or glitter them, put in a bowl or a glass and a nice decoration is ready. Make loops and hang on the tree, the door or the window to decorate them. The fireplace and mantel may be also beautifully decorated with pinecones, and you can even make a pinecone Christmas tree, if you like.

How do you make a pine cone topiary?

What you'll do:

Start by filling the inside of the pot with floral foam.
Cut a wooden stick down to approximately 18 inches.
Heat up your hot glue gun and glue the mini pine cones to the end of the floral pins.
Slide the pins into the Styrofoam ball, keeping the pine cones as close together as possible.

How do you make pine cone fire starters?

To make your pine cone fire starters, follow these simple steps.

Melt wax in a double boiler (do not leave unattended).
Add a few drops of essential oil to the wax if desired.
Add candle dye or a few broken crayon pieces to the wax for color if desired.
Dip the first pine cone into the wax using tongs.

How do you make glitter stick to pine cones?

Place the glued pine cone in a bowl to catch any excess glitter. Sprinkle your glitter over the glued portions of the pine cone, tilting it in all directions until all of the glue is covered by glitter. Once covered, lift the pine cone and tip it upside-down over the bowl to shake off all the excess glitter.

How do you whitewash pine cones?

The simplest way to cover the pine cones is to dip rather than paint, so put the whitewash in a large bowl that's big enough for a pine cone to be immersed in it. Turn the pine cone over in the diluted emulsion to make sure the paint goes up and under the opened scales to cover it completely. Leave to dry on paper.

How long do you bake pine cones to kill bugs?

Bake them for 1 to 1.5 hours.

If not, then leave them in the oven for another 30 minutes. Baking the pine cones will finish killing any bugs that survived the water bath. Baking the pine cones will also melt away any sap that is stuck on them.

Do I need to bake pine cones?

Place pine cones on baking sheets and bake for several hours at 200-250 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the pine cones frequently while baking so they do not catch on fire. (Your home will smell wonderful!) 6 – The pine cones will be fully open, dry and shiny when finished baking.

Can you microwave pine cones to kill bugs?

De bugging pine cones. You should first soak them in vinegar and water to get rid of bugs. If you only have a few put in microwave only three at a tine. One minute increments until they dry.

Can you boil pine cones?

When you want to fill your home with the rich scent of pine, simply boil pine needles in water on the stove top. You can choose to boil only pine needles for a robust, pure pine scent or you can add other ingredients to complement the pine. Boiled pine needles on the stove top fill your home with a fresh, clean scent.