From 1986 to 1991, one of the biggest names in children’s entertainment was Paul Reubens. Well, actually it was his character of Pee-wee Herman. Evolving from a stand-up act, to a movie character in “Pee-wee’s Big Adventure” to a Saturday morning children’s program, the character of Pee-wee has a special place in pop culture. So enduring is Pee-wee that despite a lack of reruns for “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” many of the running gags, themes, characters, and guest actors have remained in the hearts of millions. This holiday, you too can remember Pee-wee in a uniquely fun way with your very own Pee-wee Herman Chia Pet!
The Chia Pet likely needs little to no introduction. A cultural phenomenon of the 1980s, the Chia Pet became famous for its marriage of terracotta sculptures and plants. Seeds are spread on part of the sculpture with water added to cause the chia plant, (salvia hispanica) to germinate and give the sculpture the appearance of fur. At least that was the case with the original sheep like Chia Pet. As for Pee-wee though, obviously he has hair instead of fur. And a darn fine head of hair it is.
It’s a fitting marriage of intellectual properties considering the educational value of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse” and how a Chia Pet can be an easy way to teach children about plants. Given how Pee-wee is probably more known to children of the ’80s though, there’s definitely a heavy nostalgia factor in this product. What self-respecting child of that time wouldn’t want a bust of Pee-wee Herman sprouting a wild plant-fro?
Chia Pets are also notable for the relatively short timeframe it takes for them to grow and take on the desired appearance. You can generally expect to see the pottery and plant combination reach its intended look within one to two weeks. Naturally, this kind of progression makes it enjoyable to watch for kids; assuming they’re not too busy planting digital fauna in “Animal Crossing” or something. Get them to take a break from the gaming and enjoy some real plant life.
Pee-wee Chia Pet is available on Amazon here. So if you’re a fan of Pee-wee Herman or just novelty Chia Pets in general, make sure to ride your virtual bike over to the virtual store and grab a real piece of gardening pottery! And if you’re not so much a fan of Pee-wee, but you do have a love of novelty gifts and Chia Pets in general, check out our list of 15 other chia pets to get the nerd in your life here.
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