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Chia Pet
Chia Pets are a brand of collectible
animal figurines manufactured and originated by the San
Francisco, California based company Joseph Enterprises,
Inc. Chia Pets achieved widespread popularity in the 1980s
following the 1982 release of a ram, the first Chia Pet.
Subsequent decline in popularity has relegated these objects
to fad status. The catch-phrase related to the Chia Pet,
sung in the commercial as the plant grows, is "Ch-ch-ch-chia!"
Chia Pets are grown by applying moistened
chia seeds (i.e., those of Salvia columbariae, the aromatic
annual from whose common name the Chia Pet's name is derived)
to the clay, grooved figurine body. After three to five
days consisting of filling and refilling the Chia Pet
with water as well as discarding water that has accumulated
in the provided drip tray, the seeds sprout, having formed
a gelatinous coat that adheres to the Chia Pet's body.
At this point, little effort is required to maintain the
Chia Pet, whose plant counterpart grows into a verdurous
covering.
Although enough S. columbariae seeds are provided with
the Chia Pet for three plantings, additional seeds can
be purchased for use with the Chia vessel, which is itself
reclaimable. Several Chia Pet animals are currently available,
including a turtle, pig, puppy, kitten, frog, and hippopotamus.
Sculpted "Chia Heads" and "Licensed Chia
Pets" based on popular cartoon characters can also
be found.
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