Chia Pet Costume
Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia! Bring the classic terracotta sprouting pet to life.
The Chia Pet is a nostalgic American pop-culture icon known for its terracotta figurines that sprout vibrant green chia seeds. People choose this costume because it is a highly creative, funny, and instantly recognizable DIY project. The look features a body covered in lush green faux foliage paired with a terracotta-colored base or planter pot.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~120 min
- Budget
- $25–60
Try it on
See yourself as Chia Pet
One clear photo of yourself; we render you in this costume — face untouched, full body, about 20 seconds.
One render, $1. No account needed — if it fails you're not charged. Pricing.
Your photo is sent to Google's Gemini API to make the render and isn't used for training. Renders are AI-generated and labelled.
Want a different costume on this photo, or a whole group in costume? Open the Try-On Studio.
What you need for a Chia Pet costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Chia Pet costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Orange or terracotta bodysuit or t-shirt
A solid terracotta-orange long-sleeve shirt or bodysuit to represent the ceramic clay base.
DIY: Dye a plain white cotton shirt using terracotta or rust-colored fabric dye.
Faux leafy green vines or moss mats
Artificial boxwood panels, fake moss, or leafy green garland to create the sprouted 'fur'.
DIY: Cut leaf shapes out of green felt or construction paper and fabric-glue them to a backing.
Terracotta planter pot or orange laundry basket
A large plastic planter pot or laundry basket with the bottom cut out to wear around your waist.
DIY: Paint a large cardboard box or flexible laundry basket with matte terracotta-colored acrylic paint.
Suspender straps
Heavy-duty utility straps or suspenders to hold up the planter pot around your waist.
DIY: Use thick rope or braided yarn looped through holes drilled into the rim of the plastic pot.
Brown or orange leggings
Solid brown or terracotta-colored leggings or pants to complete the ceramic figurine legs.
DIY: Use any solid brown sweatpants or leggings you already own.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Chia Pet costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Cut the bottom out of your large plastic planter pot or laundry basket so you can step inside it.
- 2
Drill four small holes near the top rim of the pot and attach your suspenders or rope straps to hold the pot at waist level.
- 3
Paint the outside of the pot with matte terracotta paint if it is not already the correct clay color.
- 4
Cut your artificial boxwood panels or faux moss mats to fit your torso, then attach them to your terracotta shirt using hot glue or safety pins.
- 5
Put on the terracotta leggings, step into the planter pot, and secure the suspender straps over your shoulders.
- 6
Slip on the green sprout-covered shirt over the suspender straps to conceal them.
- 7
Add optional green leaves or faux vines to a headband to complete the sprouting look from head to toe.
Makeup & hair
Keep makeup simple with a fresh, natural look, or paint a terracotta clay texture on your face using matte orange-brown face paint. For hair, style it in wild, messy spikes or curls sprayed with temporary green hair color.
Chia Pet for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- One person dresses as the Chia Pet, while the other dresses as a gardener holding a watering can and a packet of seeds.
- group
- A pack of different Chia Pets (like a Chia Ram, Chia Cat, and Chia Puppy) walking together.
- kids
- A simplified version using a green sweatshirt covered in green pom-poms or felt leaves, paired with terracotta pants.
- Plus size
- Use a flexible, lightweight plastic laundry basket painted terracotta, which offers more room and flexibility than a rigid garden pot.
- pet
- A highly popular option: craft a lightweight harness covered in faux boxwood greenery to turn your dog into a living Chia Pet.
Tips
- Keep the planter pot lightweight so it is easy to walk, sit, and move around in during parties.
- Use hot glue in a well-ventilated area when securing the faux greenery to your shirt, and place cardboard inside the shirt so the glue doesn't seep through.
- If you plan to sit down, make sure your planter pot is flexible or easy to slip out of quickly.
- Add a classic 'Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia' logo printed on cardstock to the front of your terracotta pot for an extra touch of authenticity.
Chia Pet costume FAQ
- How do you make a DIY Chia Pet costume?
- You glue artificial green boxwood panels or faux moss to a shirt, then wear a lightweight, bottomless plastic planter pot painted terracotta-orange around your waist using suspenders.
- What is the best greenery to use for a Chia Pet costume?
- Artificial boxwood hedge panels or fake plastic grass mats work best because they are dense, vibrant green, and easy to cut and glue.
- Can I make a Chia Pet costume for my dog?
- Yes! You can attach faux greenery to a comfortable dog sweater or harness, and paint their legs with pet-safe terracotta-colored chalk or wear orange leg warmers.
Did you know? Introduced in 1977, the original Chia Pet was the Chia Ram, and the iconic 'Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia' advertising jingle was created in 1982.