diff --git a/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/cotton.dm b/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/cotton.dm
index 89a3431af243..c3b4732592e4 100644
--- a/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/cotton.dm
+++ b/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/cotton.dm
@@ -34,27 +34,15 @@
 	var/cotton_name = "raw cotton"
 
 /obj/item/grown/cotton/attack_self(mob/user)
-	user.show_message(span_notice("You pull some [cotton_name] out of the [name]!"), MSG_VISUAL)
-	var/seed_modifier = 0
+	var/cotton_count = 1
 	if(seed)
-		seed_modifier = round(seed.potency / 25)
-	var/obj/item/stack/cotton = new cotton_type(user.loc, 1 + seed_modifier)
-	var/old_cotton_amount = cotton.amount
-	for(var/obj/item/stack/potential_stack in user.loc)
-		if(QDELETED(potential_stack))
-			continue
-		if(potential_stack == cotton)
-			continue
-		if(!istype(potential_stack, cotton_type))
-			continue
-		if(potential_stack.amount >= potential_stack.max_amount)
-			continue
-		potential_stack.attackby(cotton, user)
+		cotton_count += round(seed.potency / 25)
 
-	if(cotton.amount > old_cotton_amount)
-		to_chat(user, span_notice("You add the newly-formed [cotton_name] to the stack. It now contains [cotton.amount] [cotton_name]."))
+	user.balloon_alert(user, "pulled [cotton_count] piece\s")
+	new cotton_type(user.drop_location(), cotton_count)
 	qdel(src)
 
+
 //reinforced mutated variant
 /obj/item/seeds/cotton/durathread
 	name = "pack of durathread seeds"
diff --git a/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/towercap.dm b/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/towercap.dm
index bc46dd77e557..37585395603c 100644
--- a/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/towercap.dm
+++ b/code/modules/hydroponics/grown/towercap.dm
@@ -78,33 +78,29 @@
 
 	return NONE
 
-/obj/item/grown/log/attackby(obj/item/W, mob/user, params)
-	if(W.get_sharpness())
-		user.show_message(span_notice("You make [plank_name] out of \the [src]!"), MSG_VISUAL)
-		var/seed_modifier = 0
+/obj/item/grown/log/attackby(obj/item/attacking_item, mob/user, params)
+	if(attacking_item.get_sharpness())
+		var/plank_count = 1
 		if(seed)
-			seed_modifier = round(seed.potency / 25)
-		var/obj/item/stack/plank = new plank_type(user.loc, 1 + seed_modifier, FALSE)
-		var/old_plank_amount = plank.amount
-		for (var/obj/item/stack/ST in user.loc)
-			if (ST != plank && istype(ST, plank_type) && ST.amount < ST.max_amount)
-				ST.attackby(plank, user) //we try to transfer all old unfinished stacks to the new stack we created.
-		if (plank.amount > old_plank_amount)
-			to_chat(user, span_notice("You add the newly-formed [plank_name] to the stack. It now contains [plank.amount] [plank_name]."))
+			plank_count += round(seed.potency / 25)
+
+		user.balloon_alert(user, "made [plank_count] [plank_name]")
+		new plank_type(user.drop_location(), plank_count)
 		qdel(src)
+		return
 
-	if(CheckAccepted(W))
-		var/obj/item/food/grown/leaf = W
+	if(CheckAccepted(attacking_item))
+		var/obj/item/food/grown/leaf = attacking_item
 		if(HAS_TRAIT(leaf, TRAIT_DRIED))
-			user.show_message(span_notice("You wrap \the [W] around the log, turning it into a torch!"))
-			var/obj/item/flashlight/flare/torch/T = new /obj/item/flashlight/flare/torch(user.loc)
-			usr.dropItemToGround(W)
-			usr.put_in_active_hand(T)
+			user.balloon_alert(user, "torch crafted")
+			var/obj/item/flashlight/flare/torch/new_torch = new /obj/item/flashlight/flare/torch(user.drop_location())
+			user.dropItemToGround(attacking_item)
+			user.put_in_active_hand(new_torch)
 			qdel(leaf)
 			qdel(src)
 			return
 		else
-			to_chat(usr, span_warning("You must dry this first!"))
+			balloon_alert(user, "dry it first!")
 	else
 		return ..()