TESTING GROWTH CONDITIONS OF PLANTS
Light
This experience is to prove, that light is essential for the life of a plant. We fill two pots with moist soil and put four seeds in each, soaked overnight. Place both pots on the window sill. We cover one of them with a cardboard tube, closed at one end, so that no light reaches the pot. We cut a few holes in it to allow air flow. Because they can let light through, Place the pot in the shaded part of the window sill. We water both pots every day. So they both get warmth, water and air, but one of them is devoid of light.
Result
The seeds in the exposed pot have sprouted and the plants are growing well. Long pale stems and leaves may grow in a darkened pot, they will die quickly.
Moisture
In this experience, we want to prove, how important moisture is for germination and plant growth. We put ordinary soil in one pot, to another dry, previously heated in the stove. We soak a few seeds overnight and put four in each pot. Place both pots on the window sill, where they will have enough warmth and light. We only water one pot once a day, the other is left dry.
Result
Seeds in a watered pot will sprout, those in dry - most likely not. However, if they sprout, they will die immediately.
Warm
This experiment is best done, when it's cold, and even in frost. Such conditions will confirm, that heat is an important factor, necessary for plant germination and growth. We prepare two pots with seeds and water both of them regularly. One of them is placed on the window sill, in a warm room, the other one is placed on the external window sill.
Result
The plant inside will grow properly, while the second, although it may sprout, he will die from the cold.
Airing
This experience is meant to show, that plants need airing to grow. We prepare two pots with seeds - as before. We water both, then put one in a plastic bag, tightly closed at the top. We put both pots on the window sill and water the open one every day, leaving it closed without air access.
Result
Seeds will sprout normally in an open pot, while in closed, even if they do come up, they will not grow and will likely become moldy.
Comparison of light sources
Sunlight and light from artificial sources, like light bulbs and fluorescent lamps, it consists of different wavelengths and plants react differently to them. We prepare three pots with seedlings.
We put one in a sunny place, the other one under the fluorescent lamp, and a third close to a lamp with a normal incandescent lamp. We do not put the pot too close to the bulb, so as not to overheat it. We draw a graph of the growth rate.
How seedlings react to light
All plants grow towards the light. This can be found by placing any plant near a window and tracking its growth. Let's do an experiment with seedlings, indicating which part of the plant is reacting to light. We sow approx 20 seeds; when they sprout, we put them next to the window. When they come up, we cover the tops of some seedlings with small caps made of aluminum foil. Seedlings with hoods will grow straight, while the others will lean towards the light. Means, that the tops of the seedlings respond to light.
Growing plants brought in with mud
1. After the autumn walk in the field, we scrape the mud off the shoes and shake the dust from the jacket pocket. We mix it with water and let it soak overnight.
2. We sterilize the compost soil, by firing it in the oven. This will give you confidence, that it does not contain any living seeds, which germinating could distort the experience.
3. We add water with mud to the compost soil, we cover the dish with glass and leave it in a warm place. We keep the breeding moist, but without flooding with water.
4. After two, three weeks, sprouting plants will appear.