Let us do a good science fair project to learn about plants reaching for the light to grow.
First I think there is a definition we must learn, it is a Botany term:
Epiphyte: a plant that grows non-parasitically on a tree or other plant.
When looking at a leave, I am sure, you have noticed that the top of the leaf is a darker green then the bottom of the leaf. Have you ever wondered why? Do you know what the green color of the leaves is? What is the function of the "green" in the leaves?
The answer to these questions is the beginning of our interesting science fair project. As with any good science fair project, there are a few basic facts that we have to know before we start. When we know the basics we can start with our science fair projects.
Do you know where to start with your good science fair project? Well, let us start with the basic facts we need to know:
1. The green substance is called chlorophyll and it traps the energy from the sun.
2. Because plants cannot move around they have to make their own food.
3. Like tiny solar panels the leaves combine carbon dioxide from the air and water from the ground to produce glucose (a form of sugar) and oxygen. (Can you now see how it ties in with our project on trees and the rain forests?) For a really good science fair project you can actually combine the two.
4. This process is called photosynthesis.
The idea of this good science fair project is to show how plants make special efforts to reach the sunlight. Our first science fair project is going to demonstrate how epiphytes in the rainforests live high on branches to get closer to the light. They have to grow on another plant to be able to survive, but they do not draw on the host like a parasite. (Do you know what a parasite is?)
This is what you will need:
* A pair of gardening gloves
* Liquid plant food
* A branch or some driftwood
* Sphagnum moss
* Water spray
* Some cotton thread
* A plant pot
* Some gravel
* A trowel
* Epiphytes (available from garden centers or nurseries)
* Glue
This is what you need to do:
1. To protect your hand, put on the gardening gloves
2. Now you have to wrap one end of your branch or piece of driftwood with your sphagnum moss.
3. Secure your moss on your branch with a piece of cotton thread.
4. Fill your plant pot with gravel until it is almost full. Make sure you use a sturdy pot that will not break easily. There need to be enough gravel in your pot to be able to support your branch. Use your trowel to fill the pot.
5. When you have enough gravel in your pot you can push your branch into your pot until it can stand in your pot without tipping or falling out.
6. Now you have to use your water, with a few drops of liquid fertilizer in it, to spray the moss with water.
7. Arrange your epiphytes on the branch by gently pushing them into the moss.
8. Secure them with a drop of glue at the base.
9. Now you have to remember to spray the epiphytes from time to time to prevent them from drying out.
10. Now come the time to make your observations.
11. Do the epiphytes need soil to grow in?
12. Can the epiphytes grow indoors?
13. Do they need sunlight to grow?
14. How do they grow without soil?
To answer all these questions and to turn this science fair project into a really good science fair project you need to give your self enough time. Remember to do a really good science fair project you cannot start at the last minute. Leave your plants in different locations for a few weeks at a time and make meticulous notes of what happens. Place them in strong sunlight, then in relative dark etc. Remember to keep your moss moist at all times to make very sure that the changes that happen are due to the varying light and not water.
This is a very good science fair project to show how epiphytes grow in the rain forests. The next science fair project that we are going to do will be a good science fair project to demonstrate how plants search for light, be on the lookout for it.
Magriet is a work at home "Gran" with websites on a number of family related subjects such as science fairs, kids crafts and homeschooling. Her webs are: http://www.learnerscience.com and http://www.homeschooling.topknacks.com and http://www.kidscrafts.topknacks.com Get all the excellent information on these subjects in an instant.
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