How to Grow Seeds Faster for a Bottle Garden Science Project

Germinating seeds is just one way to increase the growing speed of plants.

When growing plants in a bottle for a science project, adding in an additional step at the beginning or using fertile soil will help the plants grow faster. In order to select which method to use, you need to read the rules of the project. For example, if the project requires the student to discover the best type of soil in which peas grow, you may not be able to use compost. If the project requires you to produce jalapeno peppers at varying stages, then germinating the seeds and using a compost mixture can help you receive faster results.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Resealable plastic bags
• Bowl
• Soil
• Compost
• Spoon

Instructions

Germinating

1. Fold a paper towel in half. Fold it in half again.

2. Wet the paper towel with lukewarm water. Add enough tap water to dampen the paper towel. Ensure it is not so wet as to be dripping.

3. Place the paper towel inside of a resealable plastic bag. Lay the bag on a flat surface to prevent the paper towel from moving or bunching.

4. Place seven to 10 seeds on the paper towel. Close the bag.

5. Slide one hand underneath the bag. Move it to a flat area such as a windowsill that receives at least eight hours of sunlight. Wait for the seeds to sprout. The amount of time it takes the seeds to sprout depends on the type of seeds. Look for sprouts to appear within two weeks.

6. Plant the seeds in the bottles. Make sure the green part of the sprout pokes out of the dirt.

Soil

1. Pour three-fourths of the amount of soil you need into a bowl. For example, if you need 1 cup of soil, pour 3/4 cup of soil into the bowl. Read the back of the seed package to determine what type of soil to use with the seeds.

2. Add in the amount of compost needed to total the measurement of soil in the bowl. For example, if you need 1 cup of soil, add 1/4 cup of compost to it. Read the seed packet to determine what type of compost works most effectively with the type of plant you are growing.

3. Mix the two together.

4. Pour the soil/compost mixture into the bottle.

5. Plant the seeds in the bottle. Wet the soil with water. Place the bottle in the sun.

References

• Boys' Life: Growing Plants Without Dirt
• Bachmann's: Science Projects with Seeds and Plants