BL Workshop
Growing Plants Without Dirt
Colonists arriving on Mars will find a nice surprise on their dinner plate: a fresh salad of lettuce, tomatoes and carrots. How is this possible? Mars has no fertile soil for growing veggies. For the answer, please step this way, into the dome of hydroponic life …
Living on Mars is still science fiction, but growing plants without soil is science fact. The technique is called hydroponics. It’s simply growing plants in water, something you can do today.
Researchers say hydroponics will someday be used not only for feeding space dwellers but also us earthlings.
Raising plants without soil allows farmers to grow more food in less space. That’s especially important in poorer countries, where many people go hungry.
The term hydroponics was coined in 1936 by a scientist in California who planted a tomato in a tub of water. The plant grew more than 25 feet tall!
Once word got around, people were growing plants in baskets, on patios and on rooftops using only water and a little plant food.
Disney Does Science
People who have eaten at EPCOT Center in Walt Disney World have experienced hydroponics. Researchers there produce fresh tomatoes, lettuce and cucumbers from hydroponic gardens.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is using hydroponics to provide fresh food for astronauts. On the frozen continent of Antarctica, scientists are testing hydroponic techniques that may be used on missions to Mars.
Many commercial growers around the world are turning to hydroponics as an alternative to traditional farming. More food can be produced, and weed problems are eliminated.
Strawberries are a popular hydroponics crop in Australia. Tomatoes, lettuce and a variety of herbs lead the way in Ontario, Canada. In the United States, cucumbers and tomatoes are grown in water.
A Year-Round Garden
Hydroponics is not only useful. It can be fun. Clear a place on your window sill, and you too can grow vegetables, flowers and fruits–and dream about feeding fresh veggies to colonists on Mars.
START A HYDROPONIC GARDEN
Plants don’t need soil as long as they have five things: food, water, light, air and support. You can provide all five in a hydroponic garden.
What You Need:
- A small, single-stemmed houseplant. Most common houseplants will work well. Or try a vegetable plant.
- A clear glass jar or bottle.
- A cork stopper with a large hole in the middle.
- Cotton waddling.
- Plant food.
What You Do:
This will get messy, so go outside or spread newspapers over your work area. Carefully remove the small houseplant from its pot. Place one hand over the soil surface, with the stem between two fingers, and turn the pot upside-down. Tap the bottom of the pot while gently easing the plant out.
Gently brush all the soil from the roots.
Carefully thread the plant stem through the cork stopper and place the roots into the glass container filled with lukewarm tap water.
Use the cotton wadding to fill any gaps between the plant stem and cork stopper. Be careful not to squeeze the stem.
Move your plant to a sunny location and watch it grow!
After about a week, pour out the water and refill.
Your plant will be hungry by now, so add a general-purpose plant food according to label directions. Look for a food labeled “water soluble.” You can find it at garden centers, hardware stores or grocery stores.
Change the water and the plant food solution about once a month.
Read 20 comments about “Growing Plants Without Dirt”
If you enjoy disapproving looks from those around you, then this trick is for you!
October 23rd, 2008 at 8:01 am
well how do u grow a plant without soil starting from a seed?
September 25th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
what pg was this is the magazine???
September 20th, 2008 at 6:02 pm
i might just use this as a science project
August 29th, 2008 at 2:55 pm
cant u grow hydroponices from a seed
August 24th, 2008 at 6:59 am
that is so totally awesome
August 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 pm
During WWII, American bases in the Pacific were supplied with fresh vegtables from hydroponic gardens.
Take a look at some of the tomatoes in the supermarket and you will find some hydroponic tomatoes.
August 12th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
Sweet!!
August 4th, 2008 at 12:02 pm
This actually works
August 1st, 2008 at 11:40 am
cool. im gunna try it
July 31st, 2008 at 9:15 pm
i did that it died in a day