Transcript Do ferns grow better with Tap Water, Apple Juice, or Dr. Pepper?

Do ferns grow better
with Tap Water, White
Grape juice, or Dr.
Pepper?
Hypothesis
Due to the background information we
think that the Welch’s White Grape Juice
will allow the fern to grow the best, this is
because it has a good balance of sugar and
will provide the fern with the right
amount of nutrients.
Variables
• Independent Variable: the type of
liquid used to water the fern.
• Dependent Variable: the fern.
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Three 6-inch ferns (Asplenium platyneruron)
Three drip containers
One 2-liter bottle of Dr. Pepper
One gallon of Welch’s White Grape Juice
One gallon of tap water.
The ferns.
Steps
1. Set the plants in a window where there is
direct sunlight all day.
2. Before using the liquid on the fern make sure
you put a paper towel/napkin under the
drip container to avoid any spills.
3. Water the control fern with 1 cup of tap
water and the experimental ferns with 1 cup
of Apple Juice and the other with 1 cup Dr.
Pepper.
continued…..
4. Measure the fern every third Saturday.
5. Take a record observations of the height,
width, and color changes.
Ferns (Asplenium Platyneuron)
• Vascular plant that has true leaves and lacks
flowers and seeds.
• Needs 63-70% of shade in the summer.
• Grows best at or between 73-86o F
• Night is a critical time for this plant because it
controls fungus.
• pH of water should be between 5.0 and 6.2
• Common pest: aphids, mealy bugs, and thips.
More Background Information…
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Likes:
Protection from
high winds
Enough space to
grow to mature
size
Undisturbed root
environment
Filtered sun/shade
Dislikes:
• Strong Sunlight
• High Winds
• Dryness at Rootzone
Water Chart
Date:
Height:
Observations:
2/20/10
6 inches
The fern is alive and
very green. Its getting a
lot of sun.
3/13/10
7.5 inches
Still very green, but
getting a few brown
leaves.
4/3/10
8 inches
There is a little more
brown leaves, but still
green and growing.
4/24/10
9 inches
Very big and very
green.
5/15/10
10.5 inches
Green leaves, started
to grown out and
around drip container.
Week 3
Week 6
Week 9
• Water Graph
12
10
8
6
Tap Water
4
2
0
1st
week
3rd
week
6th
week
9th
week
12th
week
Welch’s White Grape Juice Chart
Date:
Height
Observations
2/20/10
6 inches
Alive and healthy, the fern is a
bright green from tip to the end.
3/13/10
4 ½ inches
Half of the leaf of the fern is
brown, also it is falling off without
any help. There is more of the
apple juice foam all around the
container.
4/3/10
3 ½ inches
¾ of the leaves on the fern are
brown and brittle. More fall off
everyday. Apple juice is starting to
smell. It is attracting an ant or two.
4/24/10
2 ¼ inches
A mass amount of ants have
surrounded the fern, had to move
outside. Only a centimeter of the
fern is halfway alive.
5/15/10
1 ½ inches
Completely dead. The leaves break
off with very little force.
7
6
5
4
East
3
2
1
0
1st week
3rd
week
6th
week
9th
week
12th
week
Dr. Pepper Chart
Date:
Height:
Observations:
2/20/10
6 inches
Green and alive.
3/13/10
4.5 inches
Starting to shrink and get
brown. Soil is not absorbing
the soda.
4/3/10
3 inches
Leaves are starting to get
brown and brittle. Soil is
foamy and still doesn’t absorb
the soda.
4/24/10
2 inches
All over is brown, leaves break
to the touch.
5/15/10
1.5 inches
The fern is completely dead.
Shrank 4.5 inches.
Week 3
Week 9
Week 6
7
6
5
4
East
3
2
1
0
1st week
3rd
week
6th
week
9th
week
12th
week
At the end of our experiment the fern that grew the best
was the fern watered with just tap water. The two other
ferns died completely.
So we found neither Dr. Pepper nor Welch’s White
Grape juice could be a substitute if we were to have a
drought or water shortage.
Made By: Katelyn Shook, Jesseca
Kolcun, and Kelley Cansler