Be a soil scientist

Activity

Test whether adding homemade compost to soil helps your plants grow bigger and stronger.

Learning objectives

Purchase identical plants from a garden centre, DIY store or supermarket.

Discuss the reasons for doing this experiment and ask the group to predict the results.
Collect some homemade compost and sieve it if required. Next collect some soil from the garden, try to choose an area which has not had any compost added recently.
Present the group with the equipment and ask them how they would conduct a ‘fair test’.
Pot on each plant into the larger containers, one containing only soil and the other with a mixture of 75% homemade compost and 25% soil which have been mixed together. Remember to label each one with the compost mix you have used.
Water the plants using the same method and amount of water.
Place both pots in the same environment (inside or outside depending on the type of plant).
Record the growth over a few weeks by counting leaves or flowers, or measuring the height. Review the results compared with the initial predictions.

In winter try this activity with houseplants instead.
Potatoes work well in spring.
Pansies and marigolds are good value for money.
Mark lines on the plastic bottle to ensure the plants get the same amount of water.
Use this activity as part of the the Earth Matters class growing topic