science fair project ideas needed

18 years ago

My son is in 2nd grade and wants to do a science fair project with my plants. It is due in the middle of January. I just bought one VFT in a local nursery and they have several more. I can go back and get another one that will be the same size as this one. The only problem with doing a project with these is that it is winter time. The babies don't really need a dormancy yet, so it should be okay to let them skip this year, but do we need to be feeding them a lot at this time? I was thinking about a project having to do with different diets for the plants. I also have a n. alata and some sarracenia, but the sarracenia are outside going dormant right now so I don't think I can use them. You guys help me brainstorm some good project ideas, please!

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Comments (9)

singhin
18 years ago
What about sundews or butterworts?
back2eight
Original Author
18 years ago
I have two small pings in my terrarium, and I have nine more plants arriving any day now in the mail and there are some sundews and butterworts in that shipment, but they are going to be very small. Probably not established enough for trying a science fair project on them. What did you have in mind to do with them, though?
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kwoods
18 years ago
Darwin did lots of simple experiments on Dionaea. You could easily reproduce them and collect the data/make conclusions. I'm sure you could find lots more info on Darwin's Dionaea experiments.

Good Luck! Have Fun!
necro1234
18 years ago
Hi

I think sundews are a great one for such a project.
Little kids are of course curious and prone to poking things such as VFT's, a D. Capensis though is a great plant to talk about on how it senses its prey and physically moves its tentalces and leaves around the victim.
It also can take a massive amount of handeling and "abuse" and does nto need dormency.
I think the active plants that physically move would be the ones that the kids love the most, of these there is pretty much the VFT and Sundew family.

Just a thought though :)

Cheers

Sheldon
back2eight
Original Author
18 years ago
The link above for the Darwin experiences was interesting. I may consider some of those for an experiment. My flytrap is the only plant big enough at this point. I am so frustrated! This shipment of nine plants arrived and they are just barely seedlings! Two of then are actually so tiny that you can barely see them! They are just little sprouts, too little even to identify yet. I have had bad luck buying from other hobbyists. They are not showing me pictures and are not telling me how old the plants actually are. At this rate it will be a long time before I have a decent collection of plants. I am making it a point to specify OLDER, MATURE plants now when I buy. I guess I have been too trusting. Sorry, I guess I got a little off the subject there with my rantings.
necro1234
18 years ago
Hey back2eight

I've had great success with the plants from Cooks, very good prices and good sized plants.
Other than that Cobraplant is more expensive but the plants are in superb condition and are of a nice size.

Cheers

Sheldon
back2eight
Original Author
18 years ago
I have a bladderwort on its way from cobraplant, along with their ebook. I have bought from California Carnivores, too, and was pleased with the plant, although the shipping cost was high and suprised me a little. You don't know the total until your package arrives.
peril
18 years ago
maybe a giant forked sundew..add in a sensitive plant also for some good plant-movement drama ;)
the Darwin idea is super

have fun ;)

a good site for vtf info is :

Here is a link that might be useful: vtf info
obregonmichael5_gmail_com
13 years ago
hello im new here want a large VFT,Nepenthes,Sundew my carnivore collection all 3 for $21.95? go to www.mycarnivore.com they have healthy plants in there ( note that shipping is $7 in 48 U.S states no matter where you live. if you live other countries you won't be able to have them).

science fair project ideas needed

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singhin

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science fair project ideas needed

Comments (9)

singhin

back2eightOriginal Author

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back2eight
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