Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Tuesday - September 13, 2005
From: Cape cORAL, FL
Region: Southeast
Topic: General Botany
Title: Smarty Plants on Science Fair projects
Answered by: Joe Marcus
QUESTION:
I would like to know what kind of plants can grow in two weeks? Please answer quickly so I can do my Science Fair project.ANSWER:
Garden vegetables, like beans and corn, are most often used for this kind of project due to their ready availability, rapid germination and growth. Lawn grass is also commonly used for similar reasons. The type of plant you choose to grow will largely depend on the experiment you wish to perform, but other factors can be involved as well.In two weeks time your newly planted seeds will have germinated, developed their first roots and anchored themselves to the soil, expanded their cotyledons (seed leaves) and developed their first true leaves. They will be breathing, taking up nutrients from the soil and photosynthesizing during this time. Unless your science fair project is a germination study, you won't have time to collect much data from your seedlings.
More General Botany Questions
Failure of flameleaf sumacs to produce fruit
January 09, 2013 - Our two flame leaf sumacs produce none to little fruit. Both are about 4 years old, quite large, healthy looking; flowering this year was very good, but no fruit. What keeps them from producing fruit?
view the full question and answer
Plant-related skin rashes from Round Rock TX
September 23, 2013 - I have been plagued with persistent skin rashes this summer, and it is happening with plants that have never bothered me before, for example, red yucca. The dermatologist says it is a plant reaction,...
view the full question and answer
Herbarium locations for Bifora americana
May 12, 2007 - Dr Hampton:
I am trying to find specific locations of populations of Bifora americana (prairie bishop). Apparently, many collections of this species have been made in the Dallas-Ft Worth area as we...
view the full question and answer
White and red Turk's cap and possible crossing
September 18, 2013 - I have had some white Turk's cap for several years. This year, some red Turk's cap has appeared among it. I have the red in another location. Will the red become dominant if I leave it among the whi...
view the full question and answer
Texas native plants that absorb air-borne pollutants
December 15, 2008 - hello mr. and mrs. smarty, I'm looking for native Texas plants that absorb pollutants and trap air-borne particulates. I found a list (below), but don't think they're native. Could you give me ad...
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |