Floating Hydroponics:
Student Experiments Growing Plants without Soil

Melissa Brechner
2005-2006 CSIP Fellow

In this project, students learn about the parameters necessary for plant growth through growing crops in a soilless environment. Guidelines are provided for use of floating hydroponic systems and design of student experiments.

After an initial 40-minute class period to introduce the project and set up the hydroponic systems, the project will require an average of one 20-minute data collection session every week for four or more weeks, depending on the plant variety. The remainder of each class period can be used for mini-lessons on related topics including nutrient cycling (water, carbon, nitrogen), plant growth requirements, plant responses to stimuli (water, gravity, light), and aquatic chemistry (pH, salt precipitation).

Downloadable files:

Teacher's Guide

Student Handouts