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 is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Sunday - November 17, 2013
From: Everett, MA
Region: Northeast
Topic: Watering
Title: Plants for science fair project using greywater
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
What kind of plants should we use for our science fair project.We are doing our project on how greywater affects plant growth. We saw your answer on how it affects it but we don't know what type of plants to use. Also where could we get grey water.ANSWER:
Since you will be doing an experiment you will need to control as many of the variables as possible between treated plants. I assume you will be treating some of your plants with greywater and some with fresh water. That means that you would need plants of a similar size and species growing in (as closely as you can achieve it) identical environments—e.g., sun, shade, wind exposure, soils, container size). At this time of year you will probably be growing your plants indoors with growlights and controlled temperatures. Just be sure that all plants are growing under the same conditions so that the only thing that is varying is the type of water you use on them. I don't know how long you have to complete your experiment but my guess is that you don't have time to grow them from seed. My suggestion is to go to a local nursery that specializes in native plants (our focus and expertise are with plants native to North America) and see what they have available. Choose similar-sized plants in similar sized-containers. You probably want several plants of at least one species so that you can compare greywater with fresh water treatment using several plants for each treatment. You may want to use more than one species depending on your experimental plan. I don't know what native plants might be available in Massachusetts at this time of year, but you can visit our National Suppliers Directory to find nurseries near you that carry native plants.
You are going to have to do research in your area to find a source of greywater. Most established homes have been designed to empty their greywater sources (e.g., showers, clotheswashers, dishwashers) into the sewer line or into septic tanks. Some houses with septic tanks, however, often drain their washers (both clothes and dish) into separate drain fields, but I have no good way to locate them in your area.
Be sure to read the answers and the links on the page of this previous Mr. Smarty Plants question about greywater and the links on this previous question as well.
More Watering Questions
Why are the leaves on my Laurel hedge turning brown in Everett, WA?
February 22, 2010 - Our laurel hedge seems to have brown leaves on the top of the bush. We haven't had a freezing winter so we are trying to figure out why some of the leaves are brown.
view the full question and answer
Harvesting washer rinse cycle water from Austin
April 24, 2012 - Mr. Smarty Plants,
My question is different. I am "harvesting" 8-9 gallons from the rinse cycle in my top loading washer. I was told not to use this water on vegetables, just shrubs and flowers...
view the full question and answer
Transplant shock in Chestnut Oak in Waukesha WI
September 13, 2009 - Bought and had nursery install a 4" diameter, 16' tall chestnut oak. Watered it as instructed-every 2nd or third day-hose stream size of my pinky for 45-60 minutes. It was planted in July. Just l...
view the full question and answer
Watering a Montezuma Cypress in Spring Branch, TX
July 11, 2013 - Live near San Antonio, and have a Montesuma Cypress, 15 ft tall. Great soil. Planted in April, should I keep it moist??? The foliage is getting brown.
view the full question and answer
Recently planted live oak tree in Boerne, TX
February 07, 2009 - My brother planted a live oak in August. It was from a nursery and had a root ball. It looks dead but I keep watering it. The trunk is about 6 inches around. The leaves died but when the winds came th...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |