Member: NG Lui , Angela (Leader)NG Tsz Chiu , 呀超YU Yan Wa , IreneYUEN Pui San , 波子

Teacher: Miss CHAN WaiMentor: Mr. William LAUSupervisor: Dr. Paul SHIN

Pok Oi Hospital Tang Pui King Memorial College

Improvement

the watering technique

on indoor plants

ContentsIntroductionPurposePrinciples of GadgetsExperimental ProceduresResultsData AnalysisDiscussionConclusionReferences

Introduction

To be more comfortable indoors, many people put some potted plants in their working places. However, most peoples always forget to water them. They, eventually, wither.

→ → →

PurposeThe aim of this project is to design three gadgets that

help us not to water plants frequently.

In this project, the objects are:Species A = Euphorbia milii (flowering plant)Species B = Peperomia puteolata (non-flowering plant)

Species BSpecies A

Principles of the gadgets

Design A: by capillary work Using some cotton threads to transport water to the

plant.

Design B: by automatically mechanical action Using a timer (15min/day) to control the water pump

that automatically irrigates the plants.

Design C: by capillary work Using gravel sized plastic particles as a medium. Filling with water, in which the roots of plants is

submerged.

Control Watering the plants manually

Experimental procedures1. Each pot of the plants brought from the flower shops was

removed and replaced by a new pot with the same type of soil and fertilizer.

2. Then the plants were placed in an office-like area and allowed to adapt to the new environment for a week.

3. After a week, the number of leaves of each plant was counted and the height of each plants was measured twice a week for a month.

4. All data taken within a month were recorded, and the graphs shown below were plotted.

Day 1 4 8 11 15 18 22 25

Design A A1 25 26 28 31 35 33 36 35

A2 33 33 31 28 32 32 34 35Replications(no.)A3 56 58 55 50 46 40 59 58

A4 53 56 57 55 55 55 60 56A5 45 43 42 39 38 36 40 36

Average number 42.4 43.2 42.6 40.6 41.2 39.2 45.8 44no. of leaves increasing 0 0.8 0.2 -1.8 -1.2 -3.2 3.4 1.6

Design B B1 73 72 75 74 56 49 52 49B2 40 43 41 39 43 46 48 46

Replications(no.)B3 60 62 58 60 53 45 46 44B4 64 67 65 62 62 64 67 64B5 66 68 69 68 64 51 47 42

Average number 60.6 62.4 61.6 60.6 55.6 51 52 49no. of leaves increasing 0 1.8 1 0 -5 -9.6 -8.6 -11.6

Design C C1 52 53 50 48 52 60 59 56C2 44 45 44 41 40 43 48 46

Replications(no.)C3 46 45 40 38 47 63 44 42C4 64 67 63 60 66 77 53 47C5 76 80 81 82 79 82 79 74

Average number 56.4 58 55.6 53.8 56.8 65 56.6 53no. of leaves increasing 0 1.6 -0.8 -2.6 0.4 8.6 0.2 -3.4

Control D1 19 19 19 19 11 5 7 0D2 18 19 17 16 16 18 18 15

Replications(no.)D3 14 15 15 13 15 14 14 17D4 16 16 13 14 12 16 16 16D5 20 19 18 16 17 19 18 18

Average number 17.7 17.6 16.4 15.6 14.2 14.4 14.6 13.2no. of leaves increasing 0 -0.1 -1.3 -2.1 -3.5 -3.3 -3.1 -4.5

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Growth rate in 25 days ( the numbers of leaves increasing ) - Euphorbia milii

Acculmative Number of Leaves Increasing (Euphorbia milii )

-14

-12

-10

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

0 5 10 15 20 25

Days

Acc

ulm

ativ

e nu

mbe

r of l

eave

s in

crea

sing

Design ADesign BDesing CControl

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Day 1 4 8 11 15 18 22 25

Design A A6 13 13 13 12 15 13 13 13

A7 19 20 21 19 19 18 17 15Replications(no.)A8 6 6 5 0 0 0 0 0

A9 13 13 14 13 13 13 13 13A10 10 10 9 10 10 10 14 13

Average number 12.2 12.4 12.4 10.8 11.4 10.8 11.4 10.8no. of leaves increasing 0 0.2 0.2 -1.4 -0.8 -1.4 -0.8 -1.4

Design B B6 7 9 8 9 9 9 10 9B7 11 9 5 0 0 0 0 0

Replications(no.)B8 18 21 23 19 20 21 20 21B9 18 16 16 14 14 12 7 0B10 9 7 4 0 0 0 0 0

Average number 12.6 12.4 11.2 8.4 8.6 8.4 7.4 6no. of leaves increasing 0 -0.2 -1.4 -4.2 -4 -4.2 -5.2 -6.6

Design C C6 46 47 44 42 44 45 38 38C7 58 54 54 52 55 52 52 50

Replications(no.)C8 60 60 60 61 61 58 55 52C9 47 49 50 47 45 48 48 48C10 54 50 52 51 50 47 48 47

Average number 53 52 52 50.6 51 50 48.2 47no. of leaves increasing 0 -1 -1 -2.4 -2 -3 -4.8 -6

Control D6 20 21 21 20 18 18 17 10D7 18 18 18 18 18 18 17 14

Replications(no.)D8 19 17 18 19 19 19 20 19D9 22 22 20 15 7 0 0 0D10 18 18 17 16 16 18 18 17

Average number 19.4 19.2 18.8 17.6 15.6 14.6 14.4 12no. of leaves increasing 0 -0.2 -0.6 -1.8 -3.8 -4.8 -5 -7.4

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Growth rate in 25 days ( the numbers of leaves increasing ) - Peperomia puteolata

Acculmative Number of Leaves Increasing (Peperomia puteolata )

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

2

0 5 10 15 20 25

Days

Acc

ulm

ativ

e nu

mbe

r of l

eave

s in

crea

sing

Design ADesign BDesing CControl

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Day 1 4 8 11 15 18 22 25Design A A1 11.5 12 12.1 12 13.1 14.6 14.6 15

A2 11 10.8 10.1 9.3 10.5 11.4 12.6 13.8Replications(height)A3 10.7 10.7 10.5 10.2 11.6 13.4 14.7 14.4

A4 14.3 14.5 14.4 14.2 14.7 15.1 15.8 17.3A5 11.8 11.5 11.6 11.5 10.3 9.8 8.8 10.5

Average height / cm 11.86 11.9 11.74 11.44 12.04 12.86 13.3 14.2Average height increasing / cm 0 0.04 -0.12 -0.42 0.18 1 1.44 2.34Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.01333 -0.04 -0.14 0.06 0.33333 0.48 0.78

Design B B1 10.5 10.6 10.5 10.6 10.3 10.1 12.1 11.6B2 11.6 11.8 11.4 11.1 12.6 15.5 16.3 16.2

Replications(height)B3 11 11.1 12.4 12.8 11.7 10.6 10.9 10B4 12.7 12.9 13 12.6 13.3 15.4 18.4 16.5B5 12.7 12.7 12.6 12.6 12.4 12.2 11.7 13.5

Average height / cm 11.7 11.82 11.98 11.94 12.06 12.76 13.88 13.56Average height increasing / cm 0 0.12 0.28 0.24 0.36 1.06 2.18 1.86Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.04 0.09333 0.08 0.12 0.35333 0.72667 0.62

Design C C1 8.9 8.7 8.7 8.8 8.7 9.2 9.4 8.1C2 12 12.3 12.4 12.4 12 12.5 11.1 11.8

Replications(height)C3 10.6 10.6 10.7 10.6 10.9 11.5 12.4 13.4C4 11.7 11.7 11.5 11.8 13.2 16.7 16 12.5C5 14.3 14.5 14.5 14.6 15.4 16.8 17.6 18.4

Average height / cm 11.5 11.56 11.56 11.64 12.04 13.34 13.3 12.84Average height increasing / cm 0 0.06 0.06 0.14 0.54 1.84 1.8 1.34Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.02 0.02 0.04667 0.18 0.61333 0.6 0.44667

Control D1 12.8 12.8 12.4 12.1 12.6 13.2 13.7 12.3D2 12 12 11.9 12.1 12.2 12.8 11.8 10.1

Replications(height)D3 12.1 12.1 12.3 12 12.6 12.5 11.6 10.6D4 15 15.5 15.1 15.2 15.4 14.6 14.2 13.7D5 13.2 13.1 13.1 13.2 12.1 12.2 12.7 11.2

Average height / cm 13.02 13.1 12.96 12.92 12.98 13.06 12.8 11.58Average height increasing / cm 0 0.08 -0.06 -0.1 -0.04 0.04 -0.22 -1.44Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.02667 -0.02 -0.0333 -0.0133 0.01333 -0.0733 -0.48

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Growth rate in 25 days ( height ) - Euphorbia milii

Average Growth Rate (Euphorbia milii)

-0.6

-0.4

-0.2

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

0 5 10 15 20 25

number of days

aver

age

grow

th ra

te /

cm/d

ay

Design ADesign BDesing CControl

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Day 1 4 8 11 15 18 22 25Design A A1 9.3 9.4 9.4 9.1 9.1 8.8 8.3 8

A2 8.4 8.5 5.3 2 1.7 0 1.8 2Replications(height)A3 10 10.2 6.1 0 0 0 0 0

A4 9.4 9.2 9 9 8.7 8.5 8.7 8.4A5 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.6 8.3 8.8 7.2

Average height / cm 9.18 9.22 7.72 5.78 5.62 5.12 5.52 5.12Average height increasing / cm 0 0.04 -1.46 -3.4 -3.56 -4.06 -3.66 -4.06Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.01333 -0.4867 -1.1333 -1.1867 -1.3533 -1.22 -1.3533

Design B B1 8.2 8.2 8.3 8 7.4 6.5 5.2 2B2 8.1 8 6 0 0 0 0 0

Replications(height)B3 9.2 9.5 9.6 9.6 9 8.4 3 4.3B4 8 8 7.9 7.6 5.2 0 9.1 2B5 6.3 3 3 0 0 0 0 0

Average height / cm 7.96 7.34 6.96 5.04 4.32 2.98 3.46 1.66Average height increasing / cm 0 -0.62 -1 -2.92 -3.64 -4.98 -7.96 -6.3Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 -0.2067 -0.3333 -0.9733 -1.2133 -1.66 -2.6533 -2.1

Design C C1 7.3 7.5 7.5 7.6 5.3 3.6 4 0C2 10.8 11 11.2 11 11.2 11.5 10.8 10.3

Replications(height)C3 7.7 17.5 17.8 18.5 8 7.2 8.3 7C4 11.3 11.3 11.5 11.2 11.2 10.9 10.5 10.4C5 8.8 8.8 8.8 8.8 9 9.2 7.2 7.5

Average height / cm 9.18 11.22 11.36 11.42 8.94 8.48 8.16 7.04Average height increasing / cm 0 2.04 2.18 2.24 -0.24 -0.7 -1.02 -2.14Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.68 0.72667 0.74667 -0.08 -0.2333 -0.34 -0.7133

Control D1 10.8 10.9 10.3 10.3 7.9 6.8 6.2 2D2 7.7 7.5 6.4 6.9 7 7.3 7.1 7

Replications(height)D3 10.7 10.8 10.9 10.9 10.6 10.2 10 9.7D4 9.4 9.4 5.2 0 0 0 0 0D5 9.2 9.3 6 6.9 7.8 8.8 8.8 8

Average height / cm 9.56 9.58 7.76 7 6.66 6.62 6.42 5.34Average height increasing / cm 0 0.02 -1.8 -2.56 -2.9 -2.94 -3.14 -4.22Number of daus / day 0 3 4 3 4 3 4 3Growth Rate / cm/day 0 0.00667 -0.6 -0.8533 -0.9667 -0.98 -1.0467 -1.4067

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Growth rate in 25 days ( height ) - Peperomia puteolata

Average Growth Rate(Peperomia puteolata )

-3

-2.5

-2

-1.5

-1

-0.5

0

0.5

1

0 5 10 15 20 25

number of days

aver

age

grow

th ra

te /

cm/d

ay

Design ADesign BDesing CControl

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Data analysis

The following conclusion is drawn according to the data taken.

Euphorbia milii Peperomia puteolata Euphorbia milii Peperomia puteolata

Design A ＊＊＊＊ ＊＊＊＊ ＊＊＊＊ ＊＊＊Design B ＊ ＊＊ ＊＊＊ ＊Design C ＊＊＊ ＊＊＊ ＊＊ ＊＊＊＊Control ＊＊ ＊ ＊ ＊＊

Average number of leaves increasing average growth rate

＊＊＊＊ is the best, ＊ is the worst.

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Discussion

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Errors:

The density of the soil in each pot was not consistent.

Maybe the concentration of fertilizer used is not the

best for plants to grow.

Different potted plants have different shapes so it is

difficult to measure their height accurately.

Limitations: No advanced equipments were provided for measuring the water content in soil.Only a few types of famous indoor plants were allow to chose for the project due to the hot summer climate. Time for adaptation and experiment were not enough.Therefore, no obvious and reliable differences can be observe among the different groups.The condition in the school laboratory was not the same as the real offices.

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

Improvements: The density of the soil in each pot should be the same by using same weight and same deep of the soil.Before using the fertilizer, we should test which concentration of the fertilizer is suitable for the plants. Water should be refilled to design C if the water level drops below the plastic beads.

* Design A: cotton thread / Design B: pump / Design C: medium

ConclusionBoth Design A and C can effectively help us to water plants;but Design B cannot. All of them can prevent the breeding of mosquitoes.

Design A Design CDesign B

http://hk.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/?qid=7007010401650http://hk.knowledge.yahoo.com/question/?qid=7006120302940http://www.lungshangarden.com.hk/products.htmhttp://hk.geocities.com/lo_king_chung_william/strawberry.html http://association.cc.ntu.edu.tw/~ntuflower/knowledge/nature5.htm http://hk.geocities.com/ken35082000/18.htm

Reference

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