Apparently this is a very common school project but it has many different variations. Here's the basics:

What You'll Need
-Large clear glass jar with lid
-A small plant (like ivy or fern or aquatic plant) or seeds (like bean or pea seeds)
-Potting soil (or wet paper towels and newspaper)
-Water
-Small amount of activated charcoal (optional; to prevent mold growth)

Grow a Plant in a Jar Using Dirt
1. Fill the jar with 2 inches of potting soil, mix with the charcoal.
2. If using a plant, remove from container and loosen soil around roots.
3. Plant it (or up to three seeds) in the soil.
4. Add water.
5. Tightly screw on the lid.
6. Set the jar in a windowsill so it is exposed to sunlight.

Grow a Plant in a Jar without Dirt
1. Line the inside of a jar with a paper towel.
2. Pack with wadded newspaper.
3. Water well.
4. Slide 3-4 bean seeds between paper towel and wall of jar.
5. Screw on the lid.
6. Set the jar in a windowsill so it is exposed to sunlight.
7. Wait for it to grow.

Once you close the lid you don't have to open the jar again. The jar acts as a biosphere; the plant is able make its own food by using sunlight and recycling gases trapped in the jar.
Source(s):
With Dirt: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=7&url=h...
Aquatic Plant: http://www.eduref.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Ecology/ECL0028.html
With seeds, Without dirt: http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/269980/
Strawberry Plant: http://hubpages.com/hub/How-to-plant-and-grow-everbearing-strawberries-in-a...
Life of a Plant: http://www.crsep.org/PerplexingPairs/Lifeofaplantinajarpart1022603.pdf
Powerful Plant in a Jar Experiment: http://www.plantenergy.uwa.edu.au/education/plant%20in%20jar.pdf


Permalink | Report