Hydroponics: Growing Plants in Water

How to Grow a Sweet Potato in Water

Purpose: To use experimental research to collect information about hydroponics, the growing of a plant in water.

Question: How long does it take for a sweet potato to form roots, stems, and leaves?

1. Select a firm sweet potato. Choose one with buds if possible.
2. Insert four round toothpicks near the halfway mark on the potato. Space the toothpicks so that they will support the potato on the rim of a wide mouthed jar with the potato’s bottom at least 1-inch above the jar’s bottom. (This leaves space for the roots to grow).
3. Place the rounded end of the sweet potato inside the jar.
4. Pour distilled water into the jar so that at least half of the potato inside the jar is under water.
(Add water as needed to keep the water level about the same. )
5.  Set the jar in a sunny window.
6. Keep a record of when roots, stems and leaves begin to grow.

Challenge:
Use this experimental research about growing a sweet potato to describe, plan, and implement simple experimental investigations testing one variable. For clues to develop scientific investigations, see  Asking Well Defined Question and Testable Hypothesis

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