Effects of different types of potting soil on the flower Viola Renae Heinle Undergraduate Biology Tennessee Tech University

Project Summary What is the best type of potting soil to grow the flower Viola? Use 4 different types of potting soil and see what type of potting soil will provide the best growing conditions. I expected that the potting soil with the better nutrients and fertilizers will be a better soil for the growing plant.

Literature Review “Soil characteristics are the key to sustaining Agricultural production” (Morgan 2003).

Objective/Hypothesis Statement The plant with the soil type that will give it the most nutrients and best fertilizer will grow faster than the plant with the least amount of nutrients and fertilizer.

The difference in Potting Soils Soil #1- Miracle-Gro enriched potting mix-$7.00 a bag Fertilizer mixture was .18-.06-.12 and included peat moss, bark fines, a wetting agent, and miracle-gro plant food. Soil #2-Continuous Feeding potting mix-$4.00 a bag Fertilizer mixture was .16-.10-.10 and included peat moss, feeding agent that lasted up to 9 months, and a wetting agent. Soil #3-Premuim Butterfield Farms potting soil-$1.00 a bag Never stated Fertilizer mixture, but included peat moss, sand and bark fines, organic compost (soil conditioner), limestone (source of calcium and magnesium), volcanic rock (provides good air circulation), and a wetting agent. Soil #4-Greenworld Professional Flowering Plant potting soil-$2.00 a bag Fertilizer mixture was .09-.06-.05 and included peat moss, bark fines, clay, and a wetting agent.

Methods and Material Materials needed: Ruler, 4 different types of potting soil, 4 pots. Methods: measure each plant once a week to determine the growth. Data Form Table

Figure 1 Shows the growth patterns of the four flowers each week

Expected Results and Benefits I expect the flower will grow the best in the soil with better nutrients and fertilizers and in doing this experiment I will know which potting soil is the best and I will be able to make the right choice when buying the potting soil knowing that I have done the research.

Timelines Planted the seeds in September September thru November monitored and measured the growth patterns of the flower November took final measurements and filled out the official data form, made tables, and presented the results.

Conclusion In the four types of potting soil used in the experiment the final results proved that the flower in the potting soil with the better nutrients grew faster than the flowers in the less fertilized and that had the less nutrients. Additional information found was that the most expensive potting soil isn’t necessarily the best potting soil.