{"activityType":[{"id":38377,"name":"Practical skills"}],"activityCategory":"Activity","completionTime":"30","cost":"\u00A3","energy":"Focusing","equipmentList":[{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Empty plastic bottles","type":"specific"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Scissors","type":"specific"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Cotton wool","type":"specific"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Plant food ","type":"specific"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Water","type":"specific"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Small plant seeds, such as lettuce, herbs or other fast-growing plants","type":"specific"}],"adjustments":"","firstProvidedBy":"","flexibilityStatement":"\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMake sure that all the tasks are safe and achievable for everyone. Consider if any parts can be pre-done (such as cutting the bottles) and have adapted, easy-to-use tools and left-handed equipment available if needed. You could offer examples or templates to support people with the make or give a demonstration of what to do.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAnyone who struggles with measuring can work with a friend, a young leader or volunteer, or in a group. You can clearly mark the required lengths on a tape measure or ruler, such as with coloured tape, to make it easier.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThis activity can be done standing or sitting, with those sitting either on the floor or on chairs.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAccessible tools for gardening are available, such as left-handed tools or funnels for pouring soil or seeds. People could work with a friend, an adult or with a group. For example, if they may need someone to hold the plant pot while they pour soil in.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESome people might not like how it feels to touch some materials or the different textures, such as soil, or they may not like getting messy. 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What would happen if we tried to grow plants in space without hydroponics? How do astronauts take care of plants if they don\u0027t have soil?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGrowing plants in space helps us to see if it would be sustainable to grow food in space, such as for astronauts. What do you think are the other challenges of growing plants in space?\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou also made a soil-free bottle planter. What was challenging? Do you think your seeds will grow? 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There\u2019s also more guidance to help you carry out your\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Risk assessments\u0022 class=\u0022Hyperlink SCXW151380515 BCX8\u0022\u003Erisk assessment\u003C/a\u003E, including examples.\u00A0\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMake sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMake sure you\u2019ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoBodyText\u0022\u003EPlanning and setting up this activity\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003C!-- [if !supportLists]--\u003EAsk everyone in plenty of time to bring their own suitable bottle.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003C!--[endif]--\u003EMake sure to protect any surfaces, such as with tablecloths or newspapers. You may also want to run this activity outside.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Ch3 class=\u0022MsoBodyText\u0022\u003ERunning this activity\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Col\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGather everyone together and explain what hydroponics is. Hydroponics involves growing plants in a porous material (other than soil) and allowing water containing nutrients to filter through it (Source: BBC Bitesize, 2025).\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ETell everyone that watering plants in zero-gravity is difficult for lots of different reasons. Researchers have also discovered that plant roots grow differently in space, due to the lack of gravity, making watering more difficult. Astronauts can\u0027t use a watering can like here on Earth, as the water would just float away. Instead, astronauts use a syringe to inject water directly into \u2018plant pillows\u2019 (special bags that contain seed and fertiliser) which are put into the Vegetable Production System (known as Veggie). Since 2014, astronauts on board the International Space Station (ISS) have had a special \u2018Veggie\u2019 garden and have managed to grow everything from lettuce to radishes to flowers, with varying degrees of success (Source: BBC Bitesize, 2025).\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENow, it\u2019s time to make the soil-free bottle planter.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFirst, remove the lid and carefully (with adult supervision) cut the bottle in half around the middle. Be careful of hands and fingers when cutting.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENext, place the top half of the bottle (the lid-end) into the bottom half of the bottle, with the lid end pointing down.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAdd a layer of cotton wool onto the base of the top part of the bottle. This acts as a base for the plant roots to grow into and helps absorb water. Make sure the cotton wool\u2019s thick enough to support the seeds and water but will still allow the roots to grow.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGently press several seeds into small holes made in the cotton wool.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ERemove the top half of the bottle.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EMark a line on the bottom bottle around 3-5cm from the base.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EFill the bottle with water up to this line.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ENext, mix the plant food following manufacturer\u2019s guidelines and add to the bottom part of the bottle.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPlace the top half of the bottle back onto the base and wash your hands thoroughly after handling plant food.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EPlace the bottle in an area with lots of natural light. 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