6.06 Lab Report: Virtual Garden
Directions: Open the Virtual Garden Lab link found in the Activity tab of the 6.06 lesson. Move through the
virtual lab as you carefully read all of the instructions below. Fill out the BLUE portions of the lab.
Objectives:
 After doing this lab, you should be able to:
o Identify patterns in plant growth under varying conditions: such as sunlight, gravity, water, and
soil pH.
o Predict outcomes of plant growth under multiple parameters.
Materials:
 Virtual Garden Simulation from lesson
 Lab Report Form (found on my website: 06.06 Virtual Lab Instructions and Lab Report)
Hypotheses:
 Write the first part of your hypothesis after Step 2 of Part 3 from the Procedure.
Predict what water level will grow the healthiest garden: ____________________

Write the second part of your hypothesis after Step 4 of Part 3 from the Procedure:
Predict what soil pH will grow the healthiest garden: _______________________
Procedure:
 This is your chance to plant your own virtual garden. Don’t worry about making mistakes. You’ll have
many chances to start over and try new conditions for optimum plant growth!

Part 1: Place Your Seeds
1. Let’s plant your garden!
2. Design your garden by picking the rows you would like for each flower. Pay careful attention to
the flower descriptions that appear when you roll over your choices. Each flower species prefers
different conditions. Sunlight and soil acidity are important to plant placement and optimal
growth.
3. Select each plant type and place it in the row of your choice (only one flower type can occupy
each row).
4. Name of each of the flowers and their assigned row. You will use these names in data charts A
and B.
Row 1 plant name:
Row 2 plant name:
Row 3 plant name:

Part 2: Germination
1. Set the water level for germination. Make sure you pick a level that will benefit all plant
seeds and bulbs. Too much water can stifle seeds but too little water will prevent germination
completely.
2. Select the water button and observe the steps of seed germination.
3. Record your observations for each plant in t DATA CHART A for each of the nine (9) days
of germination.
a. The observations should be simple explanations of what you see happening as
the seeds germinate.
b. The Virtual Garden Observation Data Chart A is found in the Data and Observations
section of the lab report.
4. Identify each plant type as either monocot or dicot in DATA CHART A (found in the Data
and Observations section of the lab report).
DATA CHART A: Virtual Garden Observation – Studying Plant Germination
Row
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Monoco
t or
Dicot?
Row 1:
Plant
Name
Row 2:
Plant
Name
Row 3:
Plant
Name

Part 3: Plant Growth
1. Let’s watch your virtual plants grow! During Part 3, you will experiment with three (3) variables
– water, pH, and gravity – to see how they affect plant growth.
2. Before you begin the watering experiment section, predict what water level will grow the
healthiest garden (put this into your hypothesis at the beginning of the lab).
3. Watering:
a. Select the water button. Set a water level that will benefit all plants.
b. Select the grow button and watch your plants develop during the six-week period.
c. Record your observations in DATA CHART B below.
o Note in your observations the plants that look healthy and those that
do not. You may move the slide ruler left or right on the time scale to
watch growth again.
d. Select the measure button at the top of the screen at the end of the six-week
growth period. Record the height of each of your plants in DATA CHART B
below.
e. Select the back button. This will return you to the other variables. If you wish,
you may repeat the watering section again to find a water level for optimum
plant growth.
DATA CHART B: Virtual Garden Observation – Effects of Water Levels on Plant Growth
Row
9 Days
2 Weeks
4 Weeks
6 Weeks
Plant Height
Row 1:
Plant Name
Row 2:
Plant Name
Row 3:
Plant Name
4. Before you begin the soil pH experiment: Predict if a high or low soil pH will grow the healthiest
garden (put this into your hypothesis at the beginning of the lab).
5. Soil pH:
a. Select the pH button.
b. Set a pH level high or low based on plant descriptions.
c. Select the grow button and watch your plants develop during the six-week period.
a. Record your observations in DATA CHART C found below.
 Note in your observations the plants that look healthy and those that do not.
You may move the slide ruler left or right on the time scale to watch growth
again.
d. Select the measure button at the end of the six-week growth period. Record the height of
each of your plants in DATA CHART C found below.
e. Select the back button. This will return you to the other variables. If you wish, you may
repeat the pH section again to find a pH level for optimum plant growth. If you picked
high pH for the first trial, pick low pH for the second trial to compare growth patterns.
DATA CHART C: Virtual Garden Observation – Effects of Soil pH on Plant Growth
Row
9 Days
2 Weeks
4 Weeks
6 Weeks
Plant Height
Row 1:
Plant Name
Row 2:
Plant Name
Row 3:
Plant Name
6. Gravity:
a. Select the gravity button. Turn gravity off.
b. Select the grow button and watch your plants develop during the six-week period.
c. Record your observations in DATA CHART D found below.
1. Note in your observations the plants that look healthy and those that
do not. You may move the slide ruler left or right on the time scale to
watch growth again.
d. Select the measure button at the end of the six-week growth period. Record the
height of each of your plants in DATA CHART D found below.
e. Select the back button. This will return you to the other variables. If you wish, you
may repeat the gravity section again this time with the gravity on for comparison.
DATA CHART D: Virtual Garden Observation – Effects of Gravity on Plant Growth
Row
9 Days
2 Weeks
4 Weeks
6 Weeks
Plant Height
Row 1:
Plant Name
Row 2:
Plant Name
Row 3:
Plant Name
Analysis Questions:
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Which row was the best placement for the pansies, hydrangeas, and sunflowers? Explain your
answer.
2. Describe the process of germination and plant growth you observed in the lab activity for a
monocot plant. Hint: Use DATA CHART A to help with your description.
3. Describe the process of germination and plant growth you observed in the lab activity for a dicot
plant. Hint: Use DATA CHART A to help with your description.
4. Which of your plants was a dicot? Which was a monocot? How could you tell? Hint: Refer to the
lesson for differences in monocots and dicots.
5. What was the correct water level for germination? Why did this water level work best for all the
plants in the garden?
6. What water level did you select for plant growth during your first attempt in Part 3 of the
procedure? Describe the observations of your plants at this water level. Based on your data, was
the level you picked the best choice for optimum growth?
7. What pH level did you select for plant growth in Part 3 of the procedure? Describe the
observations of your plants at this pH level. Based on your data, was the level you picked the best
choice for optimum growth?
8. Describe your observations of plant growth in zero gravity in Part 3 of the procedure. Can you
provide possible reasons for the growth patterns? Hint: Refer to tropisms in the lesson for ideas.
Conclusion Questions:
Answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. In a real garden, which hormones would stimulate seed germination and plant growth? Hint:
Refer to the hormones covered in the lesson.
2. Based on your experiences with the Virtual Garden, how would you set up a real backyard
garden? Describe what you learned about plant behavior in this lab that will help you cultivate a
healthy garden.