Science+Fair+Lit'+Review+VJ2


 * Review of Literature: **

Many people plant marigolds in their gardens. In fact, they are one of the most commonly used garden plants. Originally, marigolds came from Mexico and are found in a variety of colors – yellow, red, orange and even white. They are broken up into mainly four different groups:

 African Marigold  French Marigold  Single Marigold  Triploid (a hybrid) Marigold (Bradford C. Bearce)

All of these marigolds adjust to their environments and grow fairly fast. They have a round, fast growing flower and a stem that is tender. They do not produce any fruit. Marigolds are annual plants and are normally very healthy but can be infected by spider mites. They produce a very pungent smell. After the marigold flower blossom dies, the flower should be removed so that new growth can occur. This is called “dead-heading”.(Richard Jauron)

By adding fertilizer, many gardeners find they can improve the growth and foliage of the plant. Just like humans need nutrients to grow and stay healthy, plants do as well. Fertilizers act as an extra supply of food for plants. There are many kinds of fertilizers available. Plants make food by “taking water from the soil and carbon dioxide from the air as raw materials and change them into two products.The products are sugar and oxygen". (Richard Moyer) Cells use the plant food to grow and function. However, there is some information that suggests that "marigolds do not require fertilizers if the soil is rich in organic matter. For poor soils, you can add a slow-action, granular fertilizer (about 1 teaspoon per plant), but be careful not to add an excess of fertilizers which may result in an increased growth of foliage instead of flowers". (Browse)

One of the top selling fertilizers for plants, both outdoor and indoor, is MiracleGro. MiracleGro is made up of a combination of Nitrogen, Phosphate, Potash, Boron, Copper, Iron, Manganese, Molybdenum, Zinc and a chemical called EDTA. All of the ingredients come together to feed the plant through the leaves and roots and gives them more nourishment than they would normally get. The element of Nitrogen gives plants energy to bloom and turn color. Phosphate helps to resist stress, stay strong and to grow faster. The Potash helps the plant to resist diseases and helps it produce food. Boron helps the plant seed production. It also brings in carbohydrates and sugars for the plant. The Copper is to help plants reproduce and also help keep the cell walls strong. Iron helps the plant make more chlorophyll for the green color of the plants. Manganese helps the plant process the new nitrogen and carbohydrates it its system. Zinc makes sure that the plant is growing properly.(Aileen Clarkson)

Another commonly used man-made fertilizer is called Osmocote. This fertilizer is made up of small, “bb-sized” round pellets that are mixed in with the soil. When the pellet comes into contact with water, the pores of the pellet expand and release the elements. These elements are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium and a few other trace elements. Osmocote will release these elements at a speed that the plant can handle and will not over feed the plant.(How Osmocote Works)

A more natural way to fertilize your plants is to use cow manure. Manure contains Nitrogen, phosphorus, organic carbon, and 80-90% potassium. Normally manure is used for larger gardens and crops, but it depends on the type that you use.(Stephen Herbert, Masoud Hashemi, and Carrie Chickering-Sears)

People and plants need and do similar things. They both need nutrition, which include elements such as potassium, phosphorus, and iron. Too much or too little is unhealthy. They both get rid of wastes and reproduce. All living things must be properly cared for, and that is why picking out the best fertilizer for your plant is important.

= Works Cited =

Bearce, Bradford C. "Marigolds (Tagetes Sp.)." // Marigolds ( // . N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * This website is made by Bradford C. Bearce and is specifically made to educate people about topics, such as marigolds, called West Virginia University Extension Service. He is a professor at West Virginia Unniversity.

"Browse." //The __Flower Expert__ //. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2013.  Clarkson, Aileen. "Miracle Gro Ingredients." //GardenGuides//. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * The Flower Expert is a reliable source of information because it not only is an encyclopedia aimed to inform readers about plants, but actually is a __florist business__, too.
 * The author of this website has a degree in journalism and reporting. She has also worked for several newspapers.

Herbert, Stephen, Masoud Hashemi, and Carrie Chickering-Sears,. "Plant Nutrients from Manure." //<span class="stw_link">University of Massachusetts Amherst//. Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources, n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * This is made by the United States Department of Agriculture and the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

"How Osmocote® Works." // How Osmocote Works //. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * This source is made by a world-wide distributor of lawn care that uses different products. They use research to check their work and loyalty.

Jauron, Richard. "Marigolds | Horticulture and Home Pest News." //Marigolds | Horticulture and Home Pest News//. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2013. <[]>.
 * This article came from an article that is from a man named Richard Jauronwho has a Masters in Science, Kansas State University and a 1984Bachelor of Science, Iowa State University, 1979

Moyer, Richard. "How Cells Work." //McGraw- Hill Science //. New York: McGraw-Hill School Division, 2000. 126-37. Print.
 * McGraw-Hill Science textbooks are used by many schools. They are teacher approved and are used to teach children about science.