Expert: C.L. Fornari - 2/20/2008

Question
I have a problem. i am doing a science project on petunia's. But the problem is that one of them died! it is planted in a little pot. I don't know what to do. My project is due may. Please help me!

Answer
Shazia,
Are there other petunias that are still alive?  If so, and you have enough to still do the project, just write it up that one died and that's why your numbers are not the same as when you started.  In science things are always going wrong, and that's part of what you discover with a science experiment.

If this plant is crucial to the project you could try to find another one where you bought the original plants if you didn't start them from seed.  Your other option is to restart the project right away with all new plants (so that they'll all be treated the same way for the same amount of time) but with a shorter timetable for the whole experiment.  If you start over, be sure to have several of the new plants so that if one or two die it doesn't throw your entire experiment out of whack.

If it's impossible to start over, just continue with what you've got and include the information about the dead plant in your report.  If you've learned that when doing an experiment with living things you need to start with many more in case one or two die, then state that in your project report.  Science experiments are all about learning what works and what doesn't work, not just about success!   
all the best,
C.L. Fornari