Rocket finds an old envelope of bean seeds in a drawer. "Why didn't these sprout in here?"
Raven taps the envelope. "What do you notice about this drawer? Is it wet or dry?"
Nova hovers over the drawer. "Seeds wait for a signal," she says. "What is missing here?"
Rocket thinks. "Maybe water? Or maybe something else too?"
A seed can rest for a long time. Resting and waiting is called dormant.
A dormant seed waits until conditions are right.
Then it germinates. Germination means the seed wakes up and starts to grow.
All seeds need three things to germinate.
They need water.
They need oxygen, which comes from the air.
They need the right temperature, not too cold and not too hot.
Light is different for different seeds.
Some seeds sprout better in light. Others need darkness to sprout.
So light is not on the list that every seed needs.
| Statement | True or false? |
|---|---|
| All seeds need water to germinate. | ? |
| All seeds need bright light to germinate. | ? |
| A dormant seed is resting and waiting. | ? |
| Seeds need the right temperature to germinate. | ? |
Too much water can be a problem too.
If soil is soaked, the seed cannot get enough oxygen.
That is why your bean window towel should be damp, not flooded.
Great thinking! Tomorrow we watch, step by step, how a seed breaks out of its coat.