Growing Plants with

Aspirin
CONWAY 6.23 PS

Question

Do plants grow faster with aspirin

mixed in the water, or just plain
water?

Abstract
Do plants grow faster with aspirin mixed in the water, or just
plain water? I wanted to do this experiment because I have a
garden and sometimes I wish that my plants grew faster. I
believe that if I water my plants with water that is mixed
with aspirin, then my plants will grow faster than plants
watered with normal water, because plants need potassium
and certain nutrients that are provided in aspirin. I dissolved
aspirin tablets into water and watered a group of 10 plants
with that water. Next, I got a cup of normal water, and
watered my other group of 10 plants. I watered them when
they needed it, and measured them about every week. The
aspirin did greatly help my plant growth. My normal plants
never germinated, but the ones with aspirin grew.

Hypothesis
If I water my plants with water that is
mixed with aspirin, then my plants will
grow faster than plants watered with
normal water, because plants need
potassium and certain nutrients that are
provided in aspirin.

Procedures

1. Label 10 cups Aspirin Water and 10 cups Plain Water

2. Put soil in each cup and place seeds in the soil.

3. Take all cups to a place where there is sunlight.

4. Dissolve 2 tablets of aspirin into a cup full of hot water.

5. Stir aspirin water.

6. Allow the aspirin water to cool to room temperature.

7. Once cooled, water the plants labeled Aspirin Water. Dont use too much
water.

8. Fill a cup with plain water.

9. Water the plants labeled Plain Water with the plain water. Dont use too much
water.

10. Water the seeds every day or if the soil feels dry. Do not over water the plants.

11. Observe growth of each plant every day, using a ruler. Then record data.

Materials
2

Packs of Aspirin

Cups

(21)

Soil

with Fertilizer

Hot

Water

Room

Temperature Water

Seeds
Sunlight
Ruler

Experiment

Results and Data

The plants in the aspirin group
germinated a lot faster. In fact, the
plants watered with tap water didnt
grow at all in 6 weeks.

Graph
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Week 0

Aspirin Water
Plain Water

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Week 5

Week 6

Plain vs Aspirin Growth Rate

4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0

Week 0

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Plain Water

Week 4

Aspirin Water

Week 5

Week 6

Conclusion
The aspirin did greatly help my plant growth.
Marigolds are supposed to take 4-8 weeks to
grow. The plants watered with Aspirin water
germinated in 4 weeks. Although neither of
the plant groups fully bloomed, the aspirin
plant group did indeed speed up the plant
growth. My experiment was successful.

Works Cited

"Aspirin."Concepts in Biochemistry. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.

<http://www.wiley.com/legacy/college/boyer/0471661791/cutting_edge/aspirin/aspirin.htm>.

"Review: Could Aspirin Cause High Potassium (Hyperkalemia)?"EHealth. Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
<http://www.ehealthme.com/ds/aspirin/high potassium>.

Trueman, Shanon. "Plant Stresses: Abiotic And Biotic Stresses." Web. 30 Sept. 2015.
<http://botany.about.com/od/PlantsAndTheEnvironment/a/Plant-Stresses-Abiotic-And-Biotic-Stresses.htm>.

Nordqvist, Christian. "What Is Aspirin? What Is Aspirin For?"Medical News Today. MediLexicon International.
Web. 30 Sept. 2015. <http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/161255.php>.

"Rules for All Projects." Student Science. N.p., n.d.Web. 25 Aug. 2015.

<https://student.societyforscience.org/rules-all-projects>