• Question: do magnets affect plants growth?

    Asked by zaraa to Bob, Katie, Nisha, Sallie, Vee on 28 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Sallie Baxendale

      Sallie Baxendale answered on 28 Jun 2012:

      There is some evidence that presence of magnets can make some plants grow taller and stronger. It would be a fantasic experiment for you to try. Take one packet of seeds and divide them into two groups. Plant one half with magnets in the pots and the other half without. Make sure that both groups had the same amount of light and water and measure them every day. If you choose to study a fast growing plant like cress, you could have an answer within a week. Your results would only tell you about cress though and not the impact of magnets on other types of plant.

    • Photo: Vee Mitchell

      Vee Mitchell answered on 29 Jun 2012:

      I have no idea – great idea of Sallies to try it out with cress seeds. You might want to try the magnets both in the pots and next to them as well – just to prove it’s not an effect caused by the metals.

    • Photo: Bob Bonwick

      Bob Bonwick answered on 2 Jul 2012:

      I’m not entirely sure. I’ve read papers into this but I’ve not seen any hard evidence to suggest either way.

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