Soil Basics
What are three qualities that make soil "good" for plant growth?
Good drainage, nutrients, organic matter
What is fertilizer?
Fertilizer — material added to soil to supply nutrients.
Match: Which soil type has the largest particles and drains fastest?
Largest particles / fastest drain = Sand.
When water enters soil, does it stay on top, disappear, move downward, or become unusable?
some water moves downward through spaces between particles.
What are four things chile plants need to grow?
Water, Sunlight, Nutrients, Air
Define "pest" in one sentence as it relates to plants
A pest is an organism that can damage or compete with plants.
The three numbers on a fertilizer bag are written as N–P–K. What does each letter stand for? (Write the full nutrient names.)
N = Nitrogen, P = Phosphorus, K = Potassium. In 10–5–5, "10" = Nitrogen (important for leaf and vegetative growth).
Which soil type holds the most water and nutrients?
Holds most water/nutrients = Clay.
Why does sandy soil dry out faster than silt or clay?
Sandy soils dry fast due to large pore spaces.
Put these life-cycle stages in order: Seed, Germinating seedling, Mature plant, Flower, Fruit develops.
Seed (1), Germinating seedling (2), Mature plant (3), Flower (4), Fruit develops (5)
Explain, in one clear sentence, why plants need nutrients from soil.
Plants need nutrients to grow and perform life processes.
A fertilizer label reads 10–5–5. What nutrient does the "10" represent and why is that nutrient important for plants?
Too much fertilizer — can burn roots, stunt growth, cause excess salts; signs include yellowing, leaf burn, or reduced fruit.
What is loam and why is it often good for gardens?
Loam = balanced mix of sand, silt, clay, and organic matter good for plants.
Explain capillary action and how it affects water availability to plant roots in fine-textured soils.
Finer soils draw water upward but hold it tightly; roots access it depending on tension.
What part of the chile plant produces the fruit we eat?
Fruit produced by the flower.
A student finds very compact, hard soil with poor drainage. List two problems this soil would cause for plant roots and growth.
Compact soil problems — poor root growth, low oxygen, poor water infiltration.
Explain one risk of applying too much fertilizer to chile plants and one sign you might see in the plants.
Too much fertilizer — can burn roots, stunt growth, cause excess salts; signs include yellowing, leaf burn, or reduced fruit.
A gardener has heavy clay soil but needs better drainage. Give two practical amendments or actions they can take and explain briefly how each helps.
A gardener has heavy clay soil but needs better drainage. Give two practical amendments or actions they can take and explain briefly how each helps.
Describe how overwatering can reduce oxygen availability to roots and name one symptom a plant might show.
Overwatering reduces oxygen; symptom = yellowing, wilting, root rot.
List two possible reasons a chile plant would have yellow leaves and poor growth. Explain how each reason causes yellowing.
Yellow leaves reasons — nutrient deficiency (e.g., low N), over/underwatering, pests/disease, lack of light.
Describe how soil organic matter helps both nutrient availability and soil structure. Use 2–3 sentences.
Organic matter — improves nutrient retention and soil structure, increases water-holding and microbial activity.
Connect water movement and nutrients: explain why very fast-draining soils may need more frequent nutrient additions and how that relates to leaching.
Fast-draining soils leach nutrients, so require more frequent fertilization or slow-release fertilizers.
Design a one-week care plan for a small chile plant (water amount/frequency, sunlight, and a fertilizer recommendation). Include brief rationale for each choice.
Care plan example — Water: ~500 mL/week (adjust by weather) in 1–2 waterings; Sunlight: 6–8 hours direct; Fertilizer: balanced or recommended N-P-K at label rate; rationale: maintain moisture without waterlogging, provide energy for growth, and supply nutrients without overapplication.