Getting Started

Let us help you decide how to make or get a kit to start growing your own. Make your selections below.

Welcome to Getting Started with Fast Plants®!

We will take you though the steps of deciding lighting, growing, potting mix & fertilizer, and selecting seed. Go through each step and decide if you'd like to build an option, or buy a kit. Note: the Complete Kit is the same kit for each listing and includes items needed for Step 2, 3, and 4.

Next, follow "MY PLAN" we created for you on the right. Download instructional PDF’s, view the links, and watch the videos to guide you through the building processes. Or if you decided to get a kit, click the "Buy It" link to purchase online from available suppliers.

(or press ESC or click the overlay)
STEP ONE - CHOOSE A LIGHTING SYSTEM
Option 1:
Light Box
Low-cost, good for group experiments and stacking in vertical space.
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Build It Deselect
Option 2:
Light Bank
Use a wooden bank or PVC for this horizontal space efficient system.
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Build It Deselect
Option 3:
Get a Kit
Plant Light House
Get a Kit Deselect
Plant Lighting System Get a Kit Deselect
Individual Plant Light Get a Kit Deselect
STEP TWO - CHOOSE A GROWING SYSTEM
Option 1:
Grow Plants
Recycled Bottle Growing Systems – made from small or large plastic soda bottles.
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Build It Deselect


Recycled Deli Container
Growing System – a very stable growing system 4-5 plants.
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Build It Deselect
Option 2:
Germinate Seeds
Observe germinating seeds and grow seedlings for days in a Petri dish. Quick way to model Mendelian inheritance patterns.
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Germinate Seeds Deselect
Option 3:
Get a Kit

Get a Kit Deselect
Complete Kit Includes quads, wicking water system, planting materials, fertilizer and Standard seeds.

Get a Kit Deselect
Quads
Watering system tray, mats and wicks plus Quads, 4-cell foam planters.

Get a Kit Deselect
Monohybrid Labs
Petri dish Genetics kits
monohybrid labs.

Get a Kit Deselect
Dihybrid Labs
Petri dish Genetics kits
dihybrid labs.
STEP THREE - GET A POTTING MIX & FERTILIZER
Option 1:
Planting medium
A soil-less mix or seed starter from your local garden or hardware store.
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Vermiculite sometimes used to cover seeds after planting: holds moisture and makes it easier to see when seeds are covered.
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Buy It Deselect

Fertilizer
Time-release, pelleted fertilizer like Osmocote 14-14-14 are an easy-to-use option we often use.
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Water-soluble fertilizer that is measured and mixed gives the most accurate control of nutrients. We use Peter’s 20-20-20.
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Option 2:
Get a Kit

Get a Kit Deselect
Complete Kit Includes quads, wicking water system, planting materials, fertilizer and Standard seeds.
STEP FOUR - SELECT YOUR SEED
Option 1:
Standard Stock
Wisconsin Fast Plants Standard Stock

Most Fast Plants classroom activities use Standard Stock seed.
Learn More »

Buy It Deselect
Option 2:
Genetic Hybrids &
Mutants
Wisconsin Fast Plants Genetic Hybrids and Mutants

Specialized plant types for investigating topics such as: genetics, physiology, and environmental studies.
Learn More »

Buy It Deselect
Option 3:
Get a Kit

Get a Kit Deselect
Complete Kit - Standard Seed Includes the complete kit with Standard seeds.

Get a Kit Deselect
72 Hour Genetics
Complete Kit A quick monohybrid genetics lab.

Get a Kit Deselect
Who's the Father? Genetics Complete Kit
A 45-day investigation.
Now that you have gone through the decision making steps, follow MY PLAN we created for you on the right. Download instructional PDF’s, view the links, and watch the videos to guide you through the building processes. Or if you decided to get a kit, click the "Buy It" link to purchase online from available suppliers.
TEACHER CALCULATOR
Use this guide to help you plan for enough supplies for your students.





















YOU WILL NEED:
0 Lighting Systems
0 Growing Systems

Learn how this works »

My Plan
I DECIDED TO
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