How do different minerals affect the growth of plants? Budding botanists find out in a multi-week experiment that has them using solutions with specific mineral deficiencies. While there is a lot of preparation for the investigation, learners will come away with a solid understanding of the importance of a variety of minerals in organism growth. The procedure is clear and straightforward, but you may want to add more analysis questions or do a full lab write up, as there are only four questions on the worksheet.