All About Plants

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Consider This

What could you invent, innovate, create relating to plants? Why Plants? Plants supply food to nearly all land organisms, including people. Plants form the critical base of food chains in nearly all ecosystems. Through photosynthesis, plants harvest the energy of the sun, providing both food and habitat for other organisms. Plants also produce oxygen and are an important part of the water cycle! What other ways do we use plants? Watch the resource video at the bottom of this challenge page and think about what you could create, innovate or invent related to plants. A new way to grow? Harvest? A new use? Repurpose plant waste? Be Creative!

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Video Transcript:

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Hey everyone!
Ryne here from Flux, and we’re back with another exciting STEAM Challenge—this one’s all about plants!

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Why Plants Matter

Before we jump into the challenge, let’s take a moment to appreciate what plants actually do for us. Plants:

• Clean the air and provide oxygen
• Are used in building materials and clothing
• Can make things smell better (yes, really!)
• Are used in making rubber (check out the rubber tree plant!)
• Serve as a source of heat when burned
• Provide habitats for animals and help prevent soil erosion
• Act as natural pesticides
• And of course, they can be eaten!

Plants are essential to life on Earth. For anything to live, breathe, and function—we need plants.

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What Do Plants Need to Survive?

Now that we know why plants are important, let’s explore what they need to grow. Enter: The Flux Fuse! 🎵

Think about it:

• Water
• Nutrients/Fertilizers
• Air (CO₂)
• Light

Together, that spells LAWN: Light, Air, Water, Nutrients—a fun way to remember the basics of plant survival!

But what about soil? Do plants actually need it?

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Intro to Hydroponics

Surprisingly, no—plants don’t need soil to grow. Many can actually grow better in systems that don’t use soil at all. This is called hydroponics, which literally means “working water.” In hydroponic systems, water (along with nutrients) does all the work to help plants grow.

Let’s check out our own hydroponic system here at Flux: the Flex Farm by our amazing partners at Fork Farms!

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Welcome to the Flex Farm

We’ve stepped out of the studio to check out this self-contained hydroponic system. No soil, just water, nutrients, and a built-in light source. And yes—I’m wearing a Fork Farms shirt. Bonus: it has a pen holder. Very handy.

In this system:

• Two tanks hold nutrient-rich water
• A pump circulates the water to the top
• Water trickles down over the plant roots in a chamber
• Lights simulate the sun and are set on a timer

Hydroponics gives plants exactly what they need, when they need it. It avoids soil-related problems like bugs, bacteria, and pH imbalances. Best of all, you can grow produce year-round, indoors, and sustainably.

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Behind the Invention: Meet Alex Tank

We’re thrilled to sit down with Alex Tank, inventor of the Flex Farm. His journey started in 2010 with the goal of creating a more efficient indoor farming system. He went through 30+ prototypes before landing on the current design.

The first models were made from wood, PVC pipes, and garbage bags—just to prove the concept. It took three years of trial and error to go from idea to Generation 1, and eventually to the sleek Gen 4 you see today.

This is what design thinking is all about: testing, failing, learning, and improving.

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Your STEAM Challenge

Now it's your turn! Your challenge is to create something plant-related. That could be:

• A new way to grow plants
• A tool for gardening
• A way to use plants in a new way
• A solution for plant waste

Whatever you invent—if it’s about plants, you’re on the right track!

Like all Flux STEAM Challenges:

1. Create, invent, or tinker
2. Take photos or videos of your creation
3. Share it on social media and tag Flux

We can’t wait to see what you come up with.

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Let’s grow something awesome—together! 🌱

Okay, bye! Let’s go!

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