The Warm Greenhouse

Cameron and Iris have grown tomato seedlings for the school garden sale. Each morning, they check the trays with Mrs Cole and record what has changed. The plants have fresh green leaves, and tiny roots reach the edges of their pots. Cameron is pleased that they look strong enough to leave the classroom windowsill.

They move the trays into the greenhouse before their next lesson. By lunchtime, several leaves are drooping. Cameron reaches for a watering can, sure the plants must be thirsty. Iris touches the compost first. It still feels damp. Adding more water might not help, so she asks him to wait until they have checked with Mrs Cole.

Mrs Cole joins them and looks at the thermometer. The greenhouse is much warmer than it was that morning. Sunlight falls through the glass, but the low window is still shut. “What changed when we moved the plants?” she asks. Iris points towards the bright roof while Cameron puts the watering can down beside the bench.

With Mrs Cole beside him, Cameron opens the low ventilation window to the position she recommends. Iris moves the affected trays away from the strongest sunlight. They leave space between the pots so air can move around them. Instead of changing everything at once, they write down these two changes and arrange to check again later.

When they return, the greenhouse feels less stuffy. Some leaves have lifted, although one small plant is still bent. Cameron wants to move it back into the sun to help it catch up. Mrs Cole suggests giving it more time. They leave its label in place so they can find the same plant during their next check.

The following morning, the little plant is standing straighter. Iris compares it with the drawing in their notebook. Cameron reads yesterday’s temperature beside today’s. Their record helps them see the improvement that was easy to miss when they looked only a few minutes apart. They water only the pots that Mrs Cole says need it.

Before the garden sale, they make a simple care card for each tray. Cameron includes a reminder to check the growing conditions as well as the compost. Iris draws the low open window on their greenhouse checklist. They take turns checking it with Mrs Cole, especially when the afternoon sun reaches the glass roof.

On sale day, a visitor asks why one plant has a coloured label. Cameron tells her how they watched it recover. She chooses that pot for her own greenhouse. As he carries the empty tray back, Cameron passes the watering can. He remembers how close he came to solving the wrong problem before Iris asked him to stop and look.