The Dark Garden: Alchemy

16 years ago

Alchemy, the transformation of one element to another. In the case here transforming a set of roots to another kind. I do it by using a transitional layer. If you make it too shallow the plant drowns. Make it to deep and the plant dries out. The transitional layer is any mix or media you use but how much depth do the roots need to change. That was the test of those plants in the Pod Squad. For the next month, month an a half thereÂs going to be a lot of work just about roots. IÂm testing several different plants and their root systems to learn how best to get them to grow in a non - nutrient hydroponic solution. The most sensitive plant of this group is the Barbados nut. A sturdy plant but given to leaf loss with any change in itÂs environment. While it loses leaves easy itÂs also recovers fast. I expect to lose all the leaves and wind up with just a bare stem but it will recover. If you look at the roots they form like corn. Narly roots with lots of hairy fibers. When I was removing the root ball all those thin hairs fell off into the bucket. Those were a good example of (dry) media roots. You can look at the post on the Pod Squad and see them in laying in the bucket on the picture of the Barbados nut. The Spider plant has tuberous roots that IÂm hoping will grow in the transitional layer in a constantly moist media. They seem to be doing well. I was thinking of using this method to grow potatoÂs. The Philodendron has stringy roots which means they can change easily from one kind of media to another. ThereÂs the thing once you see the different kinds of roots on different plants that can grow different ways in different kinds of media then it just becomes figuring out what depth the transitional layer needs to be.

After the first week four of the plants have hardly changed. By that I mean one pepper wilted during hard sunlight till I was sure it was dead but over night it rebounds. The Barbados nut is the one that has lost all itÂs leaves but one. That one tho now faces the light and is expanding. But I expect that if the plants survive this week itÂll give me a better base to work with. One change I made is to fertilize twice a week.

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Comments (9)

justaguy2
16 years ago
I sincerely do not understand what you are going on about.
imstillatwork
16 years ago
I get the feeling there is a big greenhouse full of something 'else' that we haven't seen in any of his posts before. :)

Hey, if your having fun, learning, and things are growing, that's something, right? I just don't know what's happening in most of the posts either.
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georgeiii
Original Author
16 years ago
WELL, what is it that you donÂt understand. One of our biggest problems weÂre going to have is the cost of gardening. Simple in yard gardening using the older method becomes to expensive for many people to do. You'll get real about that when you see how much things are going to cost this year over last. Worse yet much of the pollution coming now is due to growing hydroponic use. Fossil fertilizers for plants, gas to transport, tractors, gross water use, etc., What am I going on about???? The same thing IÂve always gone about since I came on here. We have to do better. What am I saying tho is that I have a few ideas. Nothing more. And no I donÂt have a greenhouse, I have an environment that I change with the light. But whatÂs the question or questions. As to why IÂm doing it this way is to conserve resources. How to grow using less water, less fertilizer, less space. The real question here isn't whether you understand but whether the method is repeatable without that understanding.
rawb
16 years ago
Hey George.. Frankly from a newbie pov... From all your post and pics I have no clue as to what your doing. Your plants look good, but after that.. all I know is that you cut the bottoms off of plastic liter bottles? an attach them to pvc piping? How you attach them what your growing medium is etc.. I have no idea where to start if I wanted go your route..
Pat z6 MI
16 years ago
georgeiii, it is so refreshing to read about your experiments and learn what other posters are doing! Thank you for sharing your time, words, and pictures.
Pat
meyermike_1micha
16 years ago
Pat, it is great to all of sudden see you take such a great interest in many when not before..I guess it's all the timing ha?
badsmerf
16 years ago
georgeiii, I enjoy seeing someone tinker and experiment. I don't know how you have the time to do all this, but more power to you. It doesn't matter if anyone understands what you're trying to do, all that matters is if you have success and share what you have learned.
jane__ny
16 years ago
More power to you! Looks fascinating,

Jane
bayoufilter
16 years ago
OK, my question: what is above the transitional layer? What is below the transitional layer?
That is, while transforming, the plant's existing root type needs to be fed/supported - do the transitional roots grow among these or are we producing new ones in the trans zone?
I count three questions now so I will stop there for the moment.
Rick