Hydroculture Update

After experiencing hydroculture for about three months, I have a question for myself. Why in the world would I want to have soil (either native ‘dirt’ or artificial soil mix) inside my living environment? It's messy and prone to harbor insect pests and mold particularly when kept too wet. It is only after comparing that I realize that maintaining plants in expanded clay pellets is far more suitable for plants in buildings.

Another revelation is the similarity to sub-irrigation. Even with about thirty years of experience with sub-irrigation it never dawned on me that hydroculture is a form of sub-irrigation.

This graphic (with permission) from the best selling houseplant book How to Grow Fresh Air, by Dr. Bill Wolverton really brought it into focus for me.


As Simple as ABC

The essential difference between sub-irrigation and hydroculture is the replacement of soil by expanded clay pellets. They are both what I term “ABC Systems”. The objective of both is to move water from below (A) up into the growing medium (B) while maintaining a dry soil surface (C).

Unlike top watering which is tricky to learn and control, these systems are as simple as ABC. A child can learn them with a minimal amount of instruction. There’s no need to kill plants through trial and error to earn a mythical “green thumb”.

10-Minute Hydroculture Conversion

Click to enlarge. A very full 6” Parlor Palm (Chamaedorea elegans) found it’s way into my grocery basket yesterday.

Click to enlarge. I decided to use my stopwatch to time how long it would take to convert it to hydroculture. It took less than 10 minutes (8 minutes to be exact). The washed roots looked just like these.

Grassroots Community Work

The Design Network is a group of women landscape professionals in Northern Ohio. Over the Memorial Day weekend, about 14 of their members were out in the fresh air. No, they were not at a beach, a lake or lounging on a backyard chaise lounge. They were catching some rays by working to landscape three Habitat for Humanity homes. I would love to have been there. Read on from the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

What does this have to do with inside plants, plants in buildings? On the surface, not much but what an opportunity it was. What an opportunity for interior plantscaping professionals to feed their souls by doing something for others while demonstrating their talents. I scanned the entire membership roster looking for members involved in interior plants and found none.

There’s always tomorrow. Perhaps the Design Network will consider expanding membership to include interior plant professionals who are well versed in 21st century methods for designing and maintaining plants in buildings. There’s not much point in demonstrating poke and pour stone age methods. Wouldn’t it have been great to have showcased some hydroculture or sub-irrigated plants in these Habitat for Humanity homes?

Teach the Children

Dr. Behe's Science Department is a part of the Flower Activity Center sponsored by the Flower Promotion Organization. Dr. Behe answers kid's questions about cut flowers and suggests fun experiments. Kudos to the cut flower folks.

Cut flowers are great. However, where is there a Dr. Behe to teach small children about living plants in buildings, capillary action, foot-candles, expanded clay pebbles and hydroculture as well? By the way, look at the photos on the main page. Where are the boy kids?

There are promotional dollars spent for plants at work. Where are those who advocate plants at home and plants for people in buildings wherever they are? Isn't that more important to our society overall?

A Blogosphere Pioneer

 
 

Meg Hourihan is one of the founders of Pyra Labs creator of Blogger.com, now owned by Google. Meg is a well-recognized blogging pioneer. I enjoyed reading this Tufts University profile and in particular, what she had to say about women and science.

"My career path in technology is not at all an aberration," she explains. "Many women in technology come to technology later and don't come through traditional academic, undergraduate degrees."

She is a strong advocate of creating an educational environment where women are encouraged to enter the math, science and technology fields.

"For me, when I was growing up, I felt there was a stigma of computers and being a nerd," she recalls. "I went to computer camp in sixth grade. I told people when I got back to school that I went to computer camp and I was just mocked. That definitely had an impact on me."

While she feels there is still a ways to go, Hourihan notes that some progress is being made.

"More proactive encouragement of women in technology needs to happen," she asserts. "At least now it seems like girls have more exposure to it at younger ages and the opportunity to be familiar with it from the beginning."

IBM Promotes More Science for Young Girls

IBM EXITE Camps Inspire Today's Girls to Become Scientists, Mathematicians and Engineers of Tomorrow.

Who knows, maybe we would have more young women who are comfortable with science and technology rather than a 'green thumb' when it involves plants in buildings?

"Studies show that young girls enjoy math as much as boys but, by the eighth grade, twice as many boys as girls show interest in pursuing careers in science, engineering and math," said Janet Perna, general manager, Information Management Solutions, IBM Software Group.

"We've got to make young girls understand that a career in technology does not have to be dull or boring. It's just the opposite. Technology and science-related careers offer opportunities to be creative, to become a leader, to give back to your community and to establish financial independence."

-- In Manila, Philippines, EXITE campers will learn how to farm without soil using the latest computer-controlled technology during a visit at a hydroponics farm.

Soccer Mom Snack Service

This photo is from a Forbes “Vehicle of the Week” review of the new Ford Minivan. I looked at it and realized how it epitomized the change in our society over the past decades. The soccer mom snack service photo says to me, “Who’s got time to nursemaid houseplants”.

The answer is older stay-at-home women who were brought up in a different time. They are the ones who have time to poke, pour, spritz and mist houseplants every day. They also have the time to hang out and chat on Internet houseplant forums. You can see them posting every day.

Most ultra-busy soccer moms and young professionals on the other hand have opted for replica ‘silk plants’ or no plants at all. They simply don’t have time to grow a 'green thumb' and be a houseplant nanny.

If they knew more about 21st century methods of hydroculture and sub-irrigation, they would find a far more user-friendly and less time consuming houseplant world. One that can coexist with our fast paced lifestyle that calls out for plants in buildings, a touch of the natural world to remind us all of where we live.

A 21st Century Botanical Garden

The University of British Columbia (UBC) Botanical Garden and Centre for Plant Research has a blog. It also has an Indoor and Greenhouse Plants forum among others.

How progressive! How cool! Have a look!

Dr. Decor, A.S.I.D.

 
I really like where Dr. Decor (a.k.a. Barbara Kopitz) is coming from. As a professional interior designer, she offered a thoughtful and well-written response to an apartment dweller seeking to improve her environment.

For your apartment, add an indoor plant that you can watch grow and perhaps bloom. If not a bouquet, at least buy a fresh flower each week or perhaps a friend has a garden. You'll be amazed what even a single flower, placed in a spot you will see often throughout your day, will do for your apartment and your spirit.

USDA Update

Potted flowering and foliage plants--Although sales of potted flowering plants were up in 2004, sales of potted foliage plants for indoor or patio use were down. Poinsettias, orchids, and florist mums led flowering plant sales growth. Producers in California, Florida, New York, Texas, and North Carolina benefited from this growth. Producers in the Midwest States did not fare as well, as the region’s total sales slumped. For foliage plants, the largest producer State--Florida--suffered from adverse effects of hurricanes in the summer of 2004. Heavy rains in California also reduced sales in the second largest producer of foliage plants.

While poinsettia sales from California fell, sales from North Carolina, Florida, and New York all increased. Average poinsettia sales per producer are now $157,162 nationally, up 7 percent from 2003. Florist mum growers each received $161,000 on average from corresponding sales in 2004, up 12 percent. The lion’s share, however, belongs to orchid growers, who each sold $564,637 worth of plants on average in 2004, despite an 8-percent reduction in price per pot to $7.41. Only growers of potted foliage plants top orchid producers--$568,545 average sales, not including foliage hanging baskets. This higher amount was likely aided by the diminution of supply from Florida in 2004 (no quantity sold data are available). Nevertheless, these gains lag the expansion of bedding and garden plants as the share of potted flowering plants in total U.S. floriculture sales slid to 16 percent from 20 percent a decade ago.

The complete Floriculture and Nursery Crops YEARBOOK – SUMMARY June 9, 2005 update is available here.

The Return of Bemis Sub-irrigation

No, they no longer carry the Bemis name. Gardener’s Supply is marketing the same planters though as ‘self-watering’ E-Z Care pots. Someone obviously bought the molds, which is no surprise. They are above average in plastic planter design from an aesthetic standpoint.

These planters still have the same weakness, however, and that’s the water supply hole at the bottom rather than a fill-pipe. This makes it difficult to inspect the water level and to add water. A special longneck watering can might be helpful.

In addition, the smallest size offered is a 12” diameter planter at almost $17 each. It appears to me that Gardener’s Supply has pretty much given up on the plants in buildings market to focus solely on outdoor gardening.

Tanker Sub-irrigation

An important product was left out of the post about Clarke & Spears. They have a sub-irrigation system called Tanker. It is similar to the widely used and proven MONA MPS System. One difference is the use of fabric wicks called “Tanker Wick” technology.

I’ve used both plastic formed wicks of the type used by the MPS and Jardinier systems and fabric wicks. I’m not confident that I can detect any difference in capillary performance. They both do an effective job of moving water from point 'A' (water ‘reservoir’ below) to point 'B' (the plant and soil system above).

Most of my experience with fabric wicks has been with the polyester 'AquaPads'. I’ve been delighted with their performance, durability and washability. This is a simple, cost-effective method for the retail/residential market.

What I found most interesting about the Tanker system is that it once again demonstrates the acceptance and use of sub-irrigation in European countries. It is rather unbelievable how techno-averse we are in the U.S. when it comes to watering plants in buildings.

There is no doubt in my mind that this tendency inhibits growth of both the retail and commercial indoor plant markets. Consumers at all levels value economy and ease of use. Poke and pour methods represent the antithesis of these values.

Tanker is a well established and proven subsoil irrigation system, newly re-engineered to make it truly state of the art. It is very easy to use with no moving parts and nothing to go wrong. It can be fitted to any plant container, interior or exterior, and recent research from the University of Reading horticultural Technology Unit confirms that the system doubles the watering interval while providing a healthier, more attractive plant with stronger and better developed root systems.

The Tanker Water Cell is a self contained irrigation unit utilising the Tanker Wick technology which has been designed specifically for the task of delivering a controlled supply of water over a prolonged period. Applications include all free standing planters from desktops to large floor mounted planters.

Clark & Spears International

 
 

 
 

 

This article linked to a most impressive interior plantscaping supplier. The array of products Clarke & Spears offers is outstanding. Take a look at the wide selection of Tropical Houseplants and perhaps even more dazzling array of planters.

Clarke and Spears International (CSI) has been supplying landscapers, local authorities and garden centres since 1992. A unique Anglo Dutch company we are based in Holland, Scotland and England, each centre with a different speciality.

I’m impressed that Clarke & Spears has grown its annual turnover (sales) to 4 million British pounds ($7.25 million U.S.) over the past decade. There are only a few U.S. interiorscape companies of this size let alone suppliers.

No-Drip Urban Containerscaping

This is a timely article advocating the display of plants in containers.

Container gardening is also the perfect solution if you live in an apartment but have a small deck or porch area, or live in the city where there is no soil at all.

This method is perfect for the busy person who goes from work to workout to children's activities with barely enough time for dinner, let alone gardening. But it is also a great idea for the elderly or disabled.

Growing plants in containers makes perfect sense, particularly in an urban setting. I don’t think of it as gardening however. The terms no-drip, water-saving, timesaving containerscaping relate more to the built environment that involves more hardscaping than earthscaping. Drench and drain container gardening in an urbanscape environment makes little sense.

Helen knows from experience that flowers planted in containers need to be closely monitored for watering. Because the amount of soil is small in a container, it dries out very quickly. Daily watering may be necessary, and even more on hot, windy days.

"You have to keep them watered," she said. "Other than that, they are very easy to take care of."

If more urbanites understood sub-irrigation (and hydroculture) as plant care methods, I firmly believe the market would be twice as big.

All of my outdoor deck plants are installed in sub-irrigation. Using modern methods, you can change your watering frequency from daily to weekly or longer.

Plus, all of the water goes to the plants rather than dripping on the floor or on your neighbor below.

Pictured here are Hibiscus, Mexican Weeping Bamboo (Otatea acuminata aztecorum) and Giant Timber Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata'). Other plants not shown are Plumeria, Aspidistra, Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizzi), Dracaena marginata, Rhapis excelsa, Zamia furfuracea, Fargesia nitida (a bamboo) Burro's Tail (Sedum morganianum), Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and Tomatoes. I can't imagine there are any plants that wouldn't benefit from sub-irrigation containerscaping other than air plants such as bromeliads.

Modern containerscaping methods save time, are better for your plants and avoid any exposure to dripping water on your neighbors or their property. Drench and drain watering inside buildings or in an urban environment is unwise when better methods are clearly at hand.

Glaswegians Get Houseplants

This headline got my attention.

GLASGOW'S biggest landlord has unveiled a new collection of fully-furnished flats complete with houseplants.

Read on...

Sansevieria Renaissance

Sansevieria is one of the plants we used when I was an interior plantscaper but it was a rather boring option used sparingly. The only species available at the time was Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’. The plant in the photograph is named 'Twister'.

It looks as if Sansevieria is making a comeback and I understand why. Although not widely distributed here in the western U.S. there are now more varieties available. I bought a few a while back and am impressed with how little water they use. Remember that I weigh and water all of the plants in my lab every two weeks. Water consumption is thus measured accurately. Two of them were recently converted to hydroculture in clay pebble media.

It was interesting to read this article about a Malaysian company that went public last month. EQUATOR Life Science Bhd claims to be the world’s largest supplier of Sansevieria. They ship them around the world and are launching a new North American marketing program. I’m interested in seeing whether we have more Sansevieria offerings at retail as a result.

It took some doing to find their website, but after looking at their product portfolio, I would gladly buy one of everything. Incidentally, more and more visitors are finding their way to this blog through a Google Image search. That was the only way I was able to find EquatorGroup.com the website for Equator Life Science.

Green Industry Forum

This is about a most interesting forum, discovered in a post from Mumbai, India. A forum like LawnCafe.com is much needed for the subject of plants in buildings, including both interior plantscaping and houseplants.

The primary purpose of LawnCafe is to provide a means for lawn care professionals to discuss business issues. It also serves as a communications vehicle for professionals to answer questions from the public. You can read threads in the Homeowner Help forum without registering.

If I had the time, I would start a forum like LawnCafe.com. I’ll consider it after my relocation when I no longer have the workload of the plant lab. If you are interested in a forum of this type, please contact me. I would be interested in your thoughts and ideas.

Photoblog Time Out

My digital camera went dark last Friday. A call to Canon tech support determined that factory service is required. The tech then presented an alternative offer for the upgrade purchase of a factory rebuilt model at a price I could not refuse. The higher mega pixel camera is on its way and I’ll be posting photos again soon.

It's a pleasure to compliment Canon on some smart merchandising and excellent customer service. Kudos to Canon!

Public Hydroculture Education in Singapore

This course description is from the Educational Outreach program of the Singapore Botanic Gardens.

Bravo Singapore!

I have searched through many well known botanical garden websites in the US without finding any modern indoor plant (houseplant) care information. I'm curious to know why there is no information about either hydroculture or sub-irrigation? Providing information on these topics would be a valuable public service.

Home Gardening: the Fundamentals & Another Perspective (Previously known as Indoor Plant Care, with new introduction of Hydroculture (soil-free) gardening method) Not sure what kind of plants is suitable for your home? How often should a plant be watered? Use of fertilizers, re-potting, pruning and other general care of plants will be covered in this comprehensive basic course. The alternative hydroculture (soil-free) approach will also be introduced in the 2nd part of this workshop. Duration : 8 hours

Dracaena Rooted in Clay Pellets

Click to enlarge. On the left is a Dracaena Janet Craig compacta planted in an IKEA glass vase about a month ago. It was a cutting with no roots.

Click to enlarge. This is what I found when I removed the plant (about 30 days later). Those are very healthy looking water roots. In comparison to soil based plants it was amazingly simple to unpot and repot with no mess or damage to the plant's roots. This was a kitchen counter job with absolutely no mess. You don't need a potting bench for hydroculture.

Working with clay pellet media needs to be experienced to fully appreciate its advantages. Try it yourself. Don't hesitate to comment or ask questions. I'll be happy to help.

Now it's on to Aglaonema stem cuttings. They will no doubt take much longer to establish roots. We'll see. To be continued.

Rentokil, PHS News

The UK financial press is reporting some unsettling opinions about Rentokil and a rumored bid to acquire rival PHS. Read more here...and here.

Elsewhere, there was talk that Rentokil Intial, down 6.25p to 147.75p, might be tempted to launch a bid for its smaller rival PHS, up 2p to 97.5p. PHS has confirmed receiving a takeover approach which is believed to have come from JP Morgan Partners, the private equity firm. A move on the company would cost Rentokil up to £500m but Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein is not convinced by the story. The broker said: "We would find Rentokil doing a large deal a surprise given all divisions within its portfolio are deteriorating."

DKW also downgraded its earnings forecast on Rentokil by 6 per cent. It warned that the company continues to suffer from pricing pressures and increasingly sophisticated competition. The German broker therefore urged investors to exit Rentokil stock fast.

Home Staging

This looked like good advice even if you’re not moving.

Excerpt: Some people just can't visualize. If you can't get rid of some of your home clutter- house plants for example - round them up and make a single display rather than have them in dribs and drabs through a room or the whole house.

Saturday Night Fever at IKEA

Did I need any more plants and pots? Of course not, until my ‘immovable’ buying resistance met the irresistible power of IKEA merchandising.

This was the lure. 50% off on all planters and plants…no sales tax. The sale started Saturday morning and it looked like a tornado had been through the “green room” by the time I got there. They obviously moved a lot of plants and planters out of that space earlier in the day.

My cart left with 22 planters, a beautiful Spathiphyllum (the only one left), two Anthuriums (the only two left) and three Lucky Bamboo spirals. I ‘saved’ about $60…yeah right. Photos to follow in the days ahead.