cngodles
26th October 2006, 08:50 AM
Experiment #2
Overview
Using Plant Gel for planting Moso with one method and continued observation planned.
Planned Work
The method is the planting of the Moso seeds directly into the Plant Gel itself. This is an untested method to me with any seeds this far, and I was interested if at least one will take.
The continued observation part will be the observation of the roots as granted by the plant gel over a 6-12 month period, if not longer. Plant Gel is not 100% translucent, thus total observation is not possible. However, I believe that I will have the ability to see darker solid objects such as rhizomes and I will be able to record my observations.
Detailed Work Plan
For this experiment, I will be using 4 seeds. This 4 seeds were purchased in late April of 2006, received on May 15 of 2006, and stored inside of a small plastic bag in a dark wooden box over the summer. I expect them to take about 4 weeks to germinate, as per previous seed planting experience. The seeds planted in the gel will be in a florescent light office environment throughout the experiment, unless I feel that direct sunlight is necessary. If I place it in direct sunlight, a cardboard shroud will be placed over the plant gel portion as not to encourage algae growth.
Mixing the plant gel was easy. I mixed two batches on the same night. The second batch will be used on Phyllostachys Heteroclada Seeds in an experiment to be posted perhaps later today. I bought two gallons of distilled water for 79 cents each. I would have made my own using my dehumidifier, but I did not feel like waiting the extra day.
I used two Rubbermaid clear plastic bottles that were rated for 1 gallon. I first poured the entire gallon into each bottle. I then added 24 drops of the supplied plant food. Next, I emptied the entire content of the plant gel packet into the bottle of water. The packet was quite small, only measuring 3 inches by 2 inches. The gel started to swell once it contacted the water, but not at a fast rate. In all, it takes 6 hours for the gel to expand to the top of the water line.
The next morning, I took the gel to work and drained the excess water. This process takes about 2 hours, as the gel does not easily let go of it's excess water. When the bottle still has all of it's water, the gel is nearly crystal clear, with just the crystal centers visible. I will plant the seeds at around 11PM ET on October 26, 2006.
Plant Gel was acquired from: http://www.plantgel.com/ - Starter kit, $12
Plastic Bottle acquired from: Wal-Mart - Rubbermaid - 1 Gallon, $2.41
Distilled Water acquired from: Sprankles Market - Shurfine Distilled Drinking Water, $0.79
Phyllostachys edulis (pubescens) seeds acquired from: Banana Tree (http://www.banana-tree.com/) - 100 Seeds, $4.95
Supply Images
http://www.15656.com/media/images/library/25_plant%20gel%20001.jpghttp://www.15656.com/media/images/library/26_plant%20gel%20002.jpghttp://www.15656.com/media/images/library/27_plant%20gel%20003.jpg
http://www.15656.com/media/images/library/28_plant%20gel%20004.jpghttp://www.15656.com/media/images/library/29_plant%20gel%20005.jpg
*Note: The last picture that is only 1/3 of the gel, the other 2/3 was getting strained.
Observation Log
2006
October
26 - Planted the seeds at 11AM. I placed two seeds standing up with the large end pointing down. I placed the other two seeds lying down. They were planted in a 4-corners method, as to promote equal spacing. The bottle was placed next to Heteroclada Experiment #1, to promote heat and light. As I have read that these seeds need to be wet, yet not soaked to help germinate, I placed one of the seeds directly through a plant gel clump, as to ensure moisture.
http://www.15656.com/media/images/library/30_plant%20gel%20006.jpg
27 - The seeds appear darker, so I think they have gotten the moisture they need. Now we play the waiting game. I would not expect much activity on these until at least Thanksgiving Day (November 23).
31 - No changes to report. Seeds were examined closely.
November
01 - One of the standing seeds was pulled out for quick examination. I believe this is safe for two reasons. One being that the tail is sticking out and its easy to move without greatly disturbing the seed. The second being that the seed is resting between gel, thus providing very gentle moving conditions. The seed was pulled 2 inches from the surface, rotated while maintaining up/down position, and gently placed back within the gel. The seed is certainly soaked, does not appear to have mold, and does not have any root or shoot ejection yet. The other 3 seeds appear similar. Today starts the 7th full day of planting.
06 - 12th day since planting. Gently pulled both upright seeds, no changes.
16 - 22nd day since planting. Some changs noted. The two upright seeds appear to be swelling, signs of roots about to pop. One laying down seeds seems to be attempting to mold, but it doesn't look to be spreading. The other laying down seeds may have actually broken it's first root, but if it did, the root is 1/32 of an inch long. I tried to see if it was plant gel just clinging, but it won't easily scrape off. Things are looking good, a busy week of progress looks to be ahead. The gel itself appears to be shrinking, it decreased it's height in the bottle by 1 inch. I will need to purchase more distilled water to raise it back up evenually.
29 - 35th day since planting. Some little root nubs, but nothing seems to be taking. I'm still confident that I will at least get one. The heteroclada experiment had a 100% sucess rate. I shelled two of the seeds and placed them back into the mix.
December
04 - 40th day since planting. While one shelled seed and 2 seeds still in their shell look like duds thus far, one of the shelled seeds appeared to have split and is now starting to extend it's root. While just a nub like the earlier false alarm that I saw, this one looks to be 95% probability of being a real root. I shelled the last two seeds, where one had rotted and molded over, and the other came out fine, with the exception of getting it's bottom corner sliced off by remaining attached to the shell. The gel badly needs watered. I will very soon. We are down to 3 seeds now, with one looking like it's started.
2007
January
16 - Experiment was a dud. No sprouts, just lots of mold. I could have written this back at Christmas.
Overview
Using Plant Gel for planting Moso with one method and continued observation planned.
Planned Work
The method is the planting of the Moso seeds directly into the Plant Gel itself. This is an untested method to me with any seeds this far, and I was interested if at least one will take.
The continued observation part will be the observation of the roots as granted by the plant gel over a 6-12 month period, if not longer. Plant Gel is not 100% translucent, thus total observation is not possible. However, I believe that I will have the ability to see darker solid objects such as rhizomes and I will be able to record my observations.
Detailed Work Plan
For this experiment, I will be using 4 seeds. This 4 seeds were purchased in late April of 2006, received on May 15 of 2006, and stored inside of a small plastic bag in a dark wooden box over the summer. I expect them to take about 4 weeks to germinate, as per previous seed planting experience. The seeds planted in the gel will be in a florescent light office environment throughout the experiment, unless I feel that direct sunlight is necessary. If I place it in direct sunlight, a cardboard shroud will be placed over the plant gel portion as not to encourage algae growth.
Mixing the plant gel was easy. I mixed two batches on the same night. The second batch will be used on Phyllostachys Heteroclada Seeds in an experiment to be posted perhaps later today. I bought two gallons of distilled water for 79 cents each. I would have made my own using my dehumidifier, but I did not feel like waiting the extra day.
I used two Rubbermaid clear plastic bottles that were rated for 1 gallon. I first poured the entire gallon into each bottle. I then added 24 drops of the supplied plant food. Next, I emptied the entire content of the plant gel packet into the bottle of water. The packet was quite small, only measuring 3 inches by 2 inches. The gel started to swell once it contacted the water, but not at a fast rate. In all, it takes 6 hours for the gel to expand to the top of the water line.
The next morning, I took the gel to work and drained the excess water. This process takes about 2 hours, as the gel does not easily let go of it's excess water. When the bottle still has all of it's water, the gel is nearly crystal clear, with just the crystal centers visible. I will plant the seeds at around 11PM ET on October 26, 2006.
Plant Gel was acquired from: http://www.plantgel.com/ - Starter kit, $12
Plastic Bottle acquired from: Wal-Mart - Rubbermaid - 1 Gallon, $2.41
Distilled Water acquired from: Sprankles Market - Shurfine Distilled Drinking Water, $0.79
Phyllostachys edulis (pubescens) seeds acquired from: Banana Tree (http://www.banana-tree.com/) - 100 Seeds, $4.95
Supply Images
http://www.15656.com/media/images/library/25_plant%20gel%20001.jpghttp://www.15656.com/media/images/library/26_plant%20gel%20002.jpghttp://www.15656.com/media/images/library/27_plant%20gel%20003.jpg
http://www.15656.com/media/images/library/28_plant%20gel%20004.jpghttp://www.15656.com/media/images/library/29_plant%20gel%20005.jpg
*Note: The last picture that is only 1/3 of the gel, the other 2/3 was getting strained.
Observation Log
2006
October
26 - Planted the seeds at 11AM. I placed two seeds standing up with the large end pointing down. I placed the other two seeds lying down. They were planted in a 4-corners method, as to promote equal spacing. The bottle was placed next to Heteroclada Experiment #1, to promote heat and light. As I have read that these seeds need to be wet, yet not soaked to help germinate, I placed one of the seeds directly through a plant gel clump, as to ensure moisture.
http://www.15656.com/media/images/library/30_plant%20gel%20006.jpg
27 - The seeds appear darker, so I think they have gotten the moisture they need. Now we play the waiting game. I would not expect much activity on these until at least Thanksgiving Day (November 23).
31 - No changes to report. Seeds were examined closely.
November
01 - One of the standing seeds was pulled out for quick examination. I believe this is safe for two reasons. One being that the tail is sticking out and its easy to move without greatly disturbing the seed. The second being that the seed is resting between gel, thus providing very gentle moving conditions. The seed was pulled 2 inches from the surface, rotated while maintaining up/down position, and gently placed back within the gel. The seed is certainly soaked, does not appear to have mold, and does not have any root or shoot ejection yet. The other 3 seeds appear similar. Today starts the 7th full day of planting.
06 - 12th day since planting. Gently pulled both upright seeds, no changes.
16 - 22nd day since planting. Some changs noted. The two upright seeds appear to be swelling, signs of roots about to pop. One laying down seeds seems to be attempting to mold, but it doesn't look to be spreading. The other laying down seeds may have actually broken it's first root, but if it did, the root is 1/32 of an inch long. I tried to see if it was plant gel just clinging, but it won't easily scrape off. Things are looking good, a busy week of progress looks to be ahead. The gel itself appears to be shrinking, it decreased it's height in the bottle by 1 inch. I will need to purchase more distilled water to raise it back up evenually.
29 - 35th day since planting. Some little root nubs, but nothing seems to be taking. I'm still confident that I will at least get one. The heteroclada experiment had a 100% sucess rate. I shelled two of the seeds and placed them back into the mix.
December
04 - 40th day since planting. While one shelled seed and 2 seeds still in their shell look like duds thus far, one of the shelled seeds appeared to have split and is now starting to extend it's root. While just a nub like the earlier false alarm that I saw, this one looks to be 95% probability of being a real root. I shelled the last two seeds, where one had rotted and molded over, and the other came out fine, with the exception of getting it's bottom corner sliced off by remaining attached to the shell. The gel badly needs watered. I will very soon. We are down to 3 seeds now, with one looking like it's started.
2007
January
16 - Experiment was a dud. No sprouts, just lots of mold. I could have written this back at Christmas.