CO2...plants can grow 50% faster

[lucky1]

In another post, Bill briefly touched on the topic that "plants know...".
Fascinating stuff...

At the risk of starting a climate change discussion many of us wonder whether tending plants daily, i.e. breathing CO2 on them, might be responsible for improved plant health. There must be some research on this.

A starter: "Plants can grow up to 50 percent faster in concentrations of 1,000 ppm CO2 when compared with ambient conditions"..."Atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide fluctuate slightly with the change of the seasons, driven primarily by seasonal plant growth in the Northern Hemisphere."
from here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_dio ... n_fixation

A physics forum asks the same Q: http://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=378276

I recall my Mom saying that 30 years ago, nurses would remove flowers at night from patients' rooms, because it was believed plants would remove oxygen from the air!

Barb

[lucky1]

another from a Master Gardener.

"Plants can only take in 02 while they are photosynthesizing. Their inhaling of C02 and exhaling of 02 can only happen during this cycle. Without light, they don't "Breath". As soon as the first light rays hit the leaves little opening called stomata's open to resume the transfer of gasses. Some plants have openings on their stems called lintecels that remain open all the time for gas exchange. They can also only function during the photosynthetic phase. If the stomata are closed you can throw in some dry ice to produce tons of C02 and the closed stomata will not allow transfer of gasses. The stem stomata's will not use it either.If the leaves are under light and the stomata are open they will transfer the C02 as soon as it is needed. Immediately, if it is in that part of the cycle that requires C02. They use it as needed not as it is supplied. Source(s): Master Gardener. * 2 years ago"

[lucky1]

Plus I learned why cactus etc (succulents) cannot be covered (away from light) at night (or covered, blocking out light, all winter long).
At night is when their stomata are open.
So they're known as C4 plants (including Jade, etc.)

Most other plants that we grow are C3, where photosynthesis takes place during the day during sunlight.

Having a great conversation with myself, huh?

[hardyjim]

Barb

You are an amazing person,didn't mean to interrupt you as you probably would
have told yourself that,if I'd have let you go on


We definitely have a connection to plants and them with us.....they are my little family.

Did you know that plants can be hooked up to devices that measure their electrical impulses?

They have actually been used as lie detectors as they are able to pick up
subtle differences in electrical fields.............they can tell if people are trying to hurt them!

Or lying!


Makes me sad when I pick weeds but.......I get over it!

[TerdalFarm]

Fun!
I doubt whether I exhale enough CO2 to make a difference to my plants. If I thought it did, I'd pop the top on a bottle of club soda instead.
The wood burning in the fireplace does more for making CO2 in the house than I do.
As for the CO2 - stomata thing, the trick is that when there is more CO2 available, the stomata can be open a shorter duration to get enough CO2. By closing them sooner, they lose less H2O vapor; water is often a limiting resource.
--Erik

[lucky1]

Ha ha, Jim.

We definitely have a connection to plants and them with us

Folks who don't have plants are sure missing out.

A Q:
Re: Tropical seeds that have been germinated during winter in the North, i.e. my Foxtails, are now putting out new fronds in my house.
In "our" summer, when out on the patio, they don't put out any new growth.
Is it possible to reverse the growth season for them, in other words: "train" them to flush in our summers, and "rest" during our winter?
Or would we have to hold seeds until summer germination to do that?

exhale enough CO2 to make a difference

I think proponents of "talking" to plants believe it's mutually beneficial.
More of a connection than opening a bottle of club soda, because it's all about tending/care-giving.

Barb

[lucky1]

Some will say this is heading into the paranormal.

Some say it's basically Buddhism's tenets.

But whatever it is, this 8-minute video (from 40 years ago!) blew me away:
http://www.ebdir.net/enlighten/

Barb

[DesertZone]

Some will say this is heading into the paranormal.

Some say it's basically Buddhism's tenets.

But whatever it is, this 8-minute video (from 40 years ago!) blew me away:
http://www.ebdir.net/enlighten/

Barb

I wonder how the plants feel when a vegetarian walks in the room.

On a real note I hope he is wrong, I don't want to feel bad every time cut a limb off a tree.

[DesertZone]

I seen that when it was on tv. I had no idea it was that long ago, made me think of that show solid gold.

[lucky1]

Yup, that was ages ago...obviously nobody's done too much with the topic since

Re the video...just one thing I want to know.
The scientist left the building (so his "vibes" wouldn't affect the outcome), but how about the guy that filmed it, moving the camera to just the right angle at the right time. Maybe another plant ran the camera!

[DesertZone]

Yup, that was ages ago...obviously nobody's done too much with the topic since

Re the video...just one thing I want to know.
The scientist left the building (so his "vibes" wouldn't affect the outcome), but how about the guy that filmed it, moving the camera to just the right angle at the right time. Maybe another plant ran the camera!

It is so amazing that you would think people would do more with it. Or at the least open the study back up, with now days technology.

My personal belief is everything is connected in one way or another.

[lucky1]

at the least open the study back up, with now days technology

Good point, look what DNA did for thousands of old, unsolved criminal cases.

I'd even be interested in reading a scientist's "diss" the results of that 40+ year old video.
Anything...except BLANK

Agree with you, Aaron...ALL connected.