Wondering if a technique, product or idea is fact or myth...?

Many different myths dispelled, albeit relating to gardening and food crop biology in general. Very interesting reading offering a glimpse into plant biology, marketing and folklore.

Just came across it a few weeks ago, but have read a few that seemed applicable to my growroom. The summaries about compost teas, foliar feeding, epsom salt, (magnesium sulfate) and Superthrive (vitamin suppliments) were truly informative and at the very least...make ya think.

Anyway, if you're into learning, it's just technical enough to need re-reading some of the sentences, (or read the articles prior to taking your evening meds) but has made me re-think some of my understandings of soil chemistry and plant biology in an easy to read format.

Hope y'all get as much out of this as I have. :jointsmile:

Linda Chalker-Scott Horticultural Myths

Shoot...I meant to post this in the Basic Growing forum. <sigh>

that peat one makes me wanna changs to coco

The peat thing didn't impress me nearly as much as the compost tea, phosphate, foliar feeding and epsom salt papers.

But I did notice that there wasn't anything on the moon phases...so I e-mailed the author directly.

In response to my asking the validity of moon phases on indoor and/or outdoor cannabis gardening, (specifically) she explained that...
Oh screw it...here's what I asked, and the response I got...

To whom it may concern, (Ms. Chalker-Scott)

Hello, my name is (Rusty), and I have a question or two about moon phase gardening.

First, I want to thank you for your papers on horticultral myths, and all the insightful information they impart.
I'm a woodworker that has been caretaking for my wife. (being treated with chemo for chronic t-cell lymphoma for 7 years now) Since insurance does not cover all of her meds, I (legally) grow what the insurance doesn't cover....indoors under HID's, in soil.
Anyway, I've been doing a lot of reading in the gardening forums about moon phase gardening. But there is an onoing disagreement about its validty. Sometimes to the point of becoming rather heated.

I am in hopes you can point me in the right direction for answers, as all I can find are marketing ads and other gardening sites having the same arguments.

So...is moon phase gardening a valid technique, and if so, is it a valid tehnique for indoor gardening, as well?

Any insight or links would be greatly appreciated, and thanks again for the mythbusting.

-Rusty
This is the response I got this morning:

Dear (Rusty) -

Moon phases do have a significant effect on certain ecosystems and organisms, most notably marine species who are influenced by tidal shifts. Additionally, there are a number of nocturnal insects, like moths, that are affected by the phase of the moon. Terrestrial plants, however, have no known response to moon phases and "gardening by the moon" is not based on any reputable or repeatable science.

I did a quick review of the literature on this topic; there are less than 20 over the last several decades. Most of the papers are not published in English, though the abstracts are. Though a few articles claim lunar effect on some plant attribute or another, there is no cohesive connection among these papers, and in fact most of the articles strongly refute any such effect.

The only explanation that might exist for any differences in plant responses that coincide with lunar cycles would be if a plant's pollinators or pests had lunar-dependent cycles. That in turn could influence their activity on plants, which would then show effects based on insect activity. But this is not a direct influence of the moon on the plant.

Hope this is helpful -

Linda

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Linda Chalker-Scott
Associate Professor and Extension Urban Horticulturist
WSU Puyallup Research and Extension Center
2606 W. Pioneer
Puyallup, WA 98371

Phone: (253)
URL: Linda Chalker-Scott

the compost tea thing said nothing really except its unstable, which i know but gives me the best results so far.

its an ancient hippy mixture from the 60s long b4 FF or any other nute co. handed down from grower to grower and i must go to a damn hippy store to get the ingredients.

i still need to read some


not sure about moon gardening saw thread and seemed kinda out there so i never checked it out, maybe i will now.
but i can say that outdoors i do noticed increased growth at a full moon or new moon or something like that

Hey Rusty,

Thanks for that link, as I get more time I will read it all.:thumbsup:

I also thank you for asking her a good question about lunar phases and posting her responce. I have wondered about certian aspects of the moon, and relationship to plants and planting. Her answer seems well reasoned.

I know that the moon can effect people, I am in fact a true lunatic. Around full moon time I have trouble sleeping, and at times I almost howl at the moon.

When I found her papers I thought it would be in there, and it's absence had me a bit worried. Figured it never hurts to ask. What surprised me was that she only took an hour or so to answer.

Likely she was just sitting there with her feet kicked-up, asking herself..."now what should my next paper address...?" when "you've got mail" chimed-in, interrupting her focus. :jointsmile:

I'm just a plain lunatic. Crazy during all phases. :thumbsup:

a similar 'urban myth' regarding lunar phases, is that during full moons, there is much more violence and crime, etc ... however, any police dispatcher, or long-time bartender, will usually attest that the moon phase makes no difference ... people are either out-of-control, or they're not ... I'm crazy as a loon, but not dependent on the moon :D ... my opinion on lunar planting/harvesting is just this: it does no harm, either way ;) ... if you like it, by all means, do it the way you prefer, the plant will NOT care ... if nothing else, it keeps you abreast of your plants' age, and stage of life, so that's a positive thing ... :smokin:

Too bad Rusty won't see this as he claims he has put me on ignore a long time ago.

Rusty for every expert you pull out your butt, I can pull 3 out of mine that sez the opposite.

Is this supposed to prove anything? LOL...

Just when ya'll thought I wasn't paying attention...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LolaGal

Rusty for every expert you pull out your butt, I can pull 3 out of mine that sez the opposite.

Is this supposed to prove anything?

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Had to remove ya from ignore to see what nonsence you were pushing in my thread.

So where is even one reputable scholar that you claim supports your garbage? Still haven't come up with one have you...? I've noticed a pattern of dismissiveness whenever you are asked to show proof or supporting evidence. Which is actually sad. Even in the face of facts, you are defending a dead horse. Your tactics and techniques are both unimpressive, and without biological validity, and no ammount of whining will change the fact that the whole underpinning of your lunar phases gardening technique is dissolving before our eyes.

Does it make you feel edumicated talking out of your ass to those that know no better? If you'd like, I can re-post this in "your" thread, and we can rehash this conversation there, but until you come up with any supporting evidence that lunar phases has any direct effect on terrestrial plant habits, from a biologist, your claims are undereducated and overinflated.

This isn't a let's discuss this and see if we can compromise type of thread, and I, as the OP, am requesting that you take your etherial bullshit elsewhere.

But thanks for stopping-by...:thumbsup:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by LolaGal

Rusty for every expert you pull out your butt, I can pull 3 out of mine that sez the opposite.

Is this supposed to prove anything? LOL...

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Please Lola let's not stir up things. It seems like you're tyring to push his buttons which doesn't take much. Rusty has been good for the last few months and I like both of you so please don't put me in a tight situation where I have to send someone to their room.

Must of us know you 2 don't agree on gardening by the moon but let's keep it civil for the love of God.