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

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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