Astonishing plant is still thriving inside sealed bottle after 40 years without fresh air or water

[Anchor]

How DOES this garden grow? Astonishing plant is still thriving inside sealed bottle after 40 years without fresh air or water


David Latimer first planted his bottle garden in 1960 and last watered it in 1972 before tightly sealing it shut 'as an experiment'
The hardy spiderworts plant inside has grown to fill the 10-gallon container by surviving entirely on recycled air, nutrients and water
Gardeners' Question Time expert says it is 'a great example just how pioneering plants can be'


A plant grown inside a sealed glass bottle is still thriving despite not having water or fresh air for more than 40 years.

Gardener David Latimer, 80, from Cranleigh in Surrey, first planted his bottle garden in 1960 and finally sealed it tightly shut 12 years later - yet it's still going strong.

He recently took a picture of the 53-year-old bottle garden along to Radio 4 Gardener's Question Time, where it was hailed as an amazing example of plants recycling their own waste by members of the programme's expert panel.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/01/24/article-2267504-17212EB3000005DC-781_634x663.jpg


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2267504/The-sealed-bottle-garden-thriving-40-years-fresh-air-water.html

[WhiteFeather]

They should name it The Prana Plant. Great Find.....

[DeDukshyn]

I wonder if he opened it, if a fungus would kill it right away ... hehe ;) Very interesting though .. I would have never thought that possible .... Life is just a plain awesome force.

ADDITION: Even more interesting to think the the only input there is light. Fully sustained by only Light.

[GarethBKK]

The jar received light and what else? I'm reminded of Masaru Emoto's 'rice in jars' experiments, where loving thoughts, indifference and hateful thoughts had three different effects on the decomposition. I wonder if David Latimer gave his plant loving thoughts everyday in his living room.

[Tesla_WTC_Solution]

This will work wonders in space when humans need food for voyages.

not to mention 50 percent of a plant's energy goes to resisting gravity?

In space, not a problem! hermetic jars lol

[Mu2143]

....................

[Lifebringer]

Temperature changes produce dew like moisture and the dying leaves the food. When cold or hot enclosed meet, condensation and deterioration, and regeneration from the light.
This plant jar is kinda thick to ensure proper moisture accumulation along the inside of the glass during cooler seasonal night periods which hydrate dry or partially dehydrated roots and soil. The roots store the water and during the warmer months utilize it by stopping the flow of water to roots trying to grow beyond the barrier of the jar, thereby feeding itself.
Amazing.

Thought I'd try a scientific formula, but fell short without research on a Dwzt=dewzone temp . Have to know amount of accumulation during each season. Phew, the multiple combinations could make one dizzy, and the research for averaging would require almanac and years study by season in all four regions of the country. Hmmm. So many possibilities, you'd get bored just printing them all out. Here in the south the average temp in winter is 35-70 degrees off and on between Dec and March. Spring night temps are 55-80 and days 80 -92, Summer nights 80-95 days 95-105(seldom see dew because the sun comes on hot and fierce early morning, but do get high humidity then.

T=40 degreesNt + T=75degreesDt +Sspr=Dwz
Nt= Night/temp
Dt= day/temperature
Sspr=Season/spring
Sw=Season/winter
Ssmr=Season/summer
Sfll=Season/fall

Ahhhhh.....I'll be back when the formulas are flying so fast with possibilities without actual amounts of dew accumulation and amount of days dew is present.

You guys understand, right?

[Operator]

I planted some seeds recently in tiny containers to let them sprout. I gave it a little water and then
stored it in a plastic cake form with translucent lid (the local supermarket sells cakes packaged like that).

I didn't look at it for weeks. Although I am in the tropics in a desert like climate the seeds were still going
strong and there was a lot of condensed water on the inside. Greenhouses DO work.

We probably still underestimate how quickly you dehydrate if air is sufficiently circulated. That's the reason
why a simple rotating fan works. It also works vice versa, not many people realize that a lot of water is
continually blowing over their heads in the wind. Our local climate simply doesn't transform it into rain.
But with some help you can tap water from the air ...

[Anchor]

ADDITION: Even more interesting to think the the only input there is light. Fully sustained by only Light.

Yes, I think this is the key insight to be had.

Refer/compare/contrast also Dawn's epic thread on not eating anything but still being able to live.