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.

Linda Chalker-Scott Horticultural Myths

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

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
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that peat one makes me wanna changs to coco

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http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...st-breeds.html

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

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
Fox Farms Feeding Schedule
Dealing With Heat Issues in the Desert
Rusty's Bonsai Re-Vegging
CanCom Troubleshooting Forms

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

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http://boards.cannabis.com/grow-log/...st-breeds.html

Hey Rusty,

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

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.

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

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
Fox Farms Feeding Schedule
Dealing With Heat Issues in the Desert
Rusty's Bonsai Re-Vegging
CanCom Troubleshooting Forms

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 ... 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 ...

__________________
" keep it simple, it's a WEED ! "

" when in doubt, imitate Nature "

" 2008 people voted for Obama to prove they weren't racists.....in 2010 they will vote to show they arent socialists " - Islandborn

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...

__________________
I don't smoke, grow, or know anything about cannabis. I steal other people's pics from the internet and pretend they are mine! Zip Code: 420xx

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...

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
Fox Farms Feeding Schedule
Dealing With Heat Issues in the Desert
Rusty's Bonsai Re-Vegging
CanCom Troubleshooting Forms

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.

__________________
Serenity now, Insanity later...

Get a home drug test if you want to know for sure if you can pass a drug test. Drinking lots of water for days and days before the test will not help you get clean quicker. All that water will not make your kidneys work better.

Oh what fun is there in being civil to Rusty, FBR?

The man goes around callling me an idiot from day one at this site. I have been harrased by Rusty, aggravated, made fun of, all kinds of mean spirited stuff...

Rusty's been GOOD lately huh? Doesn't make it up to all the people he's been mean to in the past in my opinion.


I get threatened for saying Rusty's experts are full of shit and I can pull more out anyday to say the opposite? That's lame....... very lame...

__________________
I don't smoke, grow, or know anything about cannabis. I steal other people's pics from the internet and pretend they are mine! Zip Code: 420xx

You weren't threatened and it wasn't that you just said his experts are full of shit. The whole post was 3 near insults meant to troll and piss off Rusty and bait him into saying something he shouldn't.

I'm sorry that the 2 of you don't get along really I am but like I said before, I am sick of people responding to attacks with more attacks or insults. Use the report key.

Rusty has served his last suspension and has been good with 1 exception since he's been back. The mods aren't going to keep him down with a boot on his neck for past mistakes. Everyone gets a few chances at first.

If anyone can't learn from repeated suspensions, then they will become permenant.

If the 2 of you can't get along then just ignore each other.

I have to add this. I am so sick of some of these ongoing feuds, not just between the 2 of you but others.

More importantly, I am guessing a majority of the members here are also sick of seeing stupid internet fights.

Look at this thread, 5 out of the 12 posts are now dealing with this ongoing fight instead of the topic.

If you don't want to stop fighting because it's stupid, then think about doing it for the other members here.

__________________
Serenity now, Insanity later...

Get a home drug test if you want to know for sure if you can pass a drug test. Drinking lots of water for days and days before the test will not help you get clean quicker. All that water will not make your kidneys work better.

Yea we are all different and see things in different ways.We are tired of the fighting I come here for info not this crap!

ive always wondered about moon phases..
like transplanting when theres a full moon and so on because of gravity i guess, no clue... nice thread rusty.

Hmm...three posts as a newbie, waterdog and you are already tired of the fighting? lol.
My heart goes-out to y'all that are apparently frail and easily offended.

So what's up...? Does anyone want to discuss the content or verascity of the scholar's insight contained within? Anyone want to present opposing viewpoints and and discuss the thread content? Anyone have additional links with valid insight? Or does everyone want to talk personalities rather than principles, and avoid discussing anything to do with the myths and misinformation this is addressing?

<sigh>

Thanks Stoner. (just saw your post)

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
Fox Farms Feeding Schedule
Dealing With Heat Issues in the Desert
Rusty's Bonsai Re-Vegging
CanCom Troubleshooting Forms

I've read the links provided and agree with the info they contained. Possibly this thread could become an ongoing discussion and repository for gardening links and resources that aren't specifically for cannabis cultivation?

Here's a link that I give my friends when they ask me about gardening pests and pest control. IPM

__________________
cb
If you don't run, you rust. - Tom Petty
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”, a scheme to enslave the able to the unable. - Ayn Rand

Hey Rusty,

I don't want to continue anything between you and LolaGal, but in her defense I would note that Linda Chalker-Scott did hedge her responce with the observation that things that are influenced by lunar cycles (pollinators or pests) may have an indirect effect on a plant (at least outdoors) and how it does. But I would not expect anything less from experts. Almost allows leave some "wiggle" room in your answers.

I think some true science in regards to container size, various veg times and such, scince they hold alot of mythology, especially with regards to growing with hydro.

__________________
Don't touch my Willie - Kevin Fowler
Keep it civil please, gentlemen. -stinkyattic
I think people should be educated to the fact marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say God is wrong? -Willie Nelson

I don't at all mind discussing the pro's and con's of the papers, but I am getting sick and tired of members chiming-in during my postings with accusations, inuendo and and a severe lack of proof backing their insults. None of us here has exclusive rights to one technique or another, but some folks sure do turn hostile if you disagree with them and show proof backing your dissent. Most folks would see this as an opportunity to discuss. Some take it as an insult.

Ms Chalker-Scott's statement that "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." doesn't seem very ambiguous to me. But it is a summary of other papers published on the subject and not nearly as informative as having the actual studies in front of us to see what was debunked, what was plausible. But I've seen nothing on the web negative of her papers, and she has nothing to gain by presenting one opinion or another, so I am willing to give a much higher degree of credibility than someone selling a book with 'handy' charts.

crabbyback: How does horticulture not apply to growing cannbis? Cannabis is a plant, and has to follow certain biological processes. Minor differences in climatic and nutritional needs, but as I've heard before..."it's a class-c plant".

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
Fox Farms Feeding Schedule
Dealing With Heat Issues in the Desert
Rusty's Bonsai Re-Vegging
CanCom Troubleshooting Forms

It's a C3 plant like the majority of plants and trees in the world. I knew what you meant by class C, tho.

__________________
Don't touch my Willie - Kevin Fowler
Keep it civil please, gentlemen. -stinkyattic
I think people should be educated to the fact marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say God is wrong? -Willie Nelson

Sorry for being unclear. I meant horticultural sites that don't cater exclusively to MJ growers but I guess that doesn't make sense either.

__________________
cb
If you don't run, you rust. - Tom Petty
“From each according to his ability, to each according to his need”, a scheme to enslave the able to the unable. - Ayn Rand

Rusty, I will go through and read some of the myths. Not to start anything because I don't work by the moon. It's there or it's not my shcedual remains the same either way.

Here is a read I found, not that I agree but I know old farmers that live by it.How does lunar planting work?

Your link kinda aids in proving my point. The largest type in the sub-header says "BUY NOW". (not that this site has an agenda, but...)
No matter how you package snake oil, it's still snake oil.

__________________
Your disappointments grow in direct proportion to your expectations.
If you are comfortable with your facts, you should assume I'll be comfortable challenging those facts.

Horticultural Myths and Folklore
Fox Farms Feeding Schedule
Dealing With Heat Issues in the Desert
Rusty's Bonsai Re-Vegging
CanCom Troubleshooting Forms

Excellent find Rusty, thanks for posting it.

__________________
Typing does not equal activism.