The Plant Project: DIY

A week or so ago, I posted a blog about The Plant Project. I promised to tell how you can make one yourself, so here is the tutorial. First, I would like to explain how this whole thing works, i.e., how this plant can keep itself alive in such a small, isolated environment.

You may know a plant are autotrophic; they use photosynthesis to provide energy. All they need to do that, is water, carbon dioxide and sunlight. In this way, the plant makes oxygen and it's own nutrients, as well.

The plant in the jar also loses its leaves, just like any other plant does. Bacteria in the soil break this leaves down, using oxygen and excrete carbon dioxide. The plant also excretes water through it's stomata, which you can see on the inside of the jar. This 'rains' back down on the plant and the soil, creating a humidity of 100%. For the water can't go out of the jar, you never have to water the plant inside.

Enough talking! To work!

Things you need:

• an empty jar (one you can close tightly)
• gravel, marbles or potsherds
• moist soil (potting soil/compost)
• a small plant (already watered)
• moist moss

Eventual:

• twigs (I got mine from our apple tree)
• dead leaves
• earthworms

Start with the gravel. Put some gravel in the jar, just a small layer. It will prevent the plant from root rot, because redundant water can flow down and stay between the small stones (or marbles, or potsherds).

After that, add soil/compost. Make sure the layer is thick enough for the rootball of your plant. Do not push the soil, just throw it in the jar.

Make a hole in the soil and put the plant in it. Add some more soil when needed. Make sure the plant isn't too close to the glass, because the glass will get very moist when you close the jar.

Pick a piece of moss and put it on the soil. Close your jar and there is your very own ecosystem! But...

...there is more. I decided to experiment. I put some earthworms on top of the remaining surface, and put some dead leaves on it. Note: worms eat (dead) organic material and turn it into compost. I wonder if this little creatures will survive in my small, artificial world. They have oxygen, moist soil and food, so it may theoretically work... We shall see!

In the end, I decorated my jar with a twig from our apple tree (yes, I watched the worms, off course!) You can also use alder catkins, small stones or pine cones for decoration

Any questions about this tutorial or one of my other posts? Do not hesitate and leave a comment or use the contact form on the right.