Robert Pavlis

Electric Composters – An Eco Win or Unnecessary Appliance?

I became aware of the first electric composter a couple of years ago, and now there are at least a dozen brands on the market. They are promoted as an eco-friendly way to deal with food scraps. Just put your waste in the device, and it will compost the material in a few hours. The material is reduced in volume by 90% and is a perfect fertilizer for your houseplants and garden.

The first one I saw was a larger floor model that required the addition of coir, and some models suggest the addition of microbes to help with the composting process. Newer models are smaller in size and don’t require the addition of coir or microbes.

Right from the moment that I saw the first unit, I questioned the “composting” aspect. How can they compost so quickly when composting is a very slow process? My myth-busting antennae went up.

Electric Composters - An Eco Win or Unnecessary Appliance? — Electric Composters – An Eco Win or Unnecessary Appliance? Showing Nagual composter.

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Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios (F:B Ratio) Important for Plant Growth?

It has been known for some time that the ratio of fungi to bacteria varies in different types of soil and in different plant communities. Forests have a higher ratio of fungi while grassland and agricultural soil is higher in bacteria. This has led to the idea that plants grow best when the fungal to bacterial ratio is matched to their needs. Gardeners should not only monitor their fungi to bacteria ratio, but also modify the soil to change it.

In this post I will look at the science support this idea.

Are Fungal to Bacterial Ratios Important for Plant Growth?

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Globularia repens – creeping globe daisy, dwarf globe flower and Globularia nana

Globularia repens - creeping globe daisy, dwarf globe flower and Globularia nana

Globularia repens is an uncommon alpine that is perfectly suited to the rock or scree garden. It spreads fairly quickly for such a small plant and makes a nice cushion display.

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Do Crushed Tomato Leaves Kill Aphids?

The meme pictured below suggests that crushed tomato leaves are a good way to get rid of aphids. Who knew?

This meme is making the rounds and based on comments, a lot of you will give it a try. Why? Why not just use Google and do a quick search to find the facts? That does not always work, but in this case the facts are readily available.

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Vermicompost Leachate – Will it Harm Plants?

One of the most hotly debated questions in vermicomposting is this: Is vermicompost leachate good or bad for plants? Some say it is great for plants and use it all of the time. Others warn that it should not be used because it contains phytotoxins (plant poisons) and pathogens.

What I find most interesting about this debate is that both sides claim to be correct and yet neither side takes the time to do a search for some scientific evidence to support their position. I guess I approach things differently and the science in this case is easy to find – one Google Scholar search will do it.

Let’s look at the facts surrounding vermicompost leachate.

Vermicompost Leachate - Will it Harm Plants? — Vermicompost Leachate – Will it Harm Plants? Credit: J&J Acres and Deep Green Permaculture

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Bokashi vs EM vs Eco-enzyme – How Are They Different?

There is a lot of discussion about bokashi, EM (Effective Microorganisms), and Eco-enzyme. When I read the material on these, it seems as if there is a lot of overlap between these three topics, and at time Eco-enzymeses they even seem to be the same thing. I thought it would be useful to clarify what they are and differentiate between them.

Eco-enzyme are even available as commercial products in Asia.

Bokashi vs EM vs Eco-enzyme - How Are They Different? — Bokashi vs EM vs Eco-enzyme – How Are They Different?, Credit: Shopee

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Roscoea cautleyoides – the Orchid Roscoea

Roscoea cautleyoides, by Robert Pavlis

Are you interested in an easy to grow exotic orchid for your garden? Roscoea cautleyoides isn’t a real orchid but the flowers sure look like one.

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Fluoride Toxicity in Plants – Is Tap Water Harmful?

Many municipalities add fluoride to tap water, and fluoride can be toxic to plants, so is this a problem? Is tap water harming your plants, and what can you do about it?

A quick search on the internet reveals lists of fluoride-sensitive plants – how sensitive are they, and should you stop growing these if your tap water has added fluoride?

Let’s have a look at the facts regarding fluoride and plants.

Fluoride Toxicity in Plants - Is Tap Water Harmful? — Fluoride Toxicity in Plants – Is Tap Water Harmful?, credit National Gardening Association

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Watering Plants in the Sun – Do Water Droplets Damage Leaves?

Common advice: you should not water the garden at midday because the water droplets act like magnifying glasses and will burn leaves. Is this true?

There are other similar beliefs that have nothing to do with plants. Many dermatology websites say that water droplets on skin will burn it. In the forest industry, it is believed that a rain drop can heat dry leaves to the point of ignition and cause forest fires.

Common sense and science will reveal the truth.

Watering Plants in the Sun - Do Water Droplets Damage Leaves? — Watering Plants in the Sun – Do Water Droplets Damage Leaves?

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Best Way to Fix Root Bound Plants, Before Planting

Many plants purchased from nurseries are root bound, also called pot bound, and the internet provides a variety of suggestions for dealing with this problem. Slice the sides, cut the bottom off, butterfly them or don’t do anything at all. Which method is best?

Is the best fix for this problem different for different kinds of plants? Should trees be treated the same perennials or annuals?

Let’s see what the science says.

Best Way to Fix Root Bound Plants, Before Planting

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Washing Tree Roots Before Planting

In a previous post I described the right way to plant a tree or shrub. If you follow that process, you will have success most of the time. Today, I’d like to look at a new method for treating trees before planting: washing and pruning roots.

Science does not stand still. Tree researchers are continually looking at ways to improve the planting process, and in recent years a new way of handling the tree roots has come to light. It goes against everything that makes common sense, but it could have some benefits.

Washing Roots Before Planting Trees — Washing Tree Roots Before Planting, photo source: Tony Fischer

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Twining Direction in Beans – are Scarlet Runner Beans Different?

I was working on my new book, Plant Science for Gardeners (to be released spring 2022), and came across a claim that most beans twine anti-clockwise, but that runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus) twine clockwise. This claim was on a government extension site, so it just might be true. It seemed really odd to me, but why would someone make this up? Surely this is something that is easy to check?

I have been growing runner beans for many years but I decided not to plant any this year so I couldn’t even check my garden.

There are also claims that plants, including beans, twine differently in the Southern and Northern Hemisphere. The idea that water drains in a different direction in the south is a myth, so what about twining vines?

Twining Direction in Beans - are Scarlet Runner Beans Different? — Twining Direction in Beans – are Scarlet Runner Beans Different?

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