Birth of Myth Archives - Page 2 of 3

Do Marigolds Stop Cabbage Worms – Is this Good Companion Planting?

Will marigolds stop cabbage worms from attacking cabbage? This was a hot topic last week as the Facebook post shown below made the rounds in many gardening groups, everything from local Canadian groups, to Gardening in Western Australia. Through this one post, thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of gardeners are now convinced that marigolds stop cabbage worms.

That is too bad, since this may just be another myth that has no scientific basis.

In this post I will discuss why you should have been very skeptical when you first saw this post, and then I’ll look at the real science behind the claim.

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A Tomato Myth is Born – More About Tomato Ripening

A few weeks ago I published the post called Ripening Tomato Myths – Both on the Vine and in the Home which explained why tomatoes ripen completely when picked at the breaker stage. Some people pointed out a discrepancy in that post. How could the fruit be sealed off from the plant at breaker stage and still show fruit cracking due to excessive water in the plant? This was a valid point that needed some more investigation.

In this post I will clarify the situation and explain how this tomato myth got started. This will lead us to a better understanding of the tomato ripening process.

A Tomato Myth is Born - More About Tomato Ripening — A Tomato Myth is Born – More About Tomato Ripening

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The Scientific Method and Why Controls Are So Important

My regular readers will understand that this is a science based gardening blog and that I rely heavily on the scientific method to debunk gardening myths, but what does “the scientific method” really mean and why is it so important? In today’s post I am going to focus on one aspect of this, the control.

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Can Cactus Reduce Radiation From your Computer or Cell Phone?

Everybody knows by now that electronic devices with displays like cell phones and computers give off radiation and people have been looking for ways to reduce their exposure. A NASA study is claimed to report that some plants absorb this harmful radiation and protect the user. Cactus in particular were very efficient at absorbing radiation.

How effective are cactus and what is the best way to use them for protection? Are they as good as other plants?

Can Cactus Reduce Radiation From your Computer or Cell Phone?, photo credit; CactusCare

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Mosquito Apps for Your Smart Phone – Do They Keep Mosquitoes Away?

There are mosquito apps for your smart phone that are designed to keep mosquitoes away. You can even view a Youtube video that does the same thing. In both cases, a high frequency sound is emitted that scares skeeters away.

This sounds like great technology since most people now have a smart phone. When you go outside, all you have to do is turn on the app and enjoy a mosquito-free environment. No more bites and you don’t need to lather on chemicals.

This is a case of where a little science has been used to create a new gardening myth and make some money.

Mosquito Apps for Your Smart Phone - Do They Keep Mosquitoes Away? — Mosquito Apps for Your Smart Phone – Do They Keep Mosquitoes Away?, image by Stoppestinfo

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Do Trees Have A Heartbeat? – A Myth is Born

It is becoming popular to ascribe human characteristics to plants and the latest headlines say, Scientists Discover That Trees Have A “Heartbeat”. Imagine that, soon trees will be falling in love with each other.

Plants are extremely interesting organisms, but this habit of making them sound animal-like is confusing a lot of people. In a Facebook Group, gardeners started to question the harm we do to trees when we prune them – does it affect their heat? Do they feel pain?

This myth has a very clear beginning and illustrates how many modern day myths get started.

Do Trees Have A Heartbeat? - A Myth is Born — Do Trees Have A Heartbeat? – A Myth is Born

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Willow Water Rooting Hormone – Does It Work?

Willow water rooting hormone is a simple DIY way to get some cheap rooting hormone. Lots of people use it for all kinds of cuttings and many claim that it works. In this post I will have a close look at the realities of willow water for rooting.

If you are not familiar with rooting hormones, have a look at this: Rooting Hormones – What Are They

Willow Water Rooting Hormone - Does It Work? — Willow Water Rooting Hormone – Does It Work?

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When Common Sense Clashes with Science

What happens when common sense clashes with science?

A lot of gardening information is based on information provided by others. This mostly comes from past experience and common sense. But past experience is largely based on previous common sense. Great, great granddad thought double digging made sense, he tried it, it worked – whatever that means – and it has been passed down through the ages.

What happens when new science provides facts that disagrees with common sense? What do we do?

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What Causes Blossom Drop in Tomatoes?

Why are my tomatoes not producing fruit? This is a common question on social media and in this post I’ll look at the real reasons for blossom drop and poor fruit production, as well as some of the myths people spread about the problem.

In a gardening Facebook Group someone asked, “What am I doing wrong??? This tomato plant is over 8 ft tall and hasn’t produced a single tomato. It has tons of flowers but they always fall off. I have 20 varieties of tomatoes growing and none of them are producing fruit.”

Here are some of the answers that people gave to help this poor gardener.

Tomato blossom - What Causes Blossom Drop in Tomatoes? — Tomato blossom – What Causes Blossom Drop in Tomatoes?

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GMO Houseplant Purifies Air – Will People Buy It?

A recent report about a new genetically modified (GMO) houseplant that purifies the air in your home started me thinking about the social acceptability of GMO plants. The general public is mostly against them and yet 85% of scientists see no problem with them. I think that the public is against GMO for a couple of reasons; they don’t understand them and there is no direct benefit for them.

But what if a GMO hit closer to home? Would the general public accept it, if it provided some real benefits?

The genetically modified houseplant seemed like a perfect candidate to try a little social experiment. Would people use the plant if it removed toxins from the air in their home and there were no possible health or environmental concerns?

pothos ivy or devil’s ivy - can it purify the air in your home? — Pothos ivy or devil’s ivy – GMO houseplant purifies the air in your home

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The Unrealistic Concern About Neonics and Horticultural Plants

A few years ago I saw my first posting about the use of neonicotinoides (neonics) on horticultural plants. I knew people were concerned about using this stuff in agriculture, but it was a surprise that it was also a concern on horticultural plants.

Soon after, a study was made that verified neonics were not only used on plants, but that lab testing found trace amounts in plants for sale to consumers. Around the same time, memes were popping up all over the place. The cry was loud, “stop killing pollinators by selling us sprayed plants.

It is spring here, and uninformed people are again sharing the same memes and trying to convince new gardeners of the dangers posed by neonics. But what is the reality here? How much of a danger are these plants? Should you stop buying plants so you don’t poison pollinators. Lets have a look.

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Does Potting Mix Cause Legionnaires’ Disease in Gardeners?

The airways were full of a news story that reported, “potting mix caused the death of a Christchurch gardener”. It got a huge number of comments on Facebook gardening groups and clearly everyone believed the story and was surprised that they could get Legionnaires’ disease, also known as legionellosis from soil and potting mix.

How true was the story? Did this person die from Legionnaires’ disease as a result of exposure to potting mix? What kind of potting mix was it? What is the risk of this happening to another gardener, especially to you? Should you do something different in the garden to protect yourself? All good questions that will be answered in this blog post.

Does Potting Mix Cause Legionnaires' Disease in Gardeners? — Does Potting Mix Cause Legionnaires’ Disease in Gardeners?, The Plant Guide January 3, 2019

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