Building a Self Sustaining Bottled Garden
Spring is on its way, Time to start the indoor garden
While I was out shopping with @marehalm yesterday, we stumble upon this big glass bottle in a thrift store, it didn't have a lid so I had to buy a ceramic jar with a lid that actually fits the glass bottle.
Ever since I read this article about a guy who build a self sustaining bottle garden 40 years ago and its still alive today without ever needing to water it, I wanted to build one for my self.
This was my chance, my bottle was not as big as his, but it will do.
First of I made a soil mix of hydroton clay pebbles, vermiculite, perlite and of course soil. This mix is to help the bottle keep its water and air in the roots.
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Then I just put the plants I found at my local gardensenter inside the bottle, added just a little water and put on the lid.
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Couldn't fit all the plants in the bottle, so I had to do some potting.
Should I give this to @marehalm?
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I also had to repot my big cactus, it needed more space, I wonder how tall this will become.
I actually started this cactus from seed about 5 years ago.
Do you know what kind of cacti this is? please let me know in the comments.
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While I had my fingers dirty I planted some peppermint seeds and a unmarked seed bag, I wonder what will come up.
I will keep you updated on how it goes in the bottle and with these seeds.
Have you started you flowering season?
Please show me in the comments!
Location: Jæren, Norway
Camera: Nikon P900
No filter have been used
No editing have been made to these photos
Photographer: @flatman
Latest Post: Animal Series #32 - Roe Deers on my way home
Looks like San Pedro
Can also be Peruvian Torch
Also
And this is my garden of KK242. After studying pictures from the web I foud out it have to be KK242. I can send you a small baby if you want ;)
Well well well, there he is! the one and only @joklahoma! was hoping you would know this! lets trade! i have 2 pieces about 15cm tall. if they get a new and bigger place to live they will grow big and strong! have you ever had flowers on yours? how old are they? all of mine are 5years old, some of them are 0,5m tall.
Started with 2 small in 2 pot's, I got them from a friend that grow them from seeds. Now I have 14 pot's and I have to do some potting work soon :) With good light and good fertilizer the KK242 grows fast and make a lot of new once every year. The biggest is in the same pot, it is 1 m. And the other one that could be the same hight, fell down and brake in two. So I cut it up into 4 pieces and potted them, and yea the family gets bigger every year :) No flowers yet, but I hope it is coming soon ;)
I am easy in for a trade!
Have to wait to April, so I two hands and its cutting time :)
Small snowboard accident :)
Oh that's brilliant! I started mine from seed, havent made any clones or whatever yet, was thinking of splitting the biggest one. and mine are only standing in the window, no artificial light.
we'll do some trading later in the spring, I also need a new car to drive up there.
Hope you learned its better to stay inside in the winter and steem than to go snowboarding :p dangerous stuff!
Her lærte eg noko nytt @flatman.
At ein kan halda liv i planter utan at dei får tilførsle av vatn eller næringsemne i eit lukka system i 40 år det er heilt utruleg. Eg las og artikkelen du viste til der eg såg det lukka systemet til pensjonisten med ei stor lukka krukke me grøne planter inne i. Det betyr at plantene er i stand til å halda seg sunne og friske utan noko hjelp utanfrå. Fantastisk!
Eg set ôg pris på dei vakre bileta som illustrerer det du har sendt med.
Mange takk @Flatmann.
Mvh.
@Siggjo
Ja dette er spennende greier! tingen er at de må ha nøyaktig så mye vann som de trenger og ikke mer, da blir miljøet alt for fuktig for dem, får bare håpe jeg har plukket ut de riktige plantene for dette prosjektet.
Fascinating stuff.
I can't wrap my head around a timespan of 40 years!!! I can understand the water and CO2 / O2 cycle, but what about pollination? Do plants live for 40 years or do they "find a way" to multiply inside the jar?
Cheers, Erlend
not every plant need pollination, the plant that guy was using was a type of crawler, no flowers, only leaves.
I've seen others making these kinds of systems, only they put insects inside too, to make it a whole ecosystem, pretty cool.
This is amazing! <3
I had come across a similar thing which was called Ecosphere which I found really interesting and it was the first thing that came to mind after seeing this post.
I would suggest you do a simple search on youtube and I think you will be definitely attracted towards the project since you have already made the one you had shown us above 🙂
Thank you for that! I will have to check that out :)
Yeah! I really believe that you'll love it!.
Do share your thoughts after checking it out. 🙂
So that is the same thing only with water? I've seen Cody's Lab on youtube made some of these with algae and shrimps. looks cool
Yeah! Both your project and ecosphere are similar. I really loved the idea and was sure that you would like it too 🙂
Hi, flatman,!!
you are so creative, I would also like to Building a Self Sustaining ..! I think it's a very unique!
This flower which I'll make available, what do you think?
Thank you for your creative ideas,,,!! greetings to @marehalm
Hi @milend!
Lovely plants you got there!
If you find a bottle to have them in I would love to see that!
Glad you liked my little project, I will try to make update posts in the future about my bottled garden :)
A guy who build a self sustaining bottle garden 40 years ago and its still alive today without ever needing to water it. How it is possible , I dont know . Really it has survived for his hard work and patience with good plan . @ flatman, I will follow your plan . Actually exceptional work is my passion. I will try to make a Bottled Garden following your making soil and seeds. Thank you for your good post.
This is possible because the plants recycle the water, just like in the real world, only on a much much smaller scale.
I would like to see your bottled garden if you make one!
Those are beautiful. I can tell you are very well organized person. Good job !!. Those plants will give positive vibes on you and your house.
Thank you, man!