I’ll never be as funny as Christopher Walken was in the SNL skit “ Gardening Tips From The Man Who is Afraid Of Plants “, Nevertheless I love Gardening just the same. Here is my gardening article of the week.
Watering plants Is by far the most important ingredient in the gardening recipe. In this article I will share several of the ways that are commonly used, some uncommon types of water and their benefits, to support my theory that the type of water is as important if not more so than the method of irrigation. See if you agree.—
First some basics – Then we’ll dive into the powerful stuff:
Hose – Make sure the hose is long enough for you to reach the planted areas. Spiral hoses are preferred by some. The Sprayer attachment is a practical tool and allows flexibility in the delivery of the water. Many people are understandably particular about the jet impact on various plants. A hose splitter allows you to add a second hose onto the same spigot. A clever & visually appealing coiling system may provide a sense of gardening pride. That’s one thing I don’t look forward in gardening.
Watering bag – This is a good way to keep new smaller caliper trees constantly watered. This device is essentially a bag that sleeves around the base of the tree to protect it from overexposure to the sun. it’s filled with water and has a small hole(s) at the bottom that drips water, extending the feeding time. The trauma of transplanting can require constant care until the roots take to the new soil & environment.
Drip feeder hose – Looks very similar to a garden hose, however it has evenly spaced tiny holes in it. It’s laid on the ground along a flower bed or trees and provides steady drips of water. It’s a very practical way to water plants that are on slopes.
Collecting & recycling rainwater – This is less common and requires some minor adaptation to downspouts from the roof gutter system. It’s essentially a container ( Usually a plastic 55 gal. drum ) in which you collect the rain water. Several advantages apply.
1 – You are using the rain water that would otherwise have washed off your property, straight to the city water treatment plant. They call it ‘grey water’. Some cities actually mix the grey water and sewer water before they treat it. Ugh!
2 – The City has less water to treat, – in case you’re into being a more efficient society.
3 – Obvious $avings.
Drip spike or drip bottle – this system is very similar to the Watering Bag except for one main difference. Yes it drips water from a hole(s) and extends the feeding time. However it’s designed to deliver the water drops to the bottom of the roots. Basically it’s a container with a hole at the bottom and is planted next to the plant with the top of the container above the ground and open wherefrom you can add water. This makes for a deeper root system.
Above ground sprinkler – This method can be a great combination of portability and automation. A very economical method. Make sure you don’t forget it on. I have – Ugh!
Underground Sprinkler – Great for automatic watering whether you’re at work or vacation or both. Some subdivisions may require this system via the neighborhood covenance . If you decide to install one, you will want to hire a qualified contractor. The initial cost outlay could be expensive. Once installed it’s important to remember to look for leaks in the sprinkler heads and line connections periodically to minimize losses and erosion. It will definitely save you time because you don’t have to be there while it works. Keep the timer set for sunrise. This will reduce the risk of algae or other diseases and harmful microorganisms.
Watering can – I like this method because it has a soft touch on the plants, you can add additive doses such as PH balancing easily. You can also wander off to where the hose may not reach. The decorative feature is a plus.
Self-watering container – is not only a clever system but it has become a popular trend thanks to online videos. Here’s how it works. It feeds the plants in drops through a wicking system. It feeds the plants from the bottom up, similar to the drip spike but it has several advantages.
1 – It’s in a controlled or isolated environment such as a large pot or container.
2 – Because of this you can use several feeding reservoirs at the bottom of the main container. This will require less watering duties on your part.
3 – The wicking which feeds from the bottom up, establishes a strong root system.
4 – More of the water introduced is used by the plants rather than being lost to soil percolation in a regular bed.
Now for the serious part
Methods of improving the water quality:
The whole point of watering plants is to keep them healthy, happy and thriving. That being the objective, here are a couple of considerations that might be worth your while.
Let’s for a moment adjust our perspective slightly to take in some less common approaches that are producing great and sometimes amazing results. Some prefer to call them ancient technologies, some call them new discoveries and others like me are just amazed at the results and the universal implications. This is probably enough to scare the bejesus out of Christopher Walken’s skit character on SNL.
Water is essential for life and keeping the water free of metals, bacteria and chemicals is an easy sell based on logic and common sense. Most people have heard of or use the following products.
- PH additives for alkalizing the body’s inner environment
- Filtration for impurities, microorganisms and metals.
- Exposing the water to UV light, which kills the DNA of bad bacteria and other microorganisms.
Yes there are other chemical additives as well. But if you really want your mind blown, try to wrap it around the magnitude and simplistic complexity of the following uncommon methods. I’m referring to Energized and Structured water. Two great Water geniuses like Victor Schauberger and Mesaru Emoto are good sources of information on this and I attribute this section to them.
- Purifying water through motion
The form of motion called a Hyperbolic Spiral ( centripetal Vortex ) creates, develops and purifies. It promotes growth and is Harmonious with all things living.
Consider this.- A spinning vortex in the shape of a hyperbolic spiral is the pattern that all galaxies follow in space. In 1915 Viktor Schauberger discovered that the same pattern of motion purifies and energizes water.
Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci ( c. 1170 – 1250 ) Developed the “Fibonacci Sequence” which is the rudimentary formula that all living things on earth follow the pattern as well. Mind blowing I know…
The result of this centripetal energy ( Implosion energy ) is purification, thus transforming the previously unlively water into a life giving source of energy that science has now been able to prove.
All this to say, – Structured or energized water is a life force to be reckoned with. The proof is in the results that people have achieved with experiments as well as in daily life.
- Energizing and structuring water by emotions and intent
I know it sounds crazy but stay with me on this.
Here’s another method of effecting water discovered and proven by Dr. Mesaru Emoto. What this man did deserves a Nobel Prize!
At this point it’s very easy to get off the gardening subject in a philosophical tangent, but I promised myself I wouldn’t. See for yourself how difficult it can be to focus on gardening when faced with certain profound truths. I’ve included a few links at the bottom as foundation for my case in point.
Conclusion
The golden rule has always been ‘Garbage in – Garbage out’. So by that rational, one can conclude, – The better the source of energy, the better the health and vitality of the recipient.
More and more people are becoming aware of these methods of purification and harmony whether they use it for high quality drinking water or on their beloved plants and crops and other living thngs. After all, we are 70% water.
References:
Here is the link to a documentary on Viktor Schauberger called”Nature Was My Teacher”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SNnHyaLWi8
Here is a short documentary on Dr. Masaru Emoto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4tZhMED-4M&feature=related
Here is a link to a short documentary on Leonard Pisano Fibonacci Sequence called “The Fingerprint of God”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uo4Oond1e8
Additional Notes:
In the garden, when using energized or structured water for gardening, be sure to use a watering can or low pressure hose. High pressure hoses and pipes will render the water back to its unnatural form.
I welcome all comments; let me know what you think.
Happy Gardening ~
Aaron Ohan