Myths exploded

[mothhawk]

Charles Dowding said his next book was going to be dealing with dispelling gardening myths


"Don’t cut the foliage after bulbs have flowered (They say the energy returns to the bulbs but I doubt this, what are the roots for? Don’t they supply the bulb with all its needs?)
"
No, plants need to make energy using chlorophyll and the sun.

To add to what alldigging has already said, roots absorb water + dissolved nutrients by osmosis, but that water is then moved from the roots through the plant chiefly by the effects of transpiration, i.e. water evaporating from the leaves.

[Potstubsdustbins]

The one I can't get my head around is 'don't water foliage on a sunny day'. Now I don't do it purely because I have always been told its wrong and will scorch the foliage.

Then we have a day with weather like the other day, lovely hot sun, followed by rain, followed by lovely hot sun, followed by thunder storms, followed by lovely hot sun. How come all my plants aren't suffering from scorch, why aren't all our plants continually suffering from scorch? Its beyond me.

Potty

[Kristen]

Gardening is full of myths, rules and tips. I think I must have a revolutionary streak because unless I can see some real proof of these things I like to challenge them.

You'll have a blast reading the writings Linda Chalker-Scott (PhD Horticulture, Washington State University)

Linda Chalker-Scott

and some specifics (linked from that page)

Leaf scorch: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20cha...f%20scorch.pdf

Compost tea: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20cha...post%20tea.pdf

“Add a layer of gravel or other coarse material in the bottom of containers to improve drainage” The Myth of Drainage Material in Container Plantings

[Bill HH]

You'll have a blast reading the writings Linda Chalker-Scott (PhD Horticulture, Washington State University)

Linda Chalker-Scott

and some specifics (linked from that page)

Leaf scorch: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20cha...f%20scorch.pdf

Compost tea: http://puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda%20cha...post%20tea.pdf

“Add a layer of gravel or other coarse material in the bottom of containers to improve drainage” The Myth of Drainage Material in Container Plantings

Linda Chalker-Scott is my kinda gal. Just spent a happy hour reading some of her articles. Thanks for that Kriten.

[Bill HH]

The one I can't get my head around is 'don't water foliage on a sunny day'. Now I don't do it purely because I have always been told its wrong and will scorch the foliage.

Then we have a day with weather like the other day, lovely hot sun, followed by rain, followed by lovely hot sun, followed by thunder storms, followed by lovely hot sun. How come all my plants aren't suffering from scorch, why aren't all our plants continually suffering from scorch? Its beyond me.

Potty

I agree and when you see fields being sprayed with water every hour or so in the blazing sun makes you wonder how this myth persists.

[Dorothy rouse]

All beyond me, but isn't 'rainwater' , softer and less harsh than 'tap water'?

[Kristen]

Linda Chalker-Scott is my kinda gal. Just spent a happy hour reading some of her articles.

I struggle with some of the stuff though as I see loads of "Yes, but ..." at every turn.

Gravel in containers for drainage, for example. I have no problem with the science (water is shy to migrate between substrates) but if there are only X hole(s) in the bottom of the container (one in the case of a clay pot) does the gravel allow the water to transition across the whole surface area of the soil-gravel boundary, and then flow completely freely out of the X hole(s) in the bottom such that, overall, it drains better than soil-to-drainage-hole-direct?

I suppose I should ask her - not found an open forum where she participates though.

[Bill HH]

Funnily enough following discusions on this forum I have stopped using drainage in pots and containers. Nothing appears to have suffered from this and the bonus is that when i come to re-use the compost it isnt corrupted by loads of gravel.

[Bill HH]

All beyond me, but isn't 'rainwater' , softer and less harsh than 'tap water'?

I try to use rain water wherever I can, it is less corrupted with chemicals such as chlorine and flouride. I am convinced plants do better on rain water.I have no plants that require healthy teeth.

[chris]

I was just about to saw the same thing! I emptied some pots out to re-plant the plants into the garden - only to have a load of bladdy gravel polute my nice tilth.

[Rocketron]

The one I can't get my head around is 'don't water foliage on a sunny day'. Now I don't do it purely because I have always been told its wrong and will scorch the foliage.

Then we have a day with weather like the other day, lovely hot sun, followed by rain, followed by lovely hot sun, followed by thunder storms, followed by lovely hot sun. How come all my plants aren't suffering from scorch, why aren't all our plants continually suffering from scorch? Its beyond me.

Potty

Because man made watering causes "climate change" dontcha know.

[Pip Mccann]

digging over every autumn / double digging /digging a spade's depth.== if you have achieved the soil structure you desire, why turn it all upside down and start again ? just spread manure and leave the worms to it.
Another thing... why do we all plant ONE onion in order to grow ONE onion ?

[Pip Mccann]

green manure = shop bought weeds !

[Bill HH]

I have a few more, I have never watered anything from the bottom and I seem to do ok.

Lining raised beds with plastic to prevent pollution from the wood preservatives seems to ignore the pollution from the plastic.

I am still unconvinced about potting on into slightly larger pots to confine the roots, why? and what confines roots in the open ground?

Baking soda is a good fungicide, it has never cured my mildew in twenty years.

Chuck you potato peeling in the compost, yes it you want potato plants all over your garden.

Oh and dogs are a mans best friend, not when the little turd eats 30 sweet corn plants like today.

Oh and hormone rooting powder sucks, a complete and utter waste of time and money.

[Mikey]

Sometimes with good reason.

my own beliefs which are based on scienenfic fact.. I certainly have no problem in others believing these things but for myself I find I am being told these things as fact and not opinion or belief.

What is the difference between scientific fact and belief?

Our knowledge is limited to the technology of our time, our scientists once thought the world was flat, they believed everything revolved around the earth.

So to suggest that Science offers facts is merely pointing out that science is limited by a lack of complete knowledge. Look at the big bang for heavens sake, current scientific opinion believes that everything started from nothing, this only highlights our current lack of knowledge on the subject!!! One day our childrens children will look back at us and laugh, in the same way we do at people who thought the world was flat.

Fact balony, have you heard that beetroot is now a super food. Will we soon discover that all edible plants are super foods...