Now, some people think that this is just something that gardeners say to justify the natural habit of talking to yourself when you work. Certainly there is no "concrete" evidence that this actually works. However, the idea has survived for quite a while.
According to Gustav Theodor Fehner, a German psychologist and author of the book Nanna The Soul Life of Plants (1848), every plant has a consciousness that is diffused throughout their all of their parts. This would explain the reason why plants will move towards light, food, air, and water when needed. The diffusion also explains why a clipping can spread new roots and become a whole new plant in time, as opposed to an animal's consciousness being centered in the brain causing anything seperated from that consciousness to whither and die.
Dr Fehner was the first person to suggest talking to plants as a way to identify with the "soul" existing inside and, unfortunately, most people didn't seem to take to this new theory.
However, the idea persisted and was later followed up with Luther Burbank (1849 - 1926), a famous American botanist, horticulturist and pioneer in argicultural science. Luther believed that plants, although unable to understand and respond to spoken language, would telepathically absorb the meaning of speech and thereby grow healthier if given compassion and praise.
In 1970 the idea of speaking to plants evolve as George Milstein released Music to Grow Plants By, a record of music specifically designed to play for your plants. This was followed up in 1973 by The Sound of Music and Plants written by Dorothy Retallack. This book detailed the results of her experiments which found that plants given soothing classical music intermittently would grow faster and healthier than those with rock music. In fact, plants began leaning towards the classical music radio like they would towards light.
In more recent years, the belief has been "scientifically explained" by saying that carbon dioxide is produced during exhalation while talking and is also used during photosynthesis. This is one of the most popular theories used as explanation currently.
However, the amount of CO2 produced while talking is infintesimal considering how much plants need and, therefor, you would have to sit next to your plants for hours on end. They're already calling us crazy for a stray sentence here and there. Besides, that doesn't explain the classical radio. Radios don't breathe.
Another popular theory bouncing around nowadays is that the soundwaves cause a minor vibration in the plant, causing the plant to respond with additional growth to protect itself. Overly loud or "violent" soundwaves are said to cause too much vibration, affecting the plant negatively due to an inability to counteract the vibrations. Like working out at a gym. If you build up slowly you end up with more strength and endurance, but if you overdo it on the first shot you end up hurting yourself.
Whatever the reason, anyone who has truly talked to their plants swears by the difference. Most people that have never talked to their plants think that we're crazy. In the end, it's all harmless fun anyway so live and let live.
So when people ask me if my plants ever talk back to me I just tell them, "No. My plants are more obedient than that. Why, are yours giving you attitude?"
If you want to get to know me better, check out my livejournal. Or check out my website http://www.storagesheds360.com for loads of information and reviews on hardscaping products to meet your every need.
No comments:
Post a Comment