CO2 use

[Amateurinawe]

So,

Heat, light, water, soil, hygiene are all things needed to consider carefully for the new seed plantings next year. Oh, and of course space (the family are already worried I may be encroaching on their living space next spring....).

But has anyone any experience of using CO2 to aid photosynthesis in young plants to boost growth. I'm not looking at an industrial scale more along the lines of kerosene heaters or maybe some yeast and sugar fermenting along with some home built aquarium-like contraption to hold the gas.

Anyone tried anything along these lines ?

[rossomendblot]

Cannabis growers sometimes use supplementary CO2 if they have the plants under such high light intensity that the rate of photosynthesis is maxed out. That kind of light intensity is 5-8x more than young plants need though and you'd end up with some very crispy seedlings. Carbon dioxide levels in the home are often higher than outdoors anyway, maybe you could keep your plants in the bedroom

[worth1]

Careful; That's how they made the man eating Venus fly trap.

[karstopography]

No, but I could see rigging a blow off tube from a carboy of mead fermenting into a plastic tub full of seedlings. A gallon of a typical mead produces a lot of CO2 for a couple of weeks during a good fermentation. Or just set the carboy in the container along with the plants and cover the whole setup. Mead ferments nicely in the temperature ranges that most seedlings like tomatoes would enjoy. Mead is really very easy to make. Honey, water, yeast, maybe a little nutrients like boiled yeast, raisins or even tea, or throw in some fruit or juice. Sugar is even cheaper and will ferment, but might be not as palatable at the end of the process.

Another idea is to put in a chunk of dry ice, wrapped in newspaper, and cover the container. The dry ice will slowly melt releasing CO2. Might lower the temperature too much, though. Food Markets here sell dry ice by the pound and it isn’t too very expensive. Wouldn’t take very much, but a single chunk would only last a few days.

[Amateurinawe]

[mention]karstopography[/mention] Not much call for dry ice in the uk i think, unless you're in the entertainment business. However, the mead sounds an interesting one.

[mention]rossomendblot[/mention] Yes, i had heard that about cannabis growers. And the light intensity and heat lit up every house from john o'groats to lands end like a belisha beacon when they did a heat radiation map of the country to detect thermal heat loss of houses. Needless to say there were plenty of knocks on doors by the police when they got published....

[mention]worth1[/mention] I've got a venus fly trap, I keep it's roots short so it can't stray far from the pot....

[Labradors]

That's hilarious about the cannabis growers in Blighty!!!!

Linda

[Cole_Robbie]

Forward looking infrared has been ruled an illegal search by the us supreme court, if anyone is worried about helicopters in the us.

It probably isn't worthwhile to supplement with co2, unless you are fruiting in a grow tent. Fresh air exchange is enough. People and animals exhale co2, so living spaces have more. It is heavier than air, so basements have a higher amount. Co2 generators are propane burners inside a metal box for fire safety. Gas water heaters and furnaces with a pilot light also put out co2.

The other vaccine candidates besides moderna require ultra cold storage. Dry ice is made from co2. There are likely to be supply disruptions with both.

[Amateurinawe]

[mention]Cole_Robbie[/mention] yes i read that about some of the vaccines. That will be a challenge especially with mass vaccination. I'm not sure where everyone will park, we'll have enough problems with the brexit lorries

I think i'd prefer the moderna vaccine, they do a lovely balsamic...

[Amateurinawe]

Thanks for all the contributions. So I think what i will do is just create my own aquarium type structure so i can compare against non CO2 grown seedlings for fun. In any case i am sure i will find lots of pleasure in the by product of mead (great idea) and as long as i don't let the venus fly trap too close, we shall all be safe from the voracious meat eater plant I'm not expecting much but it gives me something else to work on over winter whilst this damm virus prevents any other activity.

[worth1]

Did y'all know that Dolly Parton donated one million dollars to help vaccine resurch?
It's true.
Dolly is one true example of an American heroin.
Been married only once to the same man since the 60s.
What a class act.
Thank you Dolly.

[Amateurinawe]

She is such a sweetie and i am sure she would understand what that means...