Ryan's Experiments             Friday, January 21, 2005                  Protocol--Preinoculation with hormone Experiment   Select three leaves from the same plant!  Select a plant that you already have a duplicate of so that you can take off three leaves for this experiment.    (Mark your leafs with a colored string tied around each petiole losely so we know which is which)   Leaf 1: (Red)Control--nothing will be done to this leaf. Leaf 2: (Yellow) Pin stuck through it two times in a criss crossing pattern. Leaf 3: (Blue) Pin stuck through it two times in a criss crossing pattern and rooting hormone dusted lightly on the pinholes.   The pin holes will be poked about one inch below the leaf. We will wait two weeks!  This would be plenty of time for callusing!  Then we will cut off the petioles and trim to one half inch below the pinholes.  Then we will pot them up in our favorite rooting mix.  And wait and see which ones: 1-Show babies faster 2-Have larger amount of babies 3-Have stronger babies   I really am not interested in the "rooting"--as we all want the babies!  So this factor will be taken out!  If one takes longer to root, but shows babies faster--by all means that is the best way!   ****Maybe in the future we can determine if this casues a higher frequency of "sporting" something very intringuing to those hybridizers out there.   Any questions?    Ryan

Ryan's Experiments             Friday, January 21, 2005                  This will be a very exciting experiment and I look forward to going through this with you. GO! Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Friday, January 21, 2005                  The first picture is everything you need!  The next is an example of the pin stuck in the leaf.  Of course the pin is not still in there.  And lastly--you can see the small amount of hormone that remains on the leaf.  I actually dipped the pin into the powder, and then stuck the petiol.  It did a great job of distributing the hormone.   I noticed that after I had poked two holes into the petiole, there was a noticeable difference in that area.  I dont see "damage" but I can tell that there is some disturbance inside!  This is good!  This is what we want!  I will watch these leaves carefully, becasue I know I have interrupted some of the leaves ability to transport water.  I will be watching for lack of turgor pressure.  Fingers are crossed this is not going to be the case!  This is an experiment after all!   I decided to use Optimara Susi for this experiment!    End of Day 1

Ryan's Experiments             Friday, January 21, 2005                  I'm glad to see the pictures, Ryan.  I though you would stick the pin into the leaf stalk from the cut in and up into the petiole.   I bet you would get better results with Kiki Grow or whatever it's called.   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Sunday, January 23, 2005                  Evening of 1/21/04 ....   I have poked two plants - One is Ultraviolet Halo and the other is an Anthoflores variegated No Name. I chose these because they had leaves to spare!   -Rebecca

Ryan's Experiments             Saturday, January 22, 2005                  OK Ryan, I'm in!  If I can find a plant that's not "in training" for show, I guess I do a little accupuncture.  I can't send pictures to VV because they don't want any more of my pictures even when I delete all my photo albums.  I can send the pictures to Mrs. John and she can put them on.    First thing is to find a needle!  I will do the same procedure you suggested.  Now the rooting powder is suspect because I bought it from a lady who said it was rooting harmone but it's pink.  (Wonder if bath powder will produce roots?)   Nancy, the mad, mad scientist!

Ryan's Experiments             Saturday, January 22, 2005                  I had good intentions!!!  I found the needle and the colored threads.  I didn't find the root harmone--not even the pink stuff.  So to continue tonight I made the needle holes as specified.   I am using Kermit who just got out of the hospital suffering from a bout of Cyclamen mite, thus no center.    I poured Bounty/Sturdy, a fish emulsion, over the holes.  I am betting that I will get suckers maybe not where the holes were made, but on the leaf somewhere because I've had wavy foliage do that before and will send pictures of plantlets growing on top of a leaf.    If I decide to go outside, I'll buy some rooting harmone.  It was -40 F last night and -34.4444 F. today.  So don't blame me if I feel lazy and stay at home for the next few weeks!   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Saturday, January 22, 2005                  The first critical 24 hrs, relating to Turgor Pressure(TP)!!! After waking up from a dream--more on that later---I went to check my precious leaves that got the POKE!  I was concerned about them going flaccid, wilting, loss of TP, or however you want to call it.  I am proud to report that the leaves have nothing other then HOLES!  They are doing great!  Phew--I suppose the next step will be watching for callus growth!    OK so I must be thinking that I live in Africa.  But I had a dream that I was walking along this beautiful mountain.  Well--I looked down into the valley, and I noticed something moving.  It was a lion!  Of all thing for me to run into--a lion.  So I stopped in my tracks, and stared at it.  While looking straight at it, the lion saw me, fluffed up his mane, and started to get that "stay low to the ground pouncing look".  So I pretended to get all big and stuff and running down the mountain towards it, hoping that I would be the one to scare it away.  Well in this case--being fearless was not the best choice.  The lion came running after me instead.  I ran and found a cabin.  Broke open a window, and I found a lagre stick, so I stood hiding next to the broken window waiting for the lion.  I would wack him hard and beat him if he came through that window.  Well--it was time to get up!  ****Thats all folks****  But it sure was an interesting dream!  Hmm--I wonder if it means I shouldn't be too fearless?  Well anyways--lets relate it to this project.  It is bold, I dont think its been done before, and we are sure going to have fun doing it.  So do it, or I'll wack you on the head with my lion beating stick!  Just kidding!   Ryan

Ryan's Experiments             Saturday, January 22, 2005                  Report on plant.  I pierced three leaves and spilled a fish emulsion on all the holes.  Today:  All three leaves have bruises on them.  I don't know if it's damaged tissue or the fish emulsion stain.  I suspect it is tissue damage.  I guess I am a heavy handed acupuncturist.  I punctured them in that style, moving the needle back and forth for stimulation.  I guess they were stimulated all right!   Watch out about telling your dreams on this forum, Ryan.  Some of us are soothsayers and will interpret your dreams.  Had it been my dream I would have sprayed some fish emulsion on him and watch the lion drop down to lick his fishy smelling mane.    Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Sunday, January 23, 2005                  1/22/05 ...   My two experiment plants don't look any worse-for-wear from their acupuncture session! Poked leaves seem to have unaffected turgidity - is that a word??? i.e. no problemo with turgor pressure!   -Rebecca

Ryan's Experiments             Sunday, March 06, 2005                  Saturday, January 22, 2005     If this doesn't work on Kermit, I'll try another. Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Monday, January 24, 2005                  I guess Kermit was just too weak from all the chemicals against mites.  The three stems are sturdy but the leaf is too weighty after the puncture place and the leaf  is bending down from the stem.  I suspect the three leaves will begin to go down in health.   I will puncture another plant and  not use the acupuncture technique and I won't put anything on the plant, no fish emulsion, no powder.   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Tuesday, January 25, 2005                  I re-checked my leaves that have been poked!  No symptoms of health problems.  All is going well!  I am looking forward to seeingthe results.  Hormone leaf not showing any signs of callusing yet.   Ryan   Thats too bad about kermit!

Ryan's Experiments             Sunday, March 06, 2005                  Tuesday, January 25, 2005   The three leaves that were pierced on Kermit are not looking good.  One shows bruises for one inch right on up to the beginning of the leafwhere there is a brown spot which may be rot or may be just from the bruise.    I suspect the bruising was caused by the acupuncturist technique of sticking the pin in and vibrating it.  Two leaves on Kermit are bending from the end of the petiole.  I suspect I will lose them.   I have pierced a plant whose name has been washed off.  I believe it to be Croteau's Monseigneur.  Pink double pansy with blue/red edge.   I pierced one leaf only and put nothing on it.   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Thursday, January 27, 2005                  As an update--my leaves are doing well--as though nothing had hit them--er a rather poked them!  He he he!  I think one of the holes is beginning to callus--I didn't have time to rush out the magnifying glass!  More on that later.   Ryan

Ryan's Experiments             Friday, January 28, 2005                  Kermit probably won't make it for this experience.  One of the leaf stems is holding its breath.  The other two are deterioriating quickly.   Monseigneur's holy hole is getting a calus, I think.  This leaf will live.  I wonder who will have a baby first.  I've had a few wavy leaf varieties that when planted in soil produced babies there, but also produced babies on the surface of the leaf.  I've never had other types of leaves producing babies growing from the top surfaces.   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Monday, January 31, 2005                  Time keeps ticking away--which is always good when you are trying something new!  New things take time.  It looks as though my "holes"have in fact callused over.  This is excellent news.  This is what I wanted.  At the end of the two week waiting period I will cut, and plant the experiment leaves.  This will be very interesting to see which one produces babies quicker.  This should be fun!  After I see the results of this one.  I have yet another similar experiment in mind!  So good news so far for my leaves.  YEAH!   Ryan

Ryan's Experiments             Wednesday, February 02, 2005                  Report on holey plants:   Kermit had three holes punched in three leaves.  Because of being too energetic, the pierced leaves are deteriorating.  One leaf has almost been cut off at the site of the hole, one inch below the leaf base.  That means it can no longer get water and fertilizer.  I assume it will soon be worthless to this experiment.   The second leaf has a big callus and the bruise left will probably make the leaf die from not getting water.   The third leaf looks better.  It has made a huge callus and is slight pitted because of the rough handleing when the holes were pierced.   The other plant, Monseigneur had one hole gently pierced in one leaf.  It has well callused and has no bruising.   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Wednesday, February 02, 2005                  My next experiment if you don't mind my adding it to this journal is this:   I purchased a new product called, "Perfectly Routein" "Getting to the Root of the Problem"  www.perfectlynatural.com  which seems to be the manufacturer of this product.   Custom soil conditioner containing calcium,and organic matter.  It smells sweetly of open grain fields.   Guaranteed Analysis: Calcium 29% Sulpher 2.74%   Recommended Usage:  Once per month   Rate of application:  Houseplants:  sprinkle one tablespoon into large pots, one half tablespoon into medium pots and one quarter into smaller pots.  Continue watering at regular intervals.   ___________________________________________________________________   Since I have lots of new leaves (brag--brag!  ) I can do an experiment.  I thought new leaves need roots more than any other.  About 15 leaves in separate 2 1/2 inch pots, standards, minis and semi minis.   I couldn't really measure how much of this product these leaves would need in the small pots so I put a pinch in.  (Very scientific, n'est pas?)  They are all sitting in the same tray and will receive bottom heat for a period of time.  I am leaving two of these to do a contrast.  These two, Apache War Bonnet and Frisson (a mini by Tremblay) have none of the product.  All were planted on the same day Feb. 2, 2005.   Let's see which produces babies first.   Nancy

Ryan's Experiments             Sunday, March 06, 2005                  Thursday, February 03, 2005   Hi all,   Checking in with the status of my experiment plants. Basically, except for the presence of holes the leavesseem normal. I don't think I see any callus - there's no growth or new tissue of any kind at the "entry point" or nearby.   -Rebecca   Next Page