Are you a plant killer?

[damian_steele]

Then this may help you.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Some people like to talk to their plants. Now, students at Singapore Polytechnic say they have created a plant that can communicate with people -- by glowing when it needs water.


The students said on Tuesday that they have genetically modified a plant using a green fluorescent marker gene from jellyfish, so that it "lights up" when it is stressed as a result of dehydration.


The light is hard to detect with the naked eye but can be seen using an optical sensor developed in collaboration with students at Singapore's Nanyang Technological University.


http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/news...-SINGAPORE.XML

So is that a cool idea?

Would you buy the kit to find out if your plant was thirsty or would you just use the normal method of feeling the soil in the pot?

What else should be made to glow when it needs attention?

Should we have glowing cats that only glow when they are genuinely hungry instead of just acting like greedy pigs?

What about kids? If they could be made to glow, would that be a good idea?

Or something else?

[starbug]

What else should be made to glow when it needs attention?

Hmm...I wonder

[funky_fudge_factory]

I am a serial plant killer. It's a fact. And even though all of my friends and family know it, they continue to buy me plants - just to see how long it will last. I have a cactus type of thing I bought from Ikea 3 years ago which is still going strong (mainly because the instructions are:- water once a month when the soil is completely dry). Easy. That's how all o fmy plants get watered.

Hubby bought me a miniature rose plant for valentines day, we estimated it would last a month. I picked off all the crispy bits yesterday and it's looking a bit nekkid now I have tried SO hard with this one as well. *sigh*

I'm a murderer. I could do with a a day-glo plant that can talk as well so I know exactly what it wants !!

[earthangel]

I don't like the idea of manipulating perfectly capable plants to make them glow when they're dry. If they're outdoors, nature will take care of them. If they're indoors, you'll soon know when they need watering. (And yes, I do talk to my plants).

[KarensWishes]

I would buy some of this product. It sounds like a very good idea.

Maybe they should do the same for a baby, so you know when it's hungry or just needs a new nappy. lol

[damian_steele]

(And yes, I do talk to my plants).

Nothing wrong with that.

It's when they reply that you've got to worry.

[chiquita]

I love having lots of plants around the house...even in the bedrooms although it's frowned on! The hardest bit with a plant is finding somewhere it likes. It may thrive in one room but die in another. When you find the right place, watering is easy. Don't put water in the top of the pot, but in the dish underneath it. They only suck up what they need, and you pour any remainder away after 30 minutes.
Have you tried that Mel? Mind you, it helps to do it more regularly than once a month!!

[funky_fudge_factory]

I love having lots of plants around the house...even in the bedrooms although it's frowned on! The hardest bit with a plant is finding somewhere it likes. It may thrive in one room but die in another. When you find the right place, watering is easy. Don't put water in the top of the pot, but in the dish underneath it. They only suck up what they need, and you pour any remainder away after 30 minutes.
Have you tried that Mel? Mind you, it helps to do it more regularly than once a month!!

Ahhh that's where I might be going wrong then Pauline... I lob a load of water in the top of the pots when the leaves are going crispy psml !! i DO try and move them around to see where they are happiest - trouble is this house is like a huge greenhouse - we have the sun on it all day long as it has huge windows at the front, the back AND the sides, and a lot of the plants get fried rather than mylack of watering them - although the cactus likes it... maybe I should just stick to those ! (and plastic ones)

[fairywishes]

lol ... well YES I am a serial plant killer ( sadly ) dont know that id be any better if they * glowed * at me though ... cus presumably you would have to be looking at them , which i kinda forget to do too. Maybe if they sent you a text mesg or summat

[funky_fudge_factory]

lol ... well YES I am a serial plant killer ( sadly ) dont know that id be any better if they * glowed * at me though ... cus presumably you would have to be looking at them , which i kinda forget to do too. Maybe if they sent you a text mesg or summat

PMSL !!! An email would be helpful for me