[Success/Wicker Bottle] Yellow Mustard (Oct 29, 2021)

[ERR0R1755]

I had set aside some seeds from a container of "McCormick Gourmet Organic Yellow Mustard Seed" seasoning, and I wanted to see if I could get any to sprout. One did, so I transplanted it into a wicker bottle, but I have no idea what variety it is or what traits it might have.

For the wick I am using a strip of cloth from an old tattered shirt, and instead of buying fertilizer or using my AG nutes, I dehydrated and powdered some food scraps before mixing it into the soil.

The charcoal chunks fell into the bottle when I was adding springtails from my springtail colony, but I've decided to leave them for now in case there are any springtail eggs on them. I'll probably remove them later.

[ERR0R1755]

This is going well so far! I've added a layer of perlite and a dusting of powdered egg shells to deter fungus gnats. The roots have started growing down to the bottom of the bottle, and I can see the springtails moving throughout tunnels in the soil.

[ERR0R1755]

[Shawn]

That grew quite a bit in a week.

[ERR0R1755]

I am impressed by how well this is doing. The roots have also grown through the wick and down into the water reservoir.

[Sher]

That is impressive!!

[Shawn]

I love your experiments!

[ERR0R1755]

Flowers coming soon!

[Shawn]

Lots of tiny buds

[ERR0R1755]

Going to end this soon - the lower leaves look unhealthy, and the plant is taller than the Bounty's light.

[Shawn]

Pretty flowers too bad you have to end,

[ERR0R1755]

For an experiment (and especially given the unconventional seed source), I would consider this a success! I've cut the stem at the base, removed the sand, cut up the entire plant and placed it on top of the soil (along with a few other dried leaves I had around), and covered it with sand once again.

I'm curious to see the long-term effects this has and whether or not the springtails will break down the organic materials further so that future plants in this bottle grow better.