Week 3 was an amazing week despite the interruption of the rain.
The group’s focused this week was on Plant Science and Soil Types. This session was important for them to grasp the basic understanding of the parts a plant, layers of the soil and diffrent soil type and amendments..
The mission is always to leave no one behind, while opening the minds to the great possibilities Agri-Culture may bring to our economy here in country St Maarten.
If you Missed Week 1 on Climate Change, Week 2 on Seed Germination and Week 3 on Plant Science and Soil Types then you may not have realized the importance of why \ how to plant a seed. Nevertheless, it is never to late to help nature play its part.
For Week 3 – Plant science and Soil Types , we took a deeper look in to the basics of the parts of a plant and the importance of their functionality. Just like the human body parts, each part of a plant has an important role to play. Just as our body have parts, the parts of a plant also play a significant role towards maintaining their survival. Nevertheless, understanding the fundamentals of the plant, you will also know that a plant needs 3 important things to survive. Do know what they are ?
Plants need sun, water and soil to maintain their livelihood. Sun allows the chlorophylafil in plants to absorb its light and transfer it into energy that stimulates the roots to play its role. Soil helps to reserve minerals \ nutrients for the plant and water helps the roots to absorb nutrients from the soil. Transpiration is the process by which water moves up the stem of a plant from root to leaf when water is lost from the plant due to evaporation at the leaves.
Understanding these simple factors plays a great role towards helping you embrace your gardening experience. Its also important to understand the diffrent soil types and soil amendments that may help to make your gardening experience much more fun and successful.
There is a difference between bagged soil types such as Top Soil, Potting Soil, Container Soil, Peat moss and Professional Growing Mediums such as AP-Lambert LM-3 that we currently stock at the St Maarten Agricultural Research and Development Center. Top Soil is just plain soil with no additional amendments added, what you dig is what you get lol.
Potting or container soil usually has a few things such as chipped wood or peat moss etc to add to its texture and allow it to be more suitable for circumstances such as better drainage and nutrients etc in a confined pot or container. Peat moss and professional growing medium may vary based on the selection that works best for you garden project. Peat Moss: Sphagnum is a genus of approximately 380 accepted species of mosses, commonly known as “peat moss“.
Accumulations of Sphagnum can store water, since both living and dead plants can hold large quantities of water inside their cells; plants may hold 16 to 26 times as much water as their dry weight, depending on the species.The empty cells help retain water in drier conditions. So, this really helps to retain water in soil in dry areas where the O Horizon layer produces minimum or absent humus and tough top soil. Real great for adjusting soil in more drought related Caribbean islands. Add additional admanenment such as perlite as a lightweight soil conditioner which loosens clay Soil, reduces caking, while also Improving drainage and aeration.
It can also be used to start seeds and propagate cuttings \ slips. Blend with Peat Moss and Horticulture Vermiculite which all retains water and attracts addition nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus will make the a great growing medium that will express great drainage, root functionality and stimulation.
After the lecture we all geared up to go and take a look the seeds germinated previously, but the rain would not permit us to. We count the blessings and the group took their meal of the day. Home made veggie patties, sterfried string bean rice, garden mango salad and banana flitters ..
Getting ready for Week 4, we plan to look at Plant Care and Maintenance. After all, why go through all the above and not be willing to take care of the seeds you germinated? Just as our children need care and we maintain that care, plants also need care, maintenance and most of all, Love !
Keeping in mind this Corona Virus Scare Epidemic, we plan to postpone until next Saturday March, 28 March just to monitor the situation. To help play our part in this whole pandemic, my good friend and myself just received an immune system booster comprised of neem, turmeric, garlic and olive oil. Tomorrow we encourage our members and group participants to stop by at 9:30 am to get a shot for digestion lol.. This is how we feel we can help. There will be bottles available at $10 to support the cause of the developer of the product. Interested in receiving a bottle contact us or give me a call at +1721 5536300 or WA 5244733 for more info.
Instead of taking time build anxiety, lets take time to build up our immune system in these trial times.
Interested in learning more about about how to care of the plants you put all this positive effort into? Of course you are, that’s why you registered lol! Then, please don’t miss this upcoming Saturday…
Please confirm your attendance for your Sat March 21, 2020 immense system booster pick up…
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