Hermetospheres

Experiences with plant life in closed glass containers

Death and resurrection

Container of 5 litres inspired by the flora of Madagascar; 15 days after onset with the following plants: Aerangis hyaloides, Begonia bogneri, Drosera madagascariensis, Medinilla sedifolia. "Malgasy" jar 15 days after onset.
Container of 5 litres inspired by the flora of Madagascar; 15 days after onset.

For my first jar inspired by the flora of Madagascar, I combined the following plants. 

  • Aerangis hyaloides
  • Begonia bogneri
  • Drosera madagascariensis
  • Medinilla sedifolia

Somehow, I must have enclosed spores of a fungus. Days after onset, it started spreading and after 15 days, the entire surface of substrate and plants was covered with mycelium mesh. At the time I was sure the plants were doomed to death and was ready to terminate the try.

Container of 5 litres inspired by the flora of Madagascar; 96 days after onset with the following plants: Aerangis hyaloides, Begonia bogneri, Drosera madagascariensis, Medinilla sedifolia. "Malgasy" jar 96 days after onset
Container of 5 litres inspired by the flora of Madagascar; 96 days after onset.

Out of pure laziness, I left the jar unattended for a while, and when I next looked at it, it seemed to me that that fungus had diminished. So I waited, watched and actually, 96 days after onset, most plants had recovered and the fungus was limited to a few small spots. Medinilla sedifolia, the one that I had considered to be the most robust of all plants, did not make it.

After all, sometimes it is enough to just be patient and rely on the ability of organisms to recover.

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