| MadSci Network: Botany |
The easiest way to attain simulated anti-gravity conditions for plant growth on Earth is with a clinostat, which slowly rotates a planted pot in a horizontal position. The plant moves constantly so cannot orient itself to gravity. The Clinorotation website below has directions for building clinostats. An even simpler mini-clinostat can be built with an electric alarm clock by attaching clear plastic 35 mm film can to the hour hand so it rotates one revolution per hour. Small seedlings can be grown in the film can on moist paper towels. There are problems in growing plants in space because the lack of gravity prevents the normal movement of water and oxygen in the rootzone and carbon dioxide gas in the aerial environment. These problems are mentioned in a previous answer on plant growth in a vacuum cited below and other papers. References Clinorotation Clinostat home page Plant Growth In Microgravity Re: What happens to a plant in a vacuum? Re: how can a plant grow upside down? Websites on Plant Growth Problems in Microgravity
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