13
votes
Accepted
Which consumes more carbon dioxide: a fully grown forest or a newly planted one that is growing?
A forest of old trees sequesters more carbon per year than a forest with the same quantity of young trees.
When I first saw this question I thought I knew the answer -- trees grow faster when they're ...
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13
votes
Accepted
Dealing with flies indoors: Carnivorous Plants
You should figure out why you have so many flies in the first place. If they are reproducing indoors, addressing that source would be far more effective than plants.
If they are coming in from the ...
- 1,468
12
votes
What's the fastest growing plant by carbon density?
Ecologists refer to this as 'gross productivity' and define it to be dry weight plant matter per area per year.
In temperate climates this is likely to be a grass. Switchgrass has been proposed as a ...
- 7,009
8
votes
Dealing with flies indoors: Carnivorous Plants
You cannot possibly keep up with the fly population with carnivorous plants. Your typical venus flytrap will handle 2-3 flies a month.
I raised carnivorous plants as a kid. Managed to get my ...
- 7,009
7
votes
Which consumes more carbon dioxide: a fully grown forest or a newly planted one that is growing?
As LShaver writes, larger trees sequester more carbon than smaller trees, but only if they are still growing. In a "fully-grown" forest (as per the title) that process has ended — decay and regrowth ...
- 2,744
7
votes
Accepted
How good is it to reuse water from plant pots?
In my experience plants suffer in the long term from accumulation of salts in the soil, so fresh water would be better than reusing the water. Even better would be to get hold of fresh rain water (...
- 8,725
7
votes
What's the fastest growing plant by carbon density?
One way to look at it to compare like with like is to look at the photosynthetic efficiency since carbon is fixed through photosynthesis.
By this measure, sugar cane comes on top, converting about 8% ...
- 304
6
votes
Planting trees for firewood - how many?
True sustainability is not dependent on outside sources. Try to learn the art of coppicing for fire wood, along with growing self propagating plants such as black locust which grows fast and produces ...
- 119
4
votes
Accepted
What vegetable plants (if any) will produce enough organic matter to replenish the soil through compost?
The best option, as you probably know, would be to grow a cover crop right after your main crop. The cover crop should have a mix of plants that produce nutrients and biomass. Generally, this means a ...
- 450
4
votes
Accepted
What type of natural fertilizer should I use for shrubs?
There are some differences between fertilizing shrubs and other plants, generally, and between different individual shrubs. But one thing I've noticed is that in your question, the plants you listed ...
- 443
4
votes
Which tree consumes most carbon dioxide and poisonous gases?
Well, I know the question is more about outdoor plants (Trees) but I found a Wiki page on NASA's study about Indoor plants, which help remove toxic agents like benzene, ammonia etc. from air. NASA ...
- 161
4
votes
Which tree consumes most carbon dioxide and poisonous gases?
Plant bamboo. Its also an excellent biofuel. Pines and evergreens collect pollutants on their leaves/spines/firs but are unable to drop them and assist in decomposition. this is why the bottom of a ...
- 51
4
votes
What's the fastest growing plant by carbon density?
Since grass and switchgrass already been mentioned; Hemp and Paulownia tree may be the alternative answer. They are among the fastest growing plants.
For hemp, one unit land area of hemp(s) can ...
- 141
4
votes
Renovating old pears trees vs removal and replacement with new trees?
Trees have a finite life span. Commercially apples and pears are usually replaced after about 40 years. A private tree isn't under the same pressure to produce, so it can be used for a longer period....
- 7,009
4
votes
What is the minimum indoor CO2 concentration that is achievable using houseplants?
The short answer is no, not anywhere close to 200ppm and not appreciably lower than ambient conditions. The modern standard for buildings is a full air change every three hours. This means your ...
- 1,570
3
votes
How good is it to reuse water from plant pots?
Recycling water is always a good initiative, but there is one golden rule: You MUST avoid re-use it in a "circle", because of the accumulation of minerals and chemicals.
Always think of a "chain" ...
- 129
3
votes
Accepted
Is grass efficient for carbon sequestration?
I found this article regarding lawns.
It suggests that lawns could be regarded as carbon sinks only if they are not (frequently) mowered, and do not use pesticedes.
Also:
An acre of established ...
- 598
3
votes
Transplanting mature high bush blueberries
The reason for concern is that winter damage is usually via drying, and in newly transplanted shrubs, the roots (because of the transplanting) are structurally damaged and cannot hydrate the plant as ...
- 443
3
votes
What the best plant to grow on human waste and fix CO2?
Depending on the size (esp height) of your growing spacec. One of the following would work: willow (Salix spp), elephant grass (Miscanthus fuscu), or as @JChomel mentions, bamboo.
Willow is ...
- 271
3
votes
What the best plant to grow on human waste and fix CO2?
Growing plants inside to consume CO2 will need a huge energy input. If your plants are indoors behind a huge window with long sun exposure, then it is ok. If you intend to provide artificial light to ...
- 1,365
3
votes
Dealing with flies indoors: Carnivorous Plants
Sundew Plants
When I was a teenager I grew a lot of Sundew plants. To give you a good idea of the usefulness of these, I can say they can catch tiny flies (fruit flies, perhaps, and smaller) and ...
- 8,725
2
votes
Filtering indoor air with plants?
As a side note to the accepted answer (I don't have enough reputation to comment), most, if not all, of the plants on the NASA list are poisonous to cats and dogs. So if you have animals to worry ...
2
votes
Renovating old pears trees vs removal and replacement with new trees?
Generally, to compare two choices from a sustainability viewpoint you want to identify how much non-renewable resources are being used by either option, or how much pollution is created. Since you ...
- 14.1k
2
votes
Is grass efficient for carbon sequestration?
I wonder how much carbon dioxide does grass sequester, compared to trees. Moreover, is grass still efficient in absorbing pollution? It seems to me that grass would be more efficient in storing carbon ...
- 3,035
2
votes
Is grass efficient for carbon sequestration?
I believe its all about mass, biomass is effectively sequestered CO2.
In year one a lawn probably has a greater mass than a one year old tree, and so more CO2 sequestered. But in year twenty the tree ...
- 1,230
2
votes
Best vegetables for roof top garden?
I'd go for a quick green leafy crop, silverbeet, kale or spinach in the winter, lettuce or rocket in the summer. Those are all shallow rooted and will recover from being too hot and dry for a day if ...
- 1,297
2
votes
Transplanting mature high bush blueberries
I think your gardening friend has a point, because the longer the plant has had time to establish itself the better.
I guess the problem with highbush blueberries is that they'll stick out of the ...
- 5,923
1
vote
What is the problem in my aquaponics system?
To determine if lighting levels are responsible, I suggest you put similar plants (tomatoes, cucumbers and green beans) into self-contained pots (using potting mix) and sit them within the same ...
- 8,725
1
vote
Is grass efficient for carbon sequestration?
Two things you need to consider:
Storing more CO2 in the soil means you want to have more life in there. This points to the avoidance of fertilizer and pesticides in your lawn.
Peat has a huge ...
- 1,365
1
vote
Which tree consumes most carbon dioxide and poisonous gases?
I'm a gardener who is always interested in these topics. I discovered Birch trees absorb a lot more pollution than most other trees but tend to prefer cooler climates. They will grow in the south of ...
- 11
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible