MENDOZA: To maybe not be Mark Watney - I'd prefer not to get stranded on Mars - but to be an archetype, inspiring people to learn more, and you really do a lot with available resources. MENDOZA: Frass does seem to have a certain added benefit. At about 10% mixture, it seems to add enough nutrients to the soil but also not add too many.

CHANG: He's even seeing growth in 100% simulated Martian soil, though the plants are less healthy and have smaller leaves. More exotic seeds have dormant periods that can last years. Or require unusual conditions to break their dormancy such as fire. This question is not as straightforward as it appears. There are several factors which determine how much and how often you should be watering when growing seeds. But ultimately it comes down to experience and judgement. The three bacteria used in the study were: Bacillus mucilaginosus, Bacillus megaterium and Pseudomonas fluorescens. The researchers tested other bacteria as well, but those did not produce the same beneficial effects. The first key factor is age. Seedlings need moisture and humidity. Their root systems are too small to draw up enough water if their leaves lose too much to the atmosphere. However, too much water/humidity can lead to damping off (pythium). So careful monitoring with a hygrometer (humidity monitor) and ventilation to keep the levels between 50-70% is desirable.

How much/often should I water my seeds?

EMMANUEL MENDOZA: Howdy. My name is Emmanuel Mendoza. I'm a junior aerospace engineering major, minoring in mathematics and agricultural systems management at Texas A&M University. MENDOZA: All of the plants that are growing right now are exhibiting flowering. If they haven't already started growing pea pods, they are flowering, which is awesome. For the organic grower they have the oldtimer granules to boost the beneficial microbe population. They also have their dual action natural pest and fungus control spray - Bugicide. Seeds have a shelf life. Use them as soon as possible to increase their chance of growth. However, make sure the germination environment is suitable for the plant to grow in. Sown seeds need plenty of moisture. The water content of the seed needs to be about 70% for a chemical process to start.

SHAPIRO: Mendoza recently presented his experiment and initial findings at the Entomological Society of America's 2023 conference. In the 2015 movie "The Martian," Matt Damon played a botanist stranded all alone on the inhospitable planet. A special blend of Sphagnum Peat, Fytocell Foam, and our unique Organic Growth Stimulant. Plant Magic – Soil Supreme makes for a superior growing medium that always yields the best results. They make a full range of both mineral and organic origin, with a range of matching boosters and additives to boot. Not just for Soil There are a few reasons why, when growing seeds, germination and sprouting won’t occur. Most of them coming from human interference.MATT DAMON: (As Mark Watney) So I got to figure out a way to grow three years' worth of food here on a planet where nothing grows. SHAPIRO: Soon he'll harvest the pods. And once he's done collecting that data, he says he'll compile his results into a paper. And thinking far into the future, Mendoza would jump at the opportunity to go to Mars himself. A plant cultivation system on the moon could help meet long-term food and oxygen requirements for human crews, Xia added. Plants produce oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis, the biological process in which they turn sunlight into energy. Whether it's a silicion additive or a PK booster, Plant Magic produce a range of additives to go along with their mineral nutrients. They also produce a "Bio" range of additives to go alongside their organic oldtimer nutrients. You will get fantastic results whichever range you decide to go with. Seed coatings (Testa) often need soaking to soften or scratching (scarification) to help it to break open and germinate. In the wild this would happen with weathering or animal interference.

Our Organic Growth Stimulant has been extracted from prehistoric plants and animal remains that have decomposed naturally over millions of years. As well as improved quality, flavours, and aromas from flowers, you can expect to see an increase in your yield, especially if you are hoping to grow fruits and vegetables. Our Organic Growth Stimulant is also a great food source for beneficial fungi and microorganisms. SHAPIRO: Mendoza mixed simulated Martian soil and frass in different ratios to see what best supported growing English pea plants. The study used simulated regolith rather than the real thing because genuine lunar soil, as one might imagine, is in short supply on Earth. The researchers used volcanic material from the Changbai mountains of China's Jilin Province to create soil with similar chemical and physical properties to lunar regolith. Plant Magic are particularly well known for their soil nutrients in both their A&B mineral version, and also their single bottle organic oldtimer nutrients. Both of these nutrients are the best soil nutrients that you can buy. Also, they also have a unique, innovative, and dedicated nutrient for the DWC (Deep Water Culture) method of growing. The Additives This should give you plenty of run-off (water draining from the bottom of the pot) leaving your soil fully wet. This not only replicates a natural rain shower, but as the roots intake water, the rhizosphere dries out and the roots then spread out in search of more water. This expands the rhizosphere, giving bigger roots with more potential to absorb nutrients. As the rhizosphere dries out, air replaces the water allowing the microbes and the roots themselves to respirate. If the soil isn’t allowed to dry or becomes waterlogged through poor drainage, many microbes die. How do I mix nutrients?

Plant Magic – Soil Supreme

MENDOZA: It doesn't have organic matter, and it's also missing some certain macronutrients that contain nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur. To make sure that your Soil Supreme is performing well, simply water regularly and make sure that you have sufficient drainage so that it doesn’t become too saturated in water. It’s never been easier to grow strong, healthy, and robust plants. MENDOZA: What can we do with Martian soil? What modifications, if any, can we make to the soil in the future to, you know, make it more habitable for terrestrial plant growth on a different planet? So I guess extraterrestrial plant growth. Plant magic (or Plant Magic Plus, to give them their full name) are a dyed-in-the-wool British nutrient manufacturer. CHANG: But he's not quite done with the project. Pea plants take about 10 to 12 weeks to fully mature, and Mendoza's are almost there.