If dandelions are raised hydroponically, would the roots still posess the medicinal attributes normally present or would the viability be reduced?

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002

Answers

from what I have read,, tubers and such raised hydroponically just "arent the same", dont have the same texture as dirt grown,, but as to the medical properties,, not sure if its ever been tested,,, apply for a grant and try it out ,,LOL

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 04, 2002.

So farI have put a single weed through a hole in the top of a sealed peanut butter jar filled with water and a vermicompost pack. The result after 60 days ,was a double handfull of tender, clean root structure from a three foot dandelion.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

I alway though hydroponic was all liquid.....what do you mean by "vermicompost pack"? THREE FOOT high you say?? Jay, you are a wonder!!! If you are using vermicompost and not the chemical stuff, I would think that your roots would very much contain the attributes normally present, maybe more so.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

Diane,

I modified a 2 pound plastic peanut butter jar lid with two holes in the top. I took a dandelion sprout and wrapped the stalk with a cotton ball and inserted it in the dime sized hole in the center. In the jar I put 4 ounces of wormcast in a nylon to make a tennis ball sized nutrient pack and filled it with water and put it in the window. I kept the water level up by adding to the second hole in the top. As the stalk grew to the diameter of a pencil, I removed the cotton ball collar. The roots grew root bound in the jar and last night I was able to remove the nylon from the center and I had a double handfull of tender roots to harvest. The dandelion has not flowered and is has vined out to 34 inches and 1/2 inch diameter. I sprouted it the last week of January under grow lights.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

Fascinating and ingenious Jay!! My hydroponics information is tremendously outdated, like over twenty-five years ago was when I looked in to it. The last I knew you had to have moving water over the roots etc. and it just seemed all together far to complicated and expensive. In a green house setting I would think that hydroponics would reduce greatly the pest problems by removing the soil as a hatching medium. I think I really need to rethink my prejudices about this form of production. I particularly want my herbs to be grown entirely organic, but greenhouse pests really make that difficult.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

I don't know if it would qualify as hydroponics or not. Just an experiment that i'm trying.

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), April 04, 2002.

You guys are so way off.I think hydroponics is defiantly the wrong answer here!! The reason the dandelion has such great concentrations of vitamins and minerals is that the root absorbs large amounts from the soil. this is why it is a plant (weed) hated by grounds keepers and praised by herbalists. Unless the many minerals, vitamins and trace elements found in the plant are added to the water first, it just wont be a useful dandelion specimen. It my look the same. it may even taste better(not as bitter). But then again this bitterness is part of its medicinal property.

-- tazwell wellington (meadmaker00@hotmail.com), May 20, 2002.

Whats with this medicinal quality of dandelions? I have friends that get sick every time they see one in their lawn.

-- Mac in Ak (nospam@no.spam), May 26, 2002.