Category: General

The topics covered here didn't fall into one of my usual categories.

tevaplanter update

Kickstarter plant project failed; tevaplanter killed my orchids and ferns.

Three years ago, I was excited to back a Kickstarter project promising a fresh approach to plant growth. The tevaplanter is a terracotta vessel designed to act like a water bank, slowly diffusing water through tiny holes to plant roots. Fascinated by the concept and being a plant lover myself, I threw my support behind it. I was well aware of the hit-or-miss nature of Kickstarter projects. So when the tevaplanter arrived three years later than promised, I was annoyed but not entirely surprised.

My initial excitement turned into disappointment when the planter I received didn't do its job. But kudos to their customer support; they swiftly replaced my faulty unit. I tested the water flow through the hole before eagerly attaching one of my orchids. This orchid had thrived in a planter using LECA.

LECA, or Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate, is a lightweight aggregate beloved by hydroponic and aquaponic enthusiasts. It's made by heating clay to expand it into small, porous pellets. These pellets provide excellent aeration and drainage for roots, making them a hit among indoor gardeners like myself.

I've got an aquarium, a terrarium, and a jungle-like home filled with tropical plants. But despite my green thumb, the tevaplanter proved to be my plant nemesis. It claimed the lives of one orchid and two ferns in my attempts to make it work.

6 February 2024 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

Desperate to salvage the situation, I transferred another thriving orchid, previously flourishing in LECA and filtered water, into the tevaplanter. I'm at the point of losing a fourth plant. After half a year of battling, I've thrown in the towel on the tevaplanter.

Sure, it might be fine for growing chia seeds, but so is any $21 chia pet from Amazon. I've scoured the web for success stories with the tevaplanter, but they're as elusive as a green thumb in a desert. Reddit's awash with dismal reviews, and even Trustpilot isn't singing its praises.

Disappointment doesn't quite cover it, especially considering the lofty promises made during the Kickstarter campaign and the excruciatingly long production delay.

In my book, this product doesn't work as advertised.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)

Chipmunk spotted despite camouflaged stripes blend with forest's edge.

I don’t think I have photographed a chipmunk before. A long time ago I planted tulips and other bulb plants in the garden bed at the front of our home. Whenever I was in the garden cleaning up dried leaves and and pulling weeds I would see a chipmunk scoot across the driveway from our yard to the neighbour’s. I have not seen any on that side of the house. I think they ate all of the bulbs as the tulips have not grown in years.

I noticed a chipmunk scampering around on the deck in the rear of our home but this is the first time I have seen it in the open. It was easing something. I assume it was berries. It scampered around on the soft green moss under the trees before heading for the fence line to forage in the dried leaves.

Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) · 10 April 2024 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR

The dark brown to blackish stripes on the back and sides help to camouflage the chipmunk. Once he started scampering around the leaves at the fence line marking the forest edge it became hard to find it for the photograph.

Eastern chipmunks are listed as a species of Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List.

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

First time photographing a ground-foraging White-throated Sparrow's.

A White-throated Sparrow graced my backyard with its presence. I think this is the first time I have photographed one. I could hear the clear whistles and repetitive phrases of the White-throated Sparrow's distinctive song.

The White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) is a small bird belonging to the family Passerellidae. It is primarily found in North America, with its range extending from Canada to parts of the United States during breeding season, and migrating to southern regions in winter.

The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males and females displaying differences in plumage colouration and patterns. The bird is a ground forager, feeding on the suet mixture of seeds, insects, and plant matter that had fallen from the bird feeder.

Using twigs, grass, and other plant materials they build nests in the thicket of shrubs and low vegetation that grow just beyond the fence. The species is adaptable and can thrive in various habitats, including forests, woodlands, and suburban areas. White-throated Sparrows play a role in ecological balance by contributing to seed dispersal and insect control within their ecosystems.