During this time, it created its own ecosystem inside, having been watered only twice in its life.
In 1960, David Latimer took a 45-liter transparent container with a narrow neck, put some compost in it, and then planted a small shoot of Tradescantia, a perennial evergreen, in it. It must be admitted that David is not a very good owner: he last watered Tradescantia in 1972, and then sealed the container with an airtight lid, which he has not opened until now.
According to David, in the 60s, the industry was actively replacing glass containers with more practical plastic ones, so high-quality glass containers were sold in stores for a pittance, which suddenly became useless to anyone. The idea to put an evergreen inside and see how it grows in an isolated space came about spontaneously.
For 56 years of being in a closed environment, Tradescantia has perfectly adapted to its new environment and has learned to do without external recharge, creating its own ecosystem. The only energy that the plant receives is sunlight from a window located 2.5 meters from the tradescantia. It easily penetrates the transparent walls of the vessel and provides the process of photosynthesis, due to which the plant continues to grow and produces oxygen. The moisture released from the sheets evaporates and condenses on the walls of the vessel, and then falls down in the form of a miniature rain. Fallen leaves turn into humus and fertilize the soil, also releasing carbon dioxide. It is interesting that the plant was watered only 2 times in its life: half a liter of water in 1960 and half a liter of water in 1972.
David Latimer hopes his children will continue his experiment with the plant.
