Sonic Bloom: Scientific info and free evalution...of sorts!

[gojo]

Hey all!

I've been messing with Sonic Bloom (http://www.sonicbloom.com/) (henceforth "SB") for a few years...the music only, not the foliar spray. I believe I've noticed bigger leafs and better light tracking along with higher water usage.

Sound waves do create a biological effect in some plants such as: Opens stoma, activates enzymes, increases cell-membrane fluidity, promotes DNA replication and cell cycling, induces electrical signals across leaflets, increases water transpiration in plants and ambient RH in the surrounding environment and has an anti-stress effect on cell walls.

At the bottom of this post is a link I found to the real SB music file copied from the SB cd...and in the next post I'll list scientific experiments with sound and plants :up:

IMO, SB should only be used when growing inside, or if your OD grow has no birds or natural life within a dozen or so acres of the grow. SB music is made to replicate the effect the sounds of nature have on plants...so if an OD grow is getting lots of natural sounds there is not need for SB. Also, SB does not need to be loud (as long as you have ok speakers) to be effective.

On the fist CW a member named GrowGreen (and Lucas too I think) did a test grow with SB (music only, not foliar spray). GrowGreen found that SB increased the plant's water usage (she used ebb/flow 3x3 tables) and the ambient RH...I can't remember if GG noticed increased plant growth but I don't think she did.
(where did GG go? Anyone know?)




Sonic Bloom Music track uploaded as an free evaluation!


While I was researching SB, sound and plant response and "seismonasty"* I found a post by a really nice guy :whistling: detailing where he uploaded the actual SB music so others could download it, burn it to CD and evaluate it :ninja:. He uploaded the file to a generic file host site to maximize anonymity and security for himself and anyone who downloads the file (java is not required to d/l the file...java can break you anonymity )

The "science" used by SB marketing is really pseudoscience and proves nothing...just keep in mind that SB is mostly hype...but there is a bit of true gold in the fools gold called Sonic Bloom:

Carlson embedded the pulsed 5,000 hertz sound, which resembles giant cricket sounds, in tapes of Baroque and other music. He played this "dinner music" for plants, then sprayed them with nutrients. The music helped plants absorb nutrients with 700 percent efficiency. They sprung up with a 99 percent growth increase. A four-and-a-half-inch purple passion plant, whose normal size is about eighteen inches, treated with Carlson's dinner music and nutrients for two and a half years grew 1,400 feet long, and right into the Guinness Book of World Records. Carlson's musical "fertilizer" also transformed farms having severely depleted soil. Harvests increased twenty-fivefold. Carlson's gotten five-to-one acceleration in crop production, too, and believes his sound-spray treatment could rapidly aid famine-stricken areas and ease the scourge of world hunger. In the spring of 1993 he took his expertise to Russia to help improve crops there. In 1992 Prince Charles applies Carlson's method to the Sudley Castle Gardens, garnering sixty-five roses per branch where there were five before.




"Honor Code Rules" for using the SB music evaluation:


1. The intent when uploading the file was so ppl could download it and test it for free....for a limited time of 3 grows!!! (enough time to test and form a preliminary opinion). If you like the effect or you want to test it further he requests that you purchase the music from the SB website (http://www.sonicbloom.com/). It's $80.00 for the "home" package...Dan deserves the money as he's worked hard and seems like a good guy.

2. Do not give out the URL for the SB music file unless you also give out these honor code rules.


3. He reserves the right to delete the SB music file from the host if he feels it's necessary. :jail:

Note:
He only uploaded a single track from the SB music cd to keep with his intent of a "free trail for testing purposes". There is no need to upload the whole cd as a single trac provides enough music for evaluation. The single trac is the first track on the cd and has no music...it sounds like weird wave siren (high pitch) and a repetitive "munching" sound in the background that is grainy and lower pitched (like a big ass grasshopper)...the sound gets REALLY annoying fast...the two different sounds seem like they are at 4 khrt to 5 khrt and besides, that's the range Dan found as ideal.



How to download and play the SB music file evaluation:




Tools you will need:

1. The SB music file is compressed and encrypted using 7zip (http://www.7-zip.org/). You will need to download this program (http://www.7-zip.org/download.html) if you don't have it. 7zip is a open-source, cross-platform, freeware that offers the best and fastest compression, offers SFX (aka "self-extracing archive") with great encryption mechanisms (only use SHA-1 or better, MD5 is broken).


2. [Optional] The SHA-1 checksum (hash output) has been posted with the file. It is good security practice to give out checksums when giving out files so others can verify file integrity. If you on *nix then you know what to do, command line if easy. If you on Windows you don't have many options for verifying and creating checksums, I suggest "DPA-SHA" v.1.98 (http://www.paehl.de/DPA_SHA.ZIP) it's a great tool! It's freeware, open-source, easy to use, allows creation of checksums and if fast! There are a ton of cool tools at the author's site (http://www.paehl.de/home.htm).


3. The SB music file is a .cda file titled "Track01" and it is 44 bytes.
-->The SB music file would not play correctly in VideoLan for me, the file is too small (time wise). I had to use Windows Media Player to test the file. But when i burnened the file to cd it played in all the cd players I tested it in and my DVD player too.


...Once you have everything installed continue to #4 :up:...


What to do:

4. Visit the URL of the SB music file soundsofgreen.7zip (http://www.evilshare.com/aef52d7c-7845-102b-8d56-00a0c993e9d6) (evilshare.com is the host) and enter the download key to start the download.


5. After the file is downloaded finished check the file size of the file soundofgreen.7zip, it should be 230 bytes.


6. [Optional] At this point you should verify the SHA-1 checksum of the file soundsofgreen.7zip. Verifying the checksum tells you if the file has been tamped with or not.

SHA-1 for "soundsofgreen.7zip" 230 bytes:
61018ab0a00c2b923c2c33bd3a89ff7622382401



7. Use 7zip to extract the file,you will be prompted for the passprhase:
soundsgood2me



8. When the music file is extracted it will be labeled "Trac01", it should be 44 bytes


9. Test the file with a media player and then burn the file "Track01" to an audio CD.


10. Buy a "CD alarm clock" or an CD portable stereo (aka boom box) with memory; about $25.00 or either item. You want to program you clock so it automatically turns on 1 hour before the light turns on and off when the light turn on. I really like the CD alarm clock option as it REALLY easy to setup but the speakers suck.


11. I think it's best to run SB for 1 hour before and until the light turns on. I also think it best to use SB 30 min before (during) and 30 min for the occasional foliar spray (I use water)...birds mainly sing like crazy in the pre-dawn and in the middle of the day after a rain storm ;) Think about nature and when birds naturally sing loud and often...1-3 hours before sunrise and after an afternoon rainstorm.
-->When setting up the cd player make sure to make it play in "repeat" mode. The SB file is only 30 seconds long so you'll have to keep the cd player set to repeat the whole time it's playing.


12. when it tuns on I hope you not sleeping in the same room!


Note:
If your desnse strain you may want to limit the SB use in the last month or so...I'm not sure but it sure would suck if the RH rose to a point that molds took over!



*Seismonasty = A reaction to touch...some plants (eg. Mimosa pudica) will react to sound vibrations as if their leaf was touched.
[The sound] vibrations induce electrical signals across the leaflets of this plant, and cells at the base of the leaflets respond to these action potentials osmotically. This response results in a sharp change in the turgor pressure in these pulvinus cells, and that pressure change, in turn, results in the folding of the blade at the pulvinus. Another pulvinus at the base of the petiole may also respond if the vibration is severe enough. This kind of response is known as “seismonasty”.



...Up next is scientific studies and botanist opinions...

[gojo]

Here I'm gonna post some links with quotes:


:D


Foliar ingredinets of Sonic Bloom:
(http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/plant-ed/2003-February/007457.html)

There is a chapter on Sonic Bloom in the 1989 book "Secrets of the Soil" by pseudoscientists Peter Thompkins and Christopher Bird. They are the same two authors of the bestseller "Secret Life of Plants" which was also mainly pseudoscience.

I believe Sonic Bloom contains gibberellic acid, which could easily explain why it might cause an increase in leaf expansion and stem elongation. There is no need to make wild hypotheses that bird calls cause stomata to open wider and more efficiently absorb mineral nutrients.

Sonic Bloom also exaggerates the concept of foliar fertilization, which has legitimate but limited use in plant cultivation.


Sound effects on plants:
(http://plantphys.info/music.shtml)

One plant that responds to sound-induced vibration is Mimosa pudica, also known as the "sensitive plant." Vibrations induce electrical signals across the leaflets of this plant, and cells at the base of the leaflets respond to these action potentials osmotically. This response results in a sharp change in the turgor pressure in these pulvinus cells, and that pressure change, in turn, results in the folding of the blade at the pulvinus. Another pulvinus at the base of the petiole may also respond if the vibration is severe enough. This kind of response is known as “seismonasty”.




Biochemical and physiological changes in plants as a result of different sonic exposures
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6TW2-487DB9C-2&_user=10&_rdoc=1&_fmt=&_orig=search&_sort=d&view=c&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=4c5a82309c073df38118f2d64186f03e)

The effect of sound on plants apparently depends on frequency, intensity and exposure time. In 2001, Chinese researchers found that low-frequency sound does not damage cell structure but instead activates enzymes, increases cell-membrane fluidity and promotes DNA replication and cell cycling.

Abstract:
The effects of two different sonic exposures on two vegetables, namely Chinese cabbage and cucumber at two growth stages, including seedlings and mature plants were investigated. The 3 h exposures included either 20 kHz sound waves or “green music” that comprised classic music and natural sounds such as those of birds, insects, water, etc. Analysis of variance between groups (ANOVA) was used to determine the appropriate statistics parameters for the different treatments. Both exposures caused significant elevations in the level of polyamines (PAs) and increased uptake of oxygen O2 in comparison with the controls.



Analysis of the effect of strong sound wave on plant cells cycles using flow cytometry
(http://www.wanfangdata.com.cn/qikan/periodical.Articles/swwlxb/swwl2001/0101/010126.htm)

Abstract:
Flow cytometry was used to measure cell cycle parameters in tobacco cell suspensions acted by alternative stress.The field of alternative stress was generated through a strong sound filed system.It was found that the effects of stress on cells depended greatly on the intensity and frequency of stress.In a certain range of intensity and frequency,the stress caused a significant changes to cell cycle paraments and an increase of the proportion of cells in S phase was seen,while the stress with higher frequency or intensity may cause the proportion of cells in S phase decreased evidently.



Wine and music:
(http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/news/2007/06/music_and_wine)

In 2006, the researchers set up speakers in front of young plants in wooden tubs and older plants in a small vineyard on an isolated area of the estate. Shoots and tendrils exposed to this sonic fertilizer were tested once a week from May until December, when the plants go dormant.

They examined, among other variables, chlorophyll and nitrate content with a handheld Konica Minolta Spad-502 meter; photosynthetic and transpiration rates were checked with a Ciras-I infrared gas analyzer.

Sound exposure has some positive effects on vine growth in the vineyard, especially shoot growth," says lead researcher Stefano Mancuso, a professor of agriculture at the University of Florence. "The results aren't conclusive yet, but total leaf area per vine was always higher in sound-treated vines, both in the vineyard and in the pots. The silent control pot-grown vines also showed delayed development.




It's great that GrowGreen found that Sonic Bloom increased water uptake and ambient RH...I didn't ever read that but it makes sense (at least proof of concept)...and this is why:
(http://www.bio.net/bionet/mm/plant-ed/2003-February/007456.html)

Mostly mineral nutrients do not go through the stomates. Roots are well-designed for taking up minerals, but leaves aren't, although they can absorb a little. Leaves are good at absorbing light and CO2.

Lastly, there is the problem of the water loss/carbon dioxide gain balance, something plants have been selected for over the ages. Opening the stomates farther than normal may leave us with a lot of dry plants, at which point nutrients would not be necessary. Or maybe what we have here is a simple air humidity or irrigation effect, something well known to increase growth under many situations. It sure sounds like an expensive way to grow plants.



The Effect of Sound on Plant Growth by Newton, Paul E.
(http://www.aes.org/e-lib/browse.cfm?elib=1349)
The effect of continuous sound on the height, growth rate and percent germination of spring wheat was tested for 3, 5, 7 and 9kHz at 75DbA. The wheat was grown in soundproof growth chambers with a 16 hour photoperiod at 170 ft-ca. The daytime temperature was 24° with 78% relative humidity. Statistical analysis showed no significant effect of sound on plant height, growth rate or in percent germination. Further experiments with emphasis on sound intensity and temperature interaction are suggested.



More Info:
(http://winterharp.blogspot.com/2006/11/music-and-plants-our-amps-go-to-zero_20.html)
Plants do seem to grow better with music than without, the current thinking being that sound tends to excite plant tissue on a molecular level which causes the plant to regenerate and grow bigger roots and leaves which aids in nutrient and photosynthetic absorption, etc. But apparently only to a point. Loud sonic vibration can permanently damage cell membranes.

The fact of the matter is that plants have been growing for millions of years, and have been doing so surrounded by all the things they need to thrive - birds, bugs, wind, water , all of which produce sound. Growing in absolute silence is a completely unnatural environment for most plants. Sonic vibrations which most closely mimics natural sounds are likely to produce better growing results.

One plant that responds particularly well to sound-induced vibration is Mimosa pudica, also known as the "sensitive plant." Vibrations induce electrical signals across the leaflets of this plant, and cells at the base of the leaflets respond to these action potentials osmotically. This response results in a sharp change in the turgor pressure in the pulvinus cells, and that pressure change, in turn, results in the folding of the blade at the pulvinus. Another pulvinus at the base of the petiole may also respond if the vibration is severe enough. How would this plant respond in terms of growth if its leaves were kept closed by constant vibration? If you think very long about photosynthesis in leaves as the driving force for growth, you will realize that continuous leaflet closure would inhibit rather than stimulate the growth of the plant.


...up next...Agi-Wave: Sound-Fertiliziers-Plant Meridians (Chinese botanical theory), it deserves it's own post and thread...

[gojo]

Agi-Wave: Sound-Ferts-Plant Meridians

(PDF: http://sps.nus.edu.sg/~tanshenm/2171.pdf)

Many of these reports attribute the plantís ability to ìsenseî music to itís natural sound systemî, or the meridian system, similar to those found in animals, as demonstrated by Hou and Li . This system is based on the ancient Chinese meridian theory . Based on this theory developed in Tsing Hua University in Beijing, the He-Ne laser Doppler vibration instrument was invented (Luan and Hou, 1993) . By means of this instrument, spontaneous and external sound wave frequencies of plants have been measured, spectrum analysis have been performed, and a special wave generator with 7 frequencies between twenty to two thousand hertz have been built .

This so-called agri-wave technology has 2 components : The first one being the bombardment of sound waves (physical fertilizer), and the second one being the introduction of a minute amount of micro elements* to the leaves (chemical fertilizer) . This increases the yield and quality of the plants and fruits (Hou and Mooneyham, 1999) .

The general consensus of the research done on agri-wave technology is that it relies a lot upon the plant meridian system . Although all of the research papers surveyed have not been able to cite or explain the cause of increased plant growth, they have attributed the increase in fruit yield, quality, etc to the positive effects of the external frequencies on the internal frequencies of the plant, i.e. the meridian system .

Hou et al have measured the meridian characteristics of phylodendron plants and found that the sound waves emitted from the plant are in the range of 10 to 240 hertz, with the peak being in the range of 50 to 100 hertz . They have also found that when frequencies of 80, 100 and 150 hertz were used to stimulate the plants, 100 hertz had the best results, increasing the plantís produced wave forms from 7 dB to 22 dB .

This is probably because of the stimulation of the meridian system of the plant at the range it is most ìvocalî in, 100 hertz, which causes the plants to increase their output at that frequency threefold . As Beasley (1978) once observed : ìIf two independent systems, both having the same nature occurring frequency, are joined together in a harmonious phase, resonance occurs with the result that their maximum and minimum values are reached simultaneously, both systems vibrate in unison . Under these conditions, the resulting wave from the values created by the union of the two frequencies exceed that which either could produce independently .î Thus, the increase in plant growth is explained by the positive stimulation of the plant meridian system .

The issue of interest for horticulturists is, however, not whether specific frequencies accelerate and enhance the growth of plants, but if music can help create larger fruits and more beautiful flowers . This question, however, is not answered by the experiments and reports that we reviewed, probably because music is not very ìscientificî, as it consists of a myriad of frequencies at different magnitudes playing, sometimes, at the same time . This creates confusion in the selection of frequencies that actually affect the plants .

[The Cannarchist]

Or...

You could get up half an hour before dawn, record an hour or so of early bird sound. Loop it for continuous play and apply sound to plants on a timer duplicating natures time.

that and a regular spray with seaweed extract and "Voila!" Your own sonic Bloom system.

It's the bird song that tells the plants when to wake up in the AM that us indoor growers are missing.....You would be a bit startled if someone woke you up by shining a 1000 watt bulb in your face,a bit grouchy too I bet.

[purplehaze2]

yes! I heard of people playing music for there plants.I guess just giving it a better sound than a fan running all the time. I'm going to the nature channel and record some nature sounds. late

[gojo]

Hey guys,

While "green sounds" of nature may work I would suggest you d/l and use the SB music instead. There are so many varibales when recording your own green sounds...the frequency, pitch and cycling is important and I don't know how you would figure that out from green sounds you recorded.

If someone really wants to use green sounds than it'd be best to do a few tests to make sure the green sounds are really having an effect. I would do a grow using SB and record as much grow data as I could...then I'd do a few grows with the same clone and environmental conditions each time while using different green sounds and recording the results. Then at least you'd have a way to judge the usefulness of your home aid green sounds.

PH2,If you try to record green sounds from your TV your doomed to failure...it doesn't work like that...you'd have to go out and record these sounds in nature. Also, your not going to see a drastic effect from playing music, you will prolly not notice the changes with your naked eye. Plant sonics are useful but they are very use specific...eg. I use them to "wake up" my plants (like cannarchist wrote) and to recreate the sounds of nature when they would naturally be happeing (eg. early morn)

The problem with making your own plant sonics is plants respond to certain frequencies, pitch and cycles (how often the sound is made). I have seen and read of many different ppl getting results from SB with cannabis...IMO, use what is proven to work...unless you have some crazy high-tech microphone recorder and live in the deep woods I wold use SB...it's proven and only takes 30seconds to d/l...just follow the directions above.


Now there is a tool I'm gonna play with that allows you to create your own sonics with specific frequencies. You can make a recording with many diff frequencies playing at the same time...just to cover the bases for more chance of an effect. This tool is made for the human mind to excite diff regions of the brain via. audio and visual effects. But the audio recordings can be made into a music file and burnt to a CD. I've read about ppl using it to create custom plant sonic CDs and I think it's a great idea. The thing I really like is you know exactly what frequiences are playing, how and when there playing...cuz' you created the sounds.

BrainWave Generator (http://www.bwgen.com/) is what we should be using to make our own plant sonics. Heck we could make different sonics and test them and compare results so ppl aren't trying the same useless frequencies over and over again. Though we would need to discuss testing methods we could all use...though again I must say that using SB is a tried and true method and is what I'm using.

Here's some theory (http://www.bwgen.com/theory.htm) behind brain wave manipulation.

If I was going to make some plant sonics with the "brainwave generator" I would gonna use 20 hz, 50 hz, 75 hz, 3 khz, 3.5 khz, 4 khz, 4.5 khz, 5 khz, 5.5 khz...all playing at the same time for say 5 min then I'd cycle through and play each one alone for say 3 minutes each and then play them in random groups of two...but we also have to consider the cycling of sounds too...


IMVHO....just use Sonic Bloom instead of making your own sonics. Dan spent 20 years researching plant sonics and doing filed trials. The SB music been proven to work in cannabis by a few different ppl...don't bother with the SB folair spray

[gojo]

Hey bud!

I guess just giving it a better sound than a fan running all the time.

that's not why you use plant sonics...re-read my thead starting post...plant sonics are used to have a biological (physical) effect on plants and should be used 1-2 hours before the light turns on and for the occasional foliar spray.

Also plant sonics is not considered real science by many botanists, there has not been enough scientific study of plant sonics and all the B.S. about them turn many plant scientists off.

:D

[gojo]

On second...or third thought ;)


In nature plants are around natural sounds all day long. But these all day nature sounds are mellow, not like the crazy bird calls in early morn or after a rain storm. While nature sounds will prolly have not effect at all it may still be a good idea to buy a "nature sounds" cd (from any cd store) and play it when the light is on "just in case" ;)...just make sure to play it at a low level, plants don't have ears. And as was mentioned, you don't want to use plant sonics all day, they are for morning and occasional folair spray only...soft nature sounds prolly would be ok for all day use. I bet it would be good to play "whale song" cd's...those are very low frequency sounds...maybe trade off between natural sounds and whale calls.

I bet an even better idea would be to put a loud water fountain in your grow room. IMVHO sounds and vibrations of falling water would have a better effect (or any effect) then a nature sounds cd...along with releasing negative ions as the water falls and splashes. Heck, now that i just thought of this I im gonna make a water fountain for my grow room...I have a few spare pumps laying around! I bet the longer the water falling distance the "more useful" it is for plants...

Or even better maybe to mix both...have a water fountain and play nature sounds and whale song cds all day while reserving SB for pre-light hours and during foliar sprays..thoughts?

:D

[gojo]

I found a bunch of free and downloadable whale songs :up:...:fish:


Songs of the Whale (http://www.new-brunswick.net/new-brunswick/whales/avi.html) offers free, downloadable the song files (.wav) of Humpbacks...the songs sound like they may work very well....they are like an exact opposite to the SB plant sonics. Where the SB sonics are fast, chirpy and high pithed the whale songs are slow, long-wave like and very low pitched. It seems like it would be a great addition to play throughout the day and night...at low volume that is ;)



Whale Songs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whale_song)(wikipedia)

Scroogleing (https://ssl.scroogle.org/) for "whale song + plant growth" would be worth doing...but I have to go out for a bit...when I get back unless someone beats me to it ;) We also need a free source of downloadable nature sounds.

:up:

[gojo]

apply sound to plants on a timer duplicating natures time.

I agree. I even set my indoor light to basically follow the hours of light outdoors. I set my on time around 5-6 am and off depends upon why im growing...right now I have my HID matching the outdoor for the seedling i'll put outside soon, the light is on at 6 am off at 10 pm. I think this aclimates them better for OD and puts their cartisian (sp?) rythm in sync with what it naturally should be.

One reason I posted about SB is because I've been using it to acclimate my indoor seedlings which are destined for the great OD. IMVHO, this is may be important so they don't waste any time in "sonic shock" (I made that up, but it may exist) when moved outdoors...at least it can't hurt!

It's the bird song that tells the plants when to wake up in the AM that us indoor growers are missing.

I totally agree!!! :up: And Dan's research shows that the majority of morning birds who sing use an range of 4 khz to 5 khz and they sing in short, chirpy bursts...thats why Dan's SB music is at 4 khz-5 khz and in short, chirpy burts...makes sense to me!

Do you have SB? I noticed no one has d/l it from the evilshare host yet...


Later :D