A green plant has thrived in a sealed glass bottle for over 50 years, relying solely on light and a self-sustaining ecosystem.
Unusual plant cultivation
A green plant has been kept alive in a sealed glass bottle for over 60 years, according to the Daily Mail, which reported on the story in 2013. The bottle’s owner, David Latimer, a retired engineer, placed a cutting of a Tradescantia plant—a type of houseplant—into a 38-liter bottle filled with compost and sealed it with a cork.Self-sustaining ecosystem
The plant has thrived since 1960, receiving only one watering in 1972. No further additions have been made, and the bottle has remained sealed except for a single opening in 1972. This is remarkable because most plants require regular watering and fresh air to survive.Natural cycles within the bottle
Botanists are familiar with the balance that allows this kind of self-contained ecosystem to function. Water from the compost evaporates, condenses on the bottle’s walls, and then drips back onto the plant’s leaves. This cycle provides the plant with the moisture it needs to survive.Light as the only external factor
The only external element that affects the plant is light, which passes through the glass. The plant uses photosynthesis to produce oxygen, and bacteria in the compost break down dead leaves, recycling carbon dioxide for the plant to use. This closed system has sustained the plant for decades without any outside input.
