HAVE you have ever wondered why the plants and flowers in your garden always look so much more vibrant and vegetables suddenly seem to grow bigger after rainfall from a thunderstorm? According to science, this happens because electric currents inside the thunderclouds create an electro-magnetic effect on the rainwater, and it is the energised water droplets falling to ground which invigorates plant growth and makes gardens seem to come alive.
James McDonald, a nutritionist, organic food expert and amateur gardener believes alternative methods of watering fruit and vegetables, specifically using magnetised water, can improve hydration and the nutrition value of the plants very significantly.
"I’m passionate about plant nutrients and their effect on the quality of herbs, fruit and vegetables and ultimately how they can really support our health and vitality," he says.
Magnetically treated water has been used in countries like Israel, Australia and North Africa since the 90s to improve soil moisture, yield and taste of crops like strawberries and melons.
"The benefits of using magnetically treated water for healing and medicinal properties for humans isn’t a new concept, since ancient times it can be seen in the proclaimed healing powers of various naturally occurring baths at places such as Lourdes in France, Sedona in Arizona and Jesus Chahin’s well in Tlacote Mexico, all areas with reportedly higher naturally occurring magnetic energy," says James.
What is relatively new is the use of magnetic fields and its effects on the growth of plants, first discovered in 1892 by French scientist Louis Pasteur.
Since the work of Pasteur, hundreds of scientific trials using magnetically treated water has revealed improved plant growth parameters; showing bigger growth, better yields as well as improved taste of fruit and significantly improved dry weight of flowering plants like Coleus, African Violets and Sunflowers. In fact, today magnetic water is commonly used by farmers in Denmark to increase the size of cucumbers!
So how does magnetic water improve our gardens?
"If we study water, we find it’s actually a bubbling mass of molecules shaped in very large clusters which are continually forming, breaking apart, and reforming," says James.
"When you run water through a magnetic field or a thundercloud this causes the water molecules to cluster together in small groups which leads to better absorption of both water and the nutrients it carries through the root system and across cell walls – it’s no wonder the benefits of magnetic watering is seen so clearly in seedlings, which definitely grow faster and stronger than using tap water or well water."
With all the evidence indicating that magnetised water could be the gardener's best kept secret why isn’t the concept more popular among amateur gardeners and those growing fruit and vegetables?
James McDonald believes that there has been too much “debunking” of the scientific evidence by scientists themselves and companies don't see the commercial returns to make a product which can be used by amateur gardeners or allotment growers.
However, that’s all set to change because London company Ecocamel, which specialises in water-saving technologies, has manufactured a magnetic watering appliance for gardeners.
"The Water Magnetiser is made with four powerful permanent magnets that clips on to any 15mm or 22mm incoming water pipe, it can also fit on a hosepipe and the magnetic water can be used in a watering can," says James.
The eco-friendly gadget requires no power or maintenance and will last a lifetime giving continuous magnetic conditioning. Magnetic fields are also very effective in preventing and reducing lime scale to give clog-free operation for drip irrigation pipes, garden ponds and water features.
:: The Water Magnetiser is available online from watermagnetiser.com
