JP Lieutenant JG Ras El'Heem & Ensign Juliet Banks - Tropism Pt. 1
Ras El'Heem
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DATE: 240207.04
RECIPIENT: Lieutenant JG Ras El’Heem [RE-080-999]
SUBJECT: Requesting Botany advice
MESSAGE:
Dear Lieutenant El’Heem,
I don’t know if you remember me but we met briefly the other day; I was hoping to chat with you at lunch, but it was a much bigger group than I was expecting. (Sorry lunch didn’t agree with you – I hope you’re feeling better.)
I have a question that I was hoping you could help with – this is an entirely off-duty matter so please do tell me to push off if you’re busy! I’m given to understand that you’re one of the ship’s keenest botanists, and I would love a bit of advice about very, very amateur botany.
I’d like to get a couple of suitable plants to make my quarters look nice. (This is the first time I’ve had solo quarters since I was a teenager!) I’ve never really kept plants before, so any advice you can offer would be welcome.
I think my main questions are:
Are there any particular kinds of plants you’d recommend, that can thrive on spaceships and are newbie-friendly?
How much effort and time do I need to be able to commit to looking after them?
Are there automated systems available so they won’t die if I’m off the ship for a period of time?
As you can see, I’m really starting from scratch here!
Thank you and I hope this isn’t too much of a bother.
Sincere regards and best wishes,
Ensign Juliet Banks
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DATE: 240207.06
RECIPIENT: Ensign Juliet Banks [NL-337-050]
SUBJECT: RE: Requesting Botany advice
MESSAGE:
Ensign Banks,
Apologies for the delay. I meant to respond yesterday but it got away from me.
I do indeed remember you, and again I apologize for my behavior. I have not been myself lately.
I am delighted that you would like to add some flora to your quarters, and I can definitely assist in recommending some plants.
| Are there any particular kinds of plants you’d recommend, that can thrive on spaceships and are newbie-friendly?
Being that you are from Luna, there are a number of hearty, low maintenance Terran plants that I would suggest:
Sansevieria trifasciata aka Snake Plant. They thrive in low light and dry conditions.
Zamioculcas zamiifolia aka ZZ Plant. They too thrive in low light and will survive several missed waterings.
Epipremnum aureum aka Pothos. Pothos can survive in many types of lighting and are likewise low maintenance.
| How much effort and time do I need to be able to commit to looking after them?
Being that we are frequently busy with our posting duties and on missions, our quarters are not a priority, you should choose low maintenance plants that can go extended periods without water.
| Are there automated systems available so they won’t die if I’m off the ship for a period of time?
I have a system that I put together for this purpose, complete with lights and a watering system. This is, of course, more advanced than you may need. I would recommend starting with plants that do not require this sort of maintenance.
I hope I have been of assistance.
Lieutenant JG Ras El’Heem
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DATE: 240207.07
RECIPIENT: Lieutenant JG Ras El’Heem [RE-080-999]
SUBJECT: RE: Requesting Botany advice
MESSAGE:
Hello Lieutenant El’Heem,
Thank you so much for your response, and please, don’t worry about the delay. This really isn’t urgent – and I don’t know about you, but I’m finding shore leave surprisingly hectic! My last leave, at the end of my cadet cruise, was simply time at home while I waited for my first posting; I don’t think I’d realised until now just how much work needs to continue while we’re ostensibly at liberty.
The plants you recommended all sound good – I’m not at all averse to specimens from other worlds, but it’ll be nice to have a touch of home with me.
I did a little searching of the databanks to learn more about them, and all three of the plants sound interesting. I think I should probably steer clear of the Zamioculcas zamiifolia without a medical check as I do have a few minor allergies and I read that it can cause skin irritation in people with sensitivities, but both the Sansevieria trifasciata and the Epipremnum aureum appeal.
From what I read, the Snake Plant will eventually grow reasonably large; would it eventually grow sizeable enough to suit a floor pot? It would be nice to have a larger plant in one of the corners.
I might also get a Pothos – it won’t be any more trouble to look after two plants rather than one, and I like the look of the vines of the mature plant. (The pictures looked a bit familiar; I think my mother might have kept one of these for a while.)
| I have a system that I put together for this purpose, complete with lights and a watering system. This is, of course, more advanced than you may need. I would recommend starting with plants that do not require this sort of maintenance.
I do have a bit of a tendency to leap in at the deep end, so your reminder is welcome and well-taken. I’ll save that for the advanced course once I know what I’m doing – it sounds like the plants you’ve recommended are hardy enough to survive short absences anyway. Your system sounds very thorough – you’ve clearly been doing this for quite a while!
Should I just look for standard soil (potting mix? Is that the right thing?) at DS33, or are there better growth mediums for a shipboard environment? I was going to investigate the Arboretum the other day but got rather derailed, and I know that’s a bigger ecosystem than just one plant pot anyway.
Thank you again for your assistance – and as previously mentioned please don’t feel obligated; you’ve been a great help already.
Warm regards,
Ensign Juliet Banks
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TBC
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Lieutenant JG Ras El’Heem
Science Officer
USS Khitomer (NCC-62400)
K240106RE3
and
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Ensign Juliet BanksHCO Officer
USS Khitomer
K240206JB1