PUFFAPODS

Chapter 64

Puffapod. It is classified as a magical plant, and grows first in the form of a bush. The Puffapod produces pink seedpods the size of a fist (the size can vary as much as human hand size, although larger pods are more common). Inside the pod is packed with metallic/shiny beans. These beans vary in colour, although are always shiny. In Greenhouse three I keep Puffapods which produce silver beans, as I find them to be the most versatile. This is merely personal preference though. Hagrid has a garden of Puffapods, and his have shiny green seeds. Puffapod beans must be taken care of with great care. They should be transported only with magic, and not touched by hands or gloves or any solid substance, for the moment the bean touches something solid other than the seedpod, it flowers. In this way the Puffapod plant may exist as a flower and as a bush. Wingardium leviosa is an appropriate levitation spell to use to move the beans. Back to Puffapod seeds. Since the beans will sprout instant upon contact with any solid substance, you have two options. One, store the beans in a jar filled with water. The water will remind the bean of what it felt like to be in the seedpod, and not trigger instant growth, even if the seed touches the edge if the jar. Two, you can put a repelling spell on both the jar and the seeds. The simplest one would be Mininium. Say it with me. Mini-knee-OOH-um. Puffapod beans are useful in several capacities. When allowed to bloom, the flower is edible. It can be a lovely addition to salads, and a sweetener in bitter teas. In bean form, it adds a revitalizing component to potions. It is considered to be a very life-giving plant, and is used in many potions prescribed to pregnant women. This creates a high demand for Puffapod beans, as you may have already noticed just how many plants are not to be consumed by pregnant women. Puffapod leaves are used in teas, and are good for feeding pet bugs. Puffapod leaves have about three hundred times as many nutrients as a leaf of lettuce. Trolls are allergic to the Puffapod leaves, so witches and wizards used to plant Puffapod bushes around the fences of their homes to discourage trolls from visiting. SOMETHING EXTRA - Harvesting Puffapods : Now let’s talk about harvesting plants. Harvesting typically involves cutting off one piece of a plant for use aside from the original plant. For example, picking an apple off of a tree is the harvesting of apples. Cutting a branch off a Puffapod to plant it elsewhere is harvesting the Puffapod, while cutting off the seedpod and storing the beans is harvesting the beans. In the 1400s a very useful spell was invented for harvesting plants. It is called the severing charm. You probably learned it already in charms class, so if you have any questions feel free to approach Professor Quilmane as well. The charm is Diffindo, pronounced Deef-IN-doe. That’s right. In order to harvest, approach your plant carefully and tenderly, as you do not want to intimidate it. Often, singing will help soothe the plant, even if it is a sad song. It is best to sing quietly though, if you and the plant are not familiar with each other. Belting out a classic can intimidate your plant and cause it to withdraw. If the plant withdraws from you, it will be harder to see where the cut should be made. Definitely don’t pick a song like “Do the Hippogriff” either. Plants tend to be very spiritual in nature, and like songs of the same nature. If you know Beethoven, humming “Ode to Joy” to your Lilies will produce positive results. You may notice that different plants prefer different songs. Roses love a good love song (I like “Kisses Sweeter than Wine” and “December’s Rose), and I find vines enjoy “Good to Me” by Audrey Assad. Autumn and winter blooming flowers enjoy sad lyrics, such as “The Phoenix Lament” by Ministry of Magic. Trees like older songs, so with them I stick to hymns and symphonies. “Candlelight” by Reliant K is a classic among nocturnal plants, who also have a preference for love songs. “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra works wonders for nocturnal plants as well. Fruit plants are rather bashful, and prefer a humble sort of song that doesn’t mention plants. Bushes like songs that have attitude. I recently found a student singing “The Lavatory Song” by The 8th Horcrux to the Mandrakes, and found that dangerous plants like humorous songs. I suggest that you all get together after class sometime to discuss what songs you find work well with different plants and exchange ideas, as on the final I will ask you to talk about a song and how it affected a plant you’ve worked with. Remember that harvesting is an important time for your plant, as harvesting marks the end of a growth period. Many cultures have festivals associated with the harvesting of the plant which sustains them the most. (Wheat Harvest Festivals are the most popular). Once the plant is calm and comfortable with your presence, search the plant for optimal healthy areas to cut from. This works the same as with trimming, as previously discussed, except here you are looking specifically to take a healthy part of a plant and ensure that parts future usability. When you have your plant in a comfortable position and where you can see clearly where you will cut, point your wand and perform the severing charm. In order to get a clear look at how harvesting works, you will follow along with the steps with a Puffapod. First I want you to check on the maturity of the Puffapod seedpods. You should see glimpses of silver veins shining through the pink when the light hits the pod. The next step is to make sure there are no animals which will be disturbed by your harvesting. Now it is time to make the cut. Be ready with your second hand, holding the Puffapod seedpod in your hand so it will not fall. Be VERY careful not to cut the pod open just yet. When you are prepared to, cast the severing charm. This method is the most peaceful way to harvest a pod, as it does not disturb the plant. When picking fruits, people often make the mistake of yanking a fruit off, which causes other fruits to fall and bruise, and upsets the tree. Holding the fruit and making the cut is effective and clean. Once you have your Puffapod seedpod, you may place it down, gently, on the sheet of bubble wrap in front of you. Bubble wrap is the most effective material for cushioning anything that is freshly picked. It doesn’t absorb the water from the plan, and will not cause bruising. Now get you jar ready. Either go fill it with water, or perform the repelling spell Mininium on it. Then go to your seedpod, and tap 1/3 of the way down from the top with your wand. This will create a lid that you may take off. Use the levitation charm to move the beans. If you chose the method that requires it, use the charm Mininium again. A note on the picking of fruits: 1. If it is being picked to be stored a long time, harvest it while less mature 2. If it will be used soon, pick one that is more mature 3. Watch out, if you harvest too soon, the fruit will not be of its intended size because it is still growing. (Growing and ripening are not the same)! 4. If you pick the fruit too late, it will be over mature and possibly have started breaking down already 5. Store harvested fruit in a cool environment to keep optimal freshness 6. Spells: a. Friomente – (free-oh-MEN-te) – keeps storage cool b. Oxido Repello – (ox-E-doe ruh-PEL-oh) – keeps oxygen from spoiling the fruit c. Bruzusa Protectus – (brew-ZUH-suh pro-tech-TUS) – protects unripe fruits from bruising d .Maturio revelio – (maw-tyou-ree-OH reh-VEL-ee-oh) – creates an aura around the plant which changes colour based on maturity level of the fruits. COLOR - Red – you just started growing this plant, why are you checking for ripe fruits? Orange – fruits are actually growing, but are way too small Yellow – fruits have finished growing and are still ripening (you may pick now, for long term storing) Green – perfectly ripe! You know you want to eat some! Blue – starting to get overripe, some may be salvageable Purple – the fruits have died on the inside White – your fruit is home to a family of bugs If you are colour blind, fear not! There is an equivalent charm that you can use: Lumos Maturio Revelio. It is more difficult, because you have to judge the ripeness based on the level of brightness emitting from the plant. The brighter, the riper! When it is too bright for your eyes to look at, it is too late to harvest the fruit