Abstract: Methods and apparatus for determining when plants require watering, and methods of attending to the watering of plants including signaling the grower that the plants are in need of hydration are provided. The novel methods include real-time measurement of plant metabolics and phytometric physiology changes of intrinsic physical or behavioral traits within the plant such as determining physiological flux measurement of enzyme flux due to environmental changes such as the wind and drought stress, soil and plant mineral deficiencies, or the interaction with a bio-control for organic disease control including, cell movement, signal transduction, internal chemical processes and external environmental processes including when plants require watering, and methods of attending to the watering of plants including signaling the grower that the plants are in need of hydration.

Abstract: A system to mix, carbonate, if desired, and dispense beverages in the micro-gravity environment of extra-terrestrial space incorporates chilled sources of beverage syrup, water and CO.sub.2, mixing chambers for receiving the fluid components of the beverages and receptacle interfaces which. selectively communicate with the mixing chambers and which couple with drinking receptacles formed by a pressure-resistant outer shell and a flexible internal liner. Within the mixing chambers, a reciprocable piston is driven by an entering pressurized beverage component to a retracted position and is subsequently driven by compressed air to an extended position with a concurrent expulsion of the mixed beverage from the mixing chamber and into the liner of a drinking receptacle coupled to one of the receptacle interfaces. A formation on the piston reacts with an agitator to enhance mixing of the beverage components.