The oldest cactus lived to around 300 years old . Image credit: Laura Thomson
Article by Laura Thomson
Bulbasaur loves to look after plants and he asked me to share some advice with you! Cacti are strong house plants and have grown in popularity over the last few years. Cacti varieties are endless and they don’t need a lot of watering. Remember, their natural habitat is the desert! To make your plants as happy and healthy as possible, Bulbasaur advises that it’s essential to try and replicate these native conditions, even if you don’t happen to live in the sizzling and dry temperatures of Arizona.
Here are Bulbasaur’s top (simple) tips for keeping your cacti rooted to the ground:
Lots of light = lots of little (or big) spikes
Deserts aren’t short of sunlight, so it’s fair to say cactus plants will always benefit from plentiful light sources. Placing cacti and succulents in a spot where sunlight is inevitable is a good start. However, make sure to avoid direct sunlight (depending on the variety) to avoid yellowing.
Cactus plants are quite flexible when it comes to temperatures and have a robust capacity to live in the rapidly changing desert environment. The lowest temperature that cacti can endure does depend on the species. Some have been known to survive freezing temperatures, but many are best kept around 8°C during the colder months.
Sufficient drainage = happy plants…
The ideal home for a cactus is a pot with good drainage. Always make sure the plant is able to let go of excess water by placing it in an open and free-draining pot to prevent water logging.
Speaking of water, one of the most important things to remember is the amount of water needed to keep cactus plants alive. Cacti are well-known for their stubborn nature – they won’t be happy with too much water and they won’t be happy with too little either. Admittedly, they thrive with much less water than the average house plant, but this is not to say that you should leave them dry for excessive amounts of time. Under-watering does cause shrivelling, and trust me, this is not a good look.
They also tend to develop blisters and adopt a more stubborn personality if too much water is given – this is definitely not a good look. So, make sure to follow these quick and simple instructions if you’d like your plant to (probably) outlive you:
During the spring and summer months, it is safe to quench your plant’s thirst, but only when the compost is dry. Over-watering will stunt growth, so once a week is a handy guideline, but it’s definitely possible to go even longer without watering at this time.
In winter, he will be perfectly happy waiting longer between watering sessions and some cacti can even be left dry from around November to February. This does depend on the species of cacti though!
Fun fact – The oldest cactus lived to around 300 years old, was 40ft tall and had 52 arms… now that is something to aim for.
Acacia trees hire aggressive ant species to guard their leaves from grazers. Image Credit: Marta Maszkiewicz
Bulbasaur mainly uses his vines and powders to attack and defend against enemies. He isn’t alone! Plants have some pretty mean defences to stop them from being eaten by animals and prevent competition from other plant species. Plant and plant products have even been used in wars and assassinations. This list looks at some of the deadliest plant defence mechanisms.
Thorns and spines
Thorns and spines are a simple physical form of defence that discourage animals from eating the plant by causing pain. Thorns jut out from branches, while spines are modified leaves that are extension of the plant’s vein. A similar spiky defence is the prickle, which are commonly found on roses. That’s right, the Poison song should really say “Every rose has a prickle”.
Trichomes
Trichomes is a fancy word for the little hairs you sometimes see on plant stems. They can have multiple purposes, but the most painful and deadly are found in nettles. You may be thinking I have been stung by a nettle before and I am still alive, but that is because you were lucky enough to be stung by the Common Nettle. Some tropical nettles, such as the gympie-gympie, have stings so painful that they can drive people insane. It has been known to kill dogs and horses out of pain and shock, and its stinging effects can last for as long as one year. Even breathing in some of these trichomes that are floating in the air can cause nosebleeds.
Mutualism
Some plants team up with other creatures in a mutual agreement of sorts. Mutualism is seen throughout the natural world for both defence and other reasons. For example, we have a mutualistic relationship with the bacteria in our guts: they help us digest food and we give them a nice place to live. Mutualism can be painful, however. Some plants such as acacia trees have ‘hired’ aggressive ant species to guard their leaves from grazers and other competing plants in exchange for a home. The ants are also thought to help keep harmful pathogens at bay. One of these mercenaries, the Bullhorn Acacia ant, is listed on ants.com’s list of ‘5 Ants with the Most Painful Bites’. Ouch!
Bother one tree, you’ve bothered them all
When insects invade a tree, the tree ups its defences to try and ward them off. If that wasn’t bad enough, research has suggested that trees can also send messages to neighbouring trees using something called the mycorrhizal network. These connections are made by fungi and are used by plants to share water, nutrients and minerals. When one tree is suffering too much damage from an insect swarm, it is thought to warn other trees around it, triggering them to also up their defences. Lab studies found reactions occurred in as little as six hours.
Tannins
Insects can have a hard time when it comes to finding a meal. Their huge population sizes can cause real stress on a plant, so plants take great priority in warding the critters off. One method is to produce tannins, a yellowy-brown, bitter-tasting substance that binds to the insect’s proteins and limits their ability to grow and develop. These tannins also form bonds between metal ions in the insects’ midgut, causing their intestines to tear.
Poisonous seeds
We all know the story of Snow White eating the poisonous apple. If Snow White were an insect, that fate would be all the more likely. Apple seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which are harmless when the seed is whole. However, when it is crushed or chewed, this chemical transforms into cyanide. Luckily, an 180-pound individual would have to eat at least 243 crushed apple seeds before seeing an effect, but some animals could be at risk. Low levels of cyanide poisoning causes headaches, nausea, weakness and confusion, while acute poisoning can be deadly.
Digitalin
Digitalin is a powerful steroid that is found in around 20 plant species, including the Foxglove plant. Too much of this chemical can lead to dangerous cardiac rhythm disturbances due to a build up of potassium in the blood. This can cause fatal symptoms due to the heart moving too slow (electrical heart block) or too fast (ventricular fibrillation). In 2016, a girl spent six days in hospital for eating a single leaf. They also have a bitter taste and can cause vomiting. That doesn’t mean the chemical can’t be used for good. Foxglove leaves were dispensed in WWI in measured doses to control heart conditions. More than 16 tonnes were used each year.
Idioblasts
Idioblasts are plant cells that, in their more innocent uses, store pigments, vitamins and minerals. They are more dangerous when used for defence. Dieffenbachia, also known as Dumb Cane, stores specialised chemicals in its idioblasts that shoot barbed calcium oxalate crystals into the unsuspecting herbivores’ mouth before giving a dose of enzymes that can cause paralysis and loss of speech. This painful concoction can be deadly, with only 15mg per kg needed to kill a mouse. Even if you avoid a deadly dose, the burning effects can last up to two weeks.
Heatwave – The chilli pepper
As you may know from putting too many in your curry, the chilli pepper can cause a painful burning sensation when eaten due to capsaicinoids. This is a defence mechanism to stop the growth of a microbial fungus, which likes to eat them. Being eaten isn’t all that bad for a chilli, if they’re being eaten by birds. In fact, birds eat the seeds and disperse them in their droppings, allowing the chillis to reproduce. The fungus, however, destroys the seeds. Therefore, the plant uses capsaicin to fend off the fungus, while birds are not affected.
What may the future bring? – Using plants in human wars
Last year, researchers at the University of Tennessee and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announced a programme that aimed to genetically modify potato plants to act as a surveillance unit. The plants would identify chemical, radiological, nuclear, and explosive threats to support human operations and ground troops.
This isn’t the only genetic editing programme being run by DARPA, with reports earlier this year of concerns that the organisation could use its ‘Insect Allies‘ programme for military purposes.
You love Pokémon? Well now you can dress like them too! This set of posts are designed to give you some inspirations so you can pull together some outfits based on your favourite Pokémon! The styles are all simple, so you can achieve the look no matter what your budget! These outfits were drawn by Matty M.
For Bulbasaur, we’ve gone for an effortless white long-sleeved shirt. This one features a button-down front and two front pockets, but this flexible style can be adjusted to suit your tastes. The shirt is paired with a teal coat/jacket and a high-waist green midi skirt. Match with a pair of light grey or white ankle boots and you’re on to a winner!
I dipped my canteen into a little stone fountain that had been crafted to look like a tree stump. Image Credit: @fdjrt
I wandered through the central square, kicking despondently at any piles of leaves that had grown too high. It was a child’s game that still thrilled me. Looking back now, I wish I’d spent less time standing with groups of people I didn’t like and more time running around kicking up leaves.
If it wasn’t for the hustle and bustle of people, I’d have never expected that it was a town. The houses were made from tree bark and leaves, which were woven together to make chequered huts. All of the roads and buildings were decorated with vines. They blended almost seamlessly with the forest.
I dipped my canteen into a little stone fountain that had been crafted to look like a tree stump. The water bit at my fingers. I gave a half-smile to a man to my left who was bent over a smoking pile of bricks. His wife was wafting the smoke away from the entrance of her hut with a giant leaf. The only giveaway to this curious escapade was the earthy smell of bread baking.
I remember it making me feel off kilter at the time, but not understanding why. Just this creeping feeling of difference. They verses me. Pallet is no city, but we had embraced the thirst for technology. Of course, computers were a new thing back then, but we still came installed with a sense of excitement to embrace what was to come. Watching the man stooped and sooty over the bricks put up a barrier between us that I was just not equipped to see.
“Excuse me”, I said, “Could you point the way to the major’s office?”
The woman turned, shielding her eyes from the mid-day sun. She looked around for a second, as if she were the one asking for directions and not me, before flicking her wafting leaf in the direction of a market. “He’ll be somewhere that way, I reckon”.
Between us and the market, a sort of playschool had been set up where kids ran around barefoot under the watchful eye of someone’s Skuntank. I must have looked a tad concerned, as the lady with the fan leaf chuckled and said, “Don’t worry, lass, he won’t stink you unless you’re out here for trouble.” I gave her a sheepish grin.
I wandered through the houses, enjoying the dappling sunlight and watching people working together with their Pokémon on various tasks. At the farmers market, people haggled over Mudbray and Mareep. Nearby, a man had set up blanket on a rock to sell scratched jewellery, while a woman was having a hearty discussion with her customer about the best ways to use Flaaffy wool. Next to her sat a very bare-looking Flaaffy.
I looked out for anyone mayor-like. I imagined a tall, elderly gentleman with a large gold chain settled on his shoulders. He would laugh in a jolly way, a little like Santa Claus. There was no one like that here. I tried to think back to if Professor Oak had given me a description. If he did, I couldn’t remember.
Near the market, a man was scrutinising some sacks of corn with his Bulbasaur, taking down notes on a piece of bark. The Bulbasaur was especially chatty, using his vines to point and prod at the goods. Professor Oak was always going on and on about how smart Bulbasaur are. I was practically sick to death of it. I’d chosen a Charmander as my starter. I’d been training it for a few years now and it was about as strong as a Charmander could get. No way I could lose to a puny Bulbasaur.
“Uh-uh young lady!”, I heard the professor say in my head. I could almost see him stood, arms crossed. “You will not fight that Bulbasaur”, he said, “you have important work to do”. I looked at the letter in my hand and shrugged. It could wait. This battle would take no time at all.
I strode towards the man and made my best battle pose, “Hey, you”.
The man looked at me, startled, “I, uh.. me?”
“I’d like to challenge you to a-” before I could finish, I heard a shrill craacck and felt a searing pain on my hand that made me drop my Pokéball sadly to the ground. It opened and out popped Charmander looking a bit perplexed. The skin instantly began to welt and throb an angry red. “What the-“
“I’m sorry but we don’t battle in this town”, the man said. Still in shock, I could only stand blankly and watch as the Bulbasaur used his vines to pluck a roll of bandages out of the man’s pocket, efficiently wrapped my hand in the cooling bandage, gave me a curt nod and turned back to his companion. Bubba, he said.
I snapped out of my daze with intense fury. “Your Pokémon just attacked me! How dare you? He can’t do that, I ought to-“
“My Bulbasaur?”, the man grinned. A small crowd had gathered now and they all grinned at each other, all in on some sort of joke. That made me insanely angry. I felt like challenging them all to battle. In my head, professor Oak put his head in his hand. Their laughter magnified ten-fold and cut me deep. A cold surge burned within me that built and built until I could take it no longer. I gave a deep guttural scream. “CHARMANDER, EMBER, NOW!”
My loyal Charmander took my word as law and launched his attack. The flame came thick and fast, the muscles in Charmander’s belly tensed as he gave it all he had. That Bulbasaur should have been toast. Except, the flames were getting beaten back. Without any word from its trainer, Bulbasaur began flinging sharp-edged leaves at the flames in just the right angle to deflect the heat. The speed was incredible. Charmander tried to push harder, but he just wasn’t quick enough.
As the flames began to dial down, this gave Bulbasaur his chance. He jumped high over the fire, pushed hard with his back legs from a fence post and smacked down into my Charmander’s forehead. At the same time, he slapped his mouth shut with a vine, snatched the Pokéball from my hand and pressed the button to force him to return. Charmander faded into the ball, leaving one Bulbasaur and a circle of horrified townsfolk.
I couldn’t believe the skill with which Bulbasaur had battled. And without a word from his trainer. I turned to him, all anger put on hold. “Woah, your Bulbasaur is amazing”.
The man crossed his arms, reminding me again of Professor Oak. “Like I tried to tell you, kid. That’s not my Bulbasaur.”
He walked forward and put a hand respectfully on Bulbasaur’s shoulder, “You ok, sir?”
Bubasaur nodded.
He looked back up at me, “What are you doing here in Mizuna town? I think you should do what you need to do and leave.”
His tone set of a confusing array of sparks. Part of me felt shame, part of me fear, and a piece of me still burned with anger. The crowd had started to dissipate. Some tutted teenagers as they walked away. I gave them a side glare. I remembered the letter and grabbed it from my bag.
“Professor Oak sent me with this letter.” The man took it and contemplated it. “Its for the mayor”, I added.
“Well, it has found the right place”, he said. With a second’s pause, the man moved the letter down and passed it to Bulbasaur, who took it gently in a vine, opened it with the sharp edge and began to read.
At first, I thought it was a joke. But there was something about this Bulbasaur’s seriousness and the way everyone looked at him that made me think that this insanity might actually be true. A Bulbasaur running a town?
I looked back at the town, its leaves blowing gently in the breeze. Next to the treeline sat allotments where smiling families planted vegetables, nearby an old woman smiled happily at her grandchildren who were helping thread vines around their house. Everyone seemed so happy and the town ran like clockwork. And this was all ran by a Bulbasaur? I looked down at my Charmander and thought about all of the training we had been through. Despite his low level, he’d been able to beat all of the trainers I’d met just by strength alone. But seeing all this made me wonder if perhaps there was more to Pokémon than just strength.
Bulbasaur gave a short Bubba and handed the note back to his aide. “Bulbasaur says he thinks this letter might actually be for you.”
I took it from him and read.
Dear Elizabeth,
This may be a hard lesson for you, but I hope you heed it well. See all of the wonders that Pokémon can achieve and learn to use that in your own journey.
-The Professor
I looked at Bulbasaur and his aide, “I’m sorry. I have a lot to think about”. I turned around and began the walk back to Pallet Town.
Yes, these were indeed Bulbasaur. Not just one but hundreds. Image Credit: BlueBerryBlanket (Al Rigby)
One of the best parts of being a Pokémon Breeder is the field research: getting out there and seeing where Pokémon come from. Our natural world provides many great spectacles, from the grand migrations of Tauros to the Butterfree mating seasons. But one of the more precious to me was the time I saw a Bulbsaur family gathering.
I’d not seen another person in four days and my supplies were all but run out. It was ridiculous, really. People went in and out of Viridian forest all of the time and got out ok. Some people sometimes nipped in for a dare. That’s how easy it is meant to be. I’m not even sure what wrong turning I made, and I think it just made it worse when I tried to back-track. The longer I walked, the darker the forest got.
I sipped a little water from my flask, swilling it around in my mouth a little before swallowing to try make it last then instantly craving more and taking another sip. I peered at my map. None of the lines made sense anymore. They were purely fictional, as if my sister Kate had taken one of her marker pens and scribbled all over it with that mischievous grin on her face. Thinking of her hurt. It hadn’t even occurred to me when setting out that I may not see Kate or mum again.
But this is what a great trainer did! Just set off into the unknown with a Pokémon, finding distant treasures and uncovering mysteries. This was just another grand escapade. I felt that well-worn surge of excitement thinking about it. Journeying with a Pokémon was something I had wanted all my life. Some people were destined to be dancers, some accountants. Me? I was born to be a Pokémon trainer.
I thought of all the Pokémon I would catch and my hand relaxed on the Pokéball at my belt. The joy melted into shame. I wasn’t a trainer. I was a thief. I was only just ten and not old enough to get my own. The Manectric in the ball was my mum’s. Earlier in my travels, I had let her out while pretending to catch a Pokémon with the ball. Boy did she bark at me. You take me back this minute. You’ll be in such trouble when you get home! Where are we? You left without my chew toy? she said in as many barks. It took her a day or two to mellow out, by which point she was more concerned than angry.
I looked around at the deepening shadows and a feeling of paranoia began to creep up on me. I’m here, it would say in the creaking of a branch or the twitch of grass as some creature was startled by my clumsy footwork. I got jumpy and kept glancing left and right into the trees. Behind each stump, a wolf would be lurking ready to eat me up like in Little Red Riding Hood. My my, Elizabeth, these sharp teeth of mine are all the better to eat you with my dear. In the end, I couldn’t stand being alone any longer and I grabbed the Pokéball from my belt.
“Come out Manectric”, I said in almost a whisper. As she appeared, her presence instantly soothed me. She has always been small for her breed, but she towered over me when I was ten year’s old. I petted her long yellow snout. She yawned, made a little sigh and looked up at the trees.
“Maybe we’ll find our way out today”, I said already feeling lighter. I almost believed it.
We pressed on, heads pushed down by the rain that somehow battered its way through the canopy. The trees twisted and writhed in the sort of way that would make a fearless girl grin from ear to ear before dashing off in a race to the top. But that wasn’t me anymore. Not here in this place. The trees no longer just reached over us, but below and around us. They encased us in their bony rib cage as we moved ever closer to the heart of the forest.
The trees no longer just reached over us, but below and around us. Image credit: Marta Maszkiewicz.
My watch said it was mid-day, but it was getting darker. It was like we were in a different world entirely to the one I’d left back home. It didn’t seem right that Kate would be sitting in the school cafeteria, drinking milk and complaining to the dinner lady about not losing weight. That annoying kid Jaime would be pulling another prank, Eliza would be singing with Chloe in their band that they won’t let me join. My life was none of those things anymore. My life was only dark tunnels of never-ending mossy rocks and things that squirmed in the dark.
As I walked, my thoughts washed over me. In my head, people I used to know came walking out of the trees, tipped their hats muttering hello, hey, hi there, and good morning before continuing on into the murky darkness. My father was sitting on one branch, sipping a pint of milk. My mother on another, knitting a spider’s web. I imagined cats running passed my legs, street lamps, a school bus coming down the lane towards me. This last one seemed to stay with me. I could almost see the headlights ahead and my arm tensed, ready to flag it down.
I was snapped out of my daydream by Manectric licking my hand and yapping. She barked and ran ahead. My eyes followed her and I could see what she was headed towards. The bus headlights were real. Or, rather, the light was real. A circle of dazzling light shining like a beacon.
I’m not sure how I managed to stay on my feet as I ran, but my need to see sunlight urged me on. As it got close, my hopes got brighter. As I reached the edge of the treeline, I was almost ecstatic. Which, of course, made it all the more crushing when I crashed out into nothing more than a clearing. Just a clearing with a large flowered tree in the centre that was swaying in the breeze. I fell to my knees and wept, Manectric snuffling at my face and softly licking my tears.
I was too tired to go on. Not only did we not have any food, but we still had no way to tell where we were. Perhaps mum would have told Officer Jenny by now. Out there in the woods would be a search party seeking me with their torch beams. I found a patch of dry moss at the edge of the clearing and settled in to sleep.
When I woke, it was dark. I’d been having a dream of a Pokémon singing. I’d been running through the forest, pushing back leaves trying to find it. Bulllbbaaaa it sang Bulllbbaaaa. As I opened my eyes, I realised I could still hear that gentle hum. I felt Manectric stir beside me. She was crouched down low, peering through some tall tufts of grass looking out onto the clearing. Bulllbbaaaa. I crawled up next to her and looked out too.
Before us was a sea of bobbing turquoise heads. They circled the clearing, facing towards the flowered tree. Could these be… Bulbasaur? I tried to remember back to my time in Professor Oak’s lab. He had been working on breeding easy-to-train rare Pokémon for new trainers as part of his research. I’ve never been much of a scientist, but I did remember him showing me a Bulbasaur. And if my memory served me correctly, yes, these were indeed Bulbasaur. Not just one but hundreds.
I looked to the weird tree in the centre of the clearing. While before it was swaying, now it was shifting side-to-side. I looked from the flower to its trunk. From the trunk to its roots. Only, the roots were rising and falling. That thing was breathing! Amazed, I scooted forward some more to get a better look, but Manectric held my collar. The Bulbasaur stopped singing in one fell swoop. It was like I’d suddenly lost my hearing. Everything was just silent.
I worried it was me. I had a vision of them all turning round to look at me, raising their vines to attack. They did turn around, but not to look at me. From a grassy verge to our left, a taller, broader Bulbasaur pushed his way out of the thicket. He looked different from the others. Much bigger, for one. I noticed he had a little flower on his back, similar to the big breathing tree. No, not a Bulbasaur. An evolution of some sort.
The crowd of Bulbasaur made a path for this creature, some touching its feet with their vines as he passed. He walked up to the flowery tree and stopped. Ivysaur, it declared. Short and sweet.
With that, the clearing began to rumble. The Bulbasaur waved their vines in the air, branches snapped, rubble flew everywhere and I had to shield my eyes. When I was able to look again, I gawped. The tree had rose two metres into the air, revealing a huge monstrous body beneath. It had been lying so long that the trees had grown around it. It left a crater where it has arisen from. VENUSAUUUUUR, it bellowed.
At this, cries and shouts of Bulbasaauuur sounded from the crowd. The forest king freed several vines from its back and reached towards the Ivysaur. The Ivysaur, too, outstretched its vines and they met in the middle. Each called its name to the other and the Bulbasaur began throwing white powder into the air that sparkled in the moonlight. They all went back to their chanting: Bulllbbaaaa, Bulllbbaaaaaa. Some spores landed on me and I went to brush them off. A sudden weariness hit me and I could barely keep my eyes open. The last thing I saw before drifting to sleep was the giant Venusaur turning and disappearing into the forest depths and Ivysaur taking his place.
My Bulbasaur loves to bake and he asked me to share one of his favourite recipes with you . We hope you enjoy making some Bulbasaur Biscuits!
What do I need?
170g unsalted butter 200g caster sugar 2 eggs 1 cap of vanilla essence 400g self-raising flour 1 teaspoon of salt 300g chocolate Chocolate decorations
Mixing bowl and spoon Weighing scales Rolling pin Bulbasaur cookie cutter (I used the Cuticuter ones, but you can also get similar ones on Etsy) Baking tray Clingfilm Baking paper Microwave and microwave-safe bowl for melting chocolate Spoon or knife (pallet knife or butter knife are good)
Step #1
Cut the butter into small cubes and place in a mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar. This might be more difficult if the butter has been in the fridge!
Step #2
Add the eggs, flour, salt and vanilla essence into the butter mixture. You could sieve the flour for fewer flowery lumps. Mix well – you might want to use your hands.
You might need to add some more flour if your dough is too firm. Once a dough is formed, split in half and mould each half into flat ovals – splitting in two batches makes it easier to cook later. Wrap in clingfilm and put them in the fridge for at least one hour.
Step #3
Line a baking tray with baking paper and set the oven to 170°C (338°F).
Roll out one of your dough ovals on a floured surface to around 1/2cm-1cm thick, depending on how thick you want your biscuits to be! If you’re using the same cookie cutter as me, use the bottom part (the ‘outline cutter’ seen in the picture above) to cut a piece of dough near the edge. Leave this cut-out inside the ‘outline cutter’ and take the other part of the cutter (the part with Bulbasaur’s details on) and press lightly into the dough. It should fit exactly into the ‘outline cutter’. Be careful not to push too hard, I found it was best to push so the back of the ‘detail-cutter’ was level with the ‘outline cutter’.
Step #4
Place your Bulbasaur on the baking tray, spacing them out evenly. Put your biscuits in the oven for 8-12 minutes.
Step #5
When cooked, place on a wire rack (or an upturned baking tray lined with baking paper will do!) to cool.
Step #6
Make up your second batch, following the same steps above. Remember to wash up after they’re all done!
Step #7
To decorate, snap your chocolate to pieces in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat in the microwave in small bursts of no more than 10 seconds. In between each, take a metal spoon or knife (a butter or pallet knife are good) to stir the chocolate each time. Careful, as the bowl can get quite hot!
Once melted, carefully dip the back of each Bulbasaur biscuit in the chocolate. You might want to use your pallet knife to wipe off the excess, or spread the chocolate more evenly. Have a tissue handy to wipe chocolate from your fingers so you don’t get too much on the front! You can use all sorts of sprinkles! We went for milk chocolate (left), dark chocolate (middle), just chocolate (right) and we left some plain.
What a surprise I had today when I go to grab a can of Sprite with my lunch and just before I take it to the till, what do I notice on the shelf? A Bulbasaur-variant Ocean Bomb!
What is Ocean Bomb?
Ocean Bomb is a Taiwanese sparkling water manufacturer that claims to source its water from depths of 750m under the seas of Asia.
They decorate their cans with adorable characters! Some of these I don’t actually know. There is a cute car, a little chick surrounded by a pink rabbit called Piske & Usagi… any ideas? However, they do happen to have a whole Pokémon range! The variants include Bulbasaur, Charmander, Squirtle, Pikachu, Snorlax Jigglypuff and Master Ball. I also hear a Psyduck one is floating about, but it might be a Taiwan-only one for now.
The Bulbasaur version is apple flavoured and tastes a little like Appletiser. If you want to try it and live in the UK, I found it (and the Snorlax one) at Asian-fusion restaurant East Street in Manchester! However, I bet its in other places… let me know if you see them, I’d love to try the other flavours! Gotta taste ’em all!
One of my favourite TV shows growing up was the PokéWorld Talent Contest, which was designed to compliment the Eurovision Song contest. Both have been been running since 1956. In this competition, Pokémon are selected to represent each country in a series of semi finals, until they are whittled down to just forty. These acts perform for one night of dazzling entertainment and viewers vote for their favourite acts. Whichever country wins the competitions hosts it next year! In this series of posts, I want to highlight some of my favourite winners from over the years.
The Competition
The competition I am covering in this entry is the 2003 show hosted in the, at the time, new sovereign state of Timor-Leste. Hosted in the capital of Dili by Dili Televisão, this was the 48th edition of the show. The competition was preceded by a meal, which consisted of the country’s national dish: Ikan Pepes (fish steamed in a chili sauce and wrapped in banana leaves), and the performance area was crocodile themed, to reflect the country’s national animal.
The host country’s entry was memorable, comprising Raboot Jose da Costa, who showcased his incredible geography knowledge by listing over fifty countries and their national drink from memory as part of a song. The show’s runners up were Garbodor Photographer, Maria Cabera, who represented Colombia by presenting a series of photographs that captured the show’s theme of ‘Magical Rendezvous’; and Banette Historian, Carolina Benitez, who represented Paraguay by recounting a horror-romance story that featured Paraguayan mythology creature, the Luisón.
The Winning Act
Santiago Pérez and Sofía Pérez dancing the Jarabe Tapatío. Image Credit: Shizuka Hanari
The winners of the PokéWorld Talent Contest were Bulbasaur Santiago Pérez and his partner Sofía Pérez, representing Mexico. This couple danced the traditional Mexican dance, Jarabe Tapatío, which is also known as the Mexican Hat Dance. The Jarabe Tapatío was originally a dance of love and courtship, and the Pérez’s version was filled with romance and heart—demonstrated in rather visually near the final stage of the act, where a confetti canon was fired to fill the stage with red paper leaves that had been cut into heart shapes. They were accompanied by a mariachi group and wore the traditional dress (a china poblana outfit for Sofía and a charros for Santiago).
In their home life, Santiago and Sofía live on an avocado farm with their two children, where the family helps test the ripeness of this fruit. Dance and music has been a big part of their family life, and their trainer has dreams of opening a Pokémon dance studio to help spread the joy of traditional Mexican dancing.
Breeders should communicate with trainers to show how diet and basking can impact seeds and powders. Image credit: Faiahaato
There are a multitude of benefits and limitations you get from different Pokémon. This SWOT analysis helps you decide whether to include Bulbasaur to your battle team, and includes specialist advice for both breeder and catcher, as well as combatants facing this Pokémon in battle.
Strengths
Bulbasaur’s particular affinity with nature can be a great strength to its battle prowess. I saw a great battle tactic once, in a multi-Pokémon duel between a Bulbasaur-Lapras pairing and a Minun-Plusle pair. The Minun and Plusle were extremely quick—these Pokémon have such a close connection generally, but the coordination here was astonishing—and they were dodging all of Lapras’s attacks as she just couldn’t move her head fast enough. To counter, Bulbasaur positioned himself right in front of Lapras, so his head was just under hers, and he placed one of his vines flat out on the floor while the other cut into Lapras’s Water Gun stream. Bulbasaur then used the tiny vibrations he picked up from the ground and grass as Minun and Plusle ran around to allow it to re-direct Lapras’s water attacks to meet their movements—sometimes splitting it into several streams. This made it much harder to dodge and forced the Pokémon to change tactic. Once they’d stopped, Bulbasaur hit them with a Sleep Powder.
Bulbasaur is actually a great support Pokémon in battle. Although it can have strong attacks itself, its intelligence and creativity can be of great assistance to the more ‘big hitters’. Leech Seed is also an especially useful support mechanism for a team battle. Bulbasaur may be a little reserved when it comes to sharing these out (they take a lot of energy to make), but the energy transference properties of those small seeds can go a long way in tipping the scale of a hairy battle. There are perfectly natural ways of making the seeds more potent, but the intricacies of that are way too deep for this entry. A good starting place is ensuring a nutritiously rich diet and plenty of sun basking time.
Weaknesses
This may be surprising to many, but one of Bulbasaur’s major weaknesses is its powders. I see many trainers just expecting Bulbasaur to use its Sleep and Poison powders from day #1, but it actually takes Bulbasaur a long while to brew these, and a lot more time to learn how to distribute them in a way that is effective in battle. There is a lot of timing involved, a limited window where they are at their most potent, and Bulbasaur must have a great understanding of the environmental effects on its powders before they are particularly useful. In fact, I often advise trainers that, while Bulbasaur can use the powders to an extent, they are primarily an Ivysaur technique and it is better to focus on its vine work when battling.
A second, perhaps more evident, weakness is its speed. Those short, stubby legs are no good for rapid movement, and Bulbasaur definitively feels more at home with all four feet planted squarely on the ground. Vines can compensate for this a lot of the time, when it comes to attack work, but defence can take a big hit.
Opportunities
Trainers can often be mistaken in thinking their primary role as a trainer is to be in charge of grand strategy, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Your Pokémon can bring a whole new perspective on battle plans, and this is particularly relevant when you have a Bulbasaur due to its empathy and cunning. They can also be used in the training of other Pokémon as they are naturally personable and commanding—a pairing that is hard to achieve.
Trainers often aim for the more exciting powder-based attacks and disregard its vine work. This is a big mistake, as the vines can be extremely powerful and used in a number of unique ways. I’d like to see more creative uses of them on the field: not just whipping but catching, energy re-direction (as in the example I mentioned earlier but this can also be used defensively), and manipulation of the environment for offensive/defensive means.
Threats
Bulbasaur’s popularity can be a problem. As they’re such an all rounder, and some famous trainers have had them in their teams, more and more people are seeking them out. As the breeders are inundated with requests, trainers are then turning to the wild. However, in the wild, these Pokémon are part of quite delicate ecosystems and form close social groups. Some particularly impatient trainers don’t do their research and simply crash in to the forests—ruining the habitat in the process. This mis-match in ‘supply and demand’ is leading Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venusaur groups to become more elusive and move into deeper parts of the forest. I’d recommend that trainers leave the wild Bulbasaur to the researchers, and instead get your name down on the waiting list for a breeder.
A second threat to Bulbasaur is its Grass/Poison type. People often forget about the poison part, and treat Bulbasaur like a pure grass Pokémon. This can cause difficulties as they are put up against ground and psychic types, to which they are vulnerable. Trainers also forget to train up resistance to these types of attacks. Psychic can be particularly damaging because Bulbasaur’s high empathy means it can be easily confused and mentally manipulated.
Breeders
Encourage Bulbasaur broods to be independent. Their empathy is great for cooperation, but they are at risk of becoming too dependent on either other Pokémon or their trainers—which make for less confident battlers.
Better communicate with trainers to show how diet and basking can impact seeds and powders. This should reduce the expectancy that these things will just work and reduce frustration between Pokémon and trainer
Start vine training as early as possible. Ask babies to pick things off shelves, give them puzzles to do, play catch… anything that builds dexterity and strength.
Combatants
Take advantage of Bulbasaur’s reduced movement and focus on moves that use high speed or affect the ground underneath them, so they have to keep moving. They’ll tire much more quickly if they’re moving around as many have low endurance
Use environment attacks where possible: make it cold, block out the sun, block access to bare earth/grass. Even better, push for a water, fire, metal or ice-floored arena.
Bulbasaur are very courageous but quite weak-minded. Intimidation tactics, mental manipulation and staging will go a long way to knock Bulbasaur’s confidence. Isolation from team makes can be useful in team battles, as Bulbasaur is a strong leader so cutting them off will weaken the team as a whole.
Trainers
Respect the Bulbasaur’s environment and family if catching from the wild. They have a complex and sensitive society, so be understanding and look for opportunities to convince a Bulbasaur to come with you, as opposed to the traditional Pokéball capture.
Encourage smart thinking and understand that a Bulbasaur’s strategic suggestions and management abilities are a benefit to you, not a threat to you.
Understand that powder work is no quick win, and likely won’t bring fruit until your Bulbasaur evolves. Do extensive reading and experimenting with different diets and ingredients so you’re prepared for when the time comes that these are useful in battle.
Fruit can be given periodically as a treat. Image credit: Takamizawa Usui.
Bulbasaur are typically sensible beings and are known for their caretaking abilities. Mine finds great pleasure in maintaining his (very orderly) garden and looking after my baby niece, Clara. Many a time, I’ve seen him gently rock her cradle and sing the Bulba-by and it brings joy to my heart each time. I think it might be part of their communal nature. If you ever go to Kanto and are lucky enough to happen upon an evolution ceremony, you will know what I mean.
Where to find one
The only chance you’ll get to catch a Bulbasaur in the wild is at their gatherings, which occur once a year. However, I really wouldn’t advise this. A Bulbasaur-Ivysaur-Venosaur community is very wary and secretive. In fact, they can be so elusive that it is extremely difficult for trainers to find the meeting place. Not only are they held in the depths of very hard-to-reach forests, but their groups contain a good mixture of low- and high-level individuals. Those energetic Ivysaur might just decide you could be their next best plaything. And then there’s the all-mighty protectors of the forest, Venusaur, who will no doubt try and chase you off if you cause a stir.
If you do find a gathering, be courteous. I’ve always found if you respect nature, it won’t bother you. That seems to be the case here. I’ve been lucky enough to catch the ceremony once or twice and it is such a spectacle. If you are an experienced trainer and intend on catching a Bulbasaur at one of these events, it is best to wait until after proceedings have died down. Slowly approach a group near the edge of the clearing and clearly state your intentions. If one is willing to take you on, let the battle commence! If not, either ask another group or try again next year. Some things are worth waiting for.
For all but the most experienced trainers, the best way to get a Bulbasaur companion is to talk to a breeder. When you first meet the brood, make sure to look for one of the individuals that is playing with its litter-mates, sunbathing, or energetically undertaking a private hobby. A young Bulbasaur should never be isolated or standing in a corner. If you see this behaviour, please tell the breeder. It may mean they have to alter their training.
Preparing the home
A Bulbasaur’s social life is a complex one. At heart, one caught from the wild is extremely social and caring but they can also be quite aloof and stand-offish. That’s because they live alone or in small family groups for most of the year, in the wild. The gatherings I spoke about are very special occasions.
Don’t be fooled, though. Just because your Bulbasaur is aloof doesn’t mean he doesn’t care. Bulbasaur communities know each individual extremely well. They learn to recognise each other by their unique facial and body markings, as well as their scent, powders, and impressions they make in the grass. So, don’t get too unnerved if your new Bulbasaur stares at you a lot or inspects where you’ve just been sitting on the sofa. He’s just trying to work you out.
Encourage your Bulbasaur to take up a hobby, like gardening.
Image credit: Marta Maszkiewicz.
Speaking of their powders, or spores, be prepared for the house to be covered with them! A Bulbasaur uses its powders as a way of scent marking – the way a cat might mark a couch by scratching or a dog by peeing on a hydrant. That means that in the early days, you won’t be able to go a day without finding it everywhere like white feathery snow. Don’t worry, it’s not poisonous at this stage. However, be sure to train your friend to stop marking the house if you’re planning on teaching him moves like Poison Powder or Sleep Powder.
When introducing a new Bulbasaur to your home, you want to make sure he has his own private space where he cannot be disturbed. This will preferably be in a sunny spot in the garden or by a south-facing window. Buy him a few potted plants and encourage him to care for them, and make sure he has access to rainwater at least once a week. If you live in an arid area, you might want to buy a water butt and save some up for him. Tap water isn’t the worst thing in the world, but they can get a little sickly if they get no rainwater at all.
Raising for battle
Bulbasaur is a grass-poison Pokémon and its fighting moves largely revolve around its vines and powders.
If you want to focus on powder-based moves such as Poison Powder, Sleep Powder, Worry Seed and Seed Bomb, you’ll want to encourage him to scent-mark. To save your house, try picking out a designated training area and place something with his scent on at each corner. You can buy specially generic pre-scented flags from your local Pokémart if that’s easier. Next, you’ll need to familiarise yourself with the types of powder. You can actually use his diet to influence the types produced. Feed him Deadly Nightshade, Castor Bean, or Water Hemlock (these are deadly to humans, so treat with utmost care) to encourage his poison spores, or Lavender and Jasmine to strengthen his sleep spores.
The physical moves like Take Down, Vine Whip, Razor Leaf, and Double Edge will be easier to train. Bulbasaur are quite intelligent and eager-to-please so this should be fairly easy to do with a couple sandbag training dolls, targets and treats.
Keeping Bulbasaur happy and healthy
Whether you’re training for battle or just raising as a pet, it is very important for Bulbasaur to sunbathe. I can’t stress this enough. Being a plant-based creature, one of Bulbasaur’s energy sources is the sun (photosynthesis). Make sure your Bulbasaur gets at least half an hour a day of peak-time sunlight in summer and triple that in winter. If you live in a cloudy, rainy place like I do you could buy an incandescent light but this is in no way a full substitute. Bulbasaur that cannot get enough sunlight must be given nutritional supplements. You can get advice from your local Pokémart’s nutritionist.
As well as light, your Bulbasaur must also eat. He lives on a herbivorous diet of grass, legumes, and leafy greens. Fruit can be given periodically as a treat. Other plant-based things can be ok, too. For example, my Bulbasaur got a peculiar obsession with peanuts for a while. Just make sure that any extra food like this is given in moderation and watch their weight. No one wants a chubby bubby!
As I’ve mentioned, Bulbasaur are usually intelligent and benefit from hobbies. This varies from individual to individual, but activities I’ve seen include gardening, painting, baking, target practice (for particularly avid battlers), and even training other Pokémon! Their vines are quite dexterous and they can be very inventive. If your Bulbasaur is struggling to find something naturally, feel free to suggest some activities he may not have thought about. However, always let him choose and don’t try and force him into it.
Overall
Bulbasaur is said to be great for new trainers due to their devoted, caring nature and their will to please. I generally agree with this sentiment. However, as you have seen, there is a lot more to this bubbly soul and they have some pretty particular needs. Saying that, you’ll find no other Pokémon more willing to work together to overcome any hurdle.
Sleeping Bulbasaur. Image credit: Olivia Bigelow.
Watch out for the first Bulbasaur story on 29th April!
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A Breeder's Guide to Pokémon 