Dasha Saltvine

Dasha Saltvine is a domesticated plant that grows in chlorine-rich environments and is fertilized with Sand instead of water. It can be planted either in a downward-facing Farm Tile or in a Hydroponic Farm, and because it does not need irrigation, Hydroponic Farms are not required for normal operation. A wild Dasha Saltvine takes 24 cycles to mature, while a domesticated one matures in 6 cycles.

It requires temperatures between -25 °C and 50 °C, an air pressure of 25 g to 10 kg, and a Chlorine atmosphere. While growing, it consumes 6 g/s of Chlorine. The plant also applies -10 Decor in a 2-tile radius, so dense farms can noticeably reduce room aesthetics if left exposed.

Dasha Saltvine is commonly used as a chlorine sink. A single Rust Deoxidizer produces enough chlorine to support exactly 5 Dasha Saltvines, making the plant a convenient way to consume the gas output of that machine. A typical Chlorine Gas Vent can support roughly 16 to 20 Dasha Saltvines, though the gas should be cooled slightly so the plants are not stifled by overheated output.

Since the plant is fertilized with Sand and yields Salt, it can also serve as a source of Sand through refining. If the harvested Salt is fully processed into Table Salt and then crushed in a Rock Crusher, a Dasha Saltvine farm can produce a net gain of about 3.83 kg/cycle of Sand after accounting for fertilizer use. If Salt is only crushed when Sand is needed, the same farm can instead act as a net source of about 3.83 kg/cycle of Salt. In that configuration, 40 Dasha Saltvines can satisfy the Salt demand of one continuously operating Rust Deoxidizer.

A few practical notes:

• Use it when you want to dispose of Chlorine while also producing a useful mineral output.
• It is especially efficient when paired with a stable Chlorine source, since the plant has no water requirement.
• Because it needs Sand as fertilizer, it is most useful when Sand is plentiful or when the Salt output is being converted back into Sand.
• Keep its Decor penalty in mind if the farm is placed in living areas or other morale-sensitive spaces.