Reapplying some fixes that I think DM may have saved over, whoops.

code/modules/hydroponics/hydro_tray.dm

@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 	var/lastcycle = 0          // Cycle timing/tracking var.
 	var/cycledelay = 150       // Delay per cycle.
 	var/closed_system          // If set, the tray will attempt to take atmos from a pipe.
+	var/force_update           // Set this to bypass the cycle time check.
 
 	// Seed details/line data.
 	var/datum/seed/seed = null // The currently planted seed
@@ -127,6 +128,10 @@
 
 /obj/machinery/portable_atmospherics/hydroponics/bullet_act(var/obj/item/projectile/Proj)
 
+	//Don't act on seeds like dionaea that shouldn't change.
+	if(seed && seed.immutable > 0)
+		return
+
 	//Override for somatoray projectiles.
 	if(istype(Proj ,/obj/item/projectile/energy/floramut) && prob(20))
 		mutate(1)
@@ -152,7 +157,9 @@
 		process_reagents()
 
 	// Update values every cycle rather than every process() tick.
-	if(world.time < (lastcycle + cycledelay))
+	if(force_update)
+		force_update = 0
+	else if(world.time < (lastcycle + cycledelay))
 		return
 	lastcycle = world.time
 
@@ -175,6 +182,11 @@
 	// Advance plant age.
 	if(prob(25)) age += 1 * HYDRO_SPEED_MULTIPLIER
 
+	//Highly mutable plants have a chance of mutating every tick.
+	if(seed.immutable == -1)
+		var/mut_prob = rand(1,100)
+		if(mut_prob <= 5) mutate(mut_prob == 1 ? 2 : 1)
+
 	// Maintain tray nutrient and water levels.
 	if(seed.nutrient_consumption > 0 && nutrilevel > 0 && prob(25))
 		nutrilevel -= max(0,seed.nutrient_consumption * HYDRO_SPEED_MULTIPLIER)
@@ -286,7 +298,8 @@
 		pestlevel = 0
 
 	// If enough time (in cycles, not ticks) has passed since the plant was harvested, we're ready to harvest again.
-	else if(seed.products && seed.products.len && age > seed.production && (age - lastproduce) > seed.production && (!harvest && !dead))
+	else if(seed.products && seed.products.len && age > seed.production && \
+	 (age - lastproduce) > seed.production && (!harvest && !dead))
 		harvest = 1
 		lastproduce = age
 
@@ -526,7 +539,22 @@
 	if (O.is_open_container())
 		return 0
 
-	if(istype(O, /obj/item/weapon/reagent_containers/syringe))
+	if(istype(O, /obj/item/weapon/wirecutters) || istype(O, /obj/item/weapon/scalpel))
+
+		if(!seed)
+			user << "There is nothing to take a sample from in \the [src]."
+			return
+
+		seed.harvest(user,yield_mod,1)
+		health -= (rand(1,5)*10)
+		check_level_sanity()
+
+		force_update = 1
+		process()
+
+		return
+
+	else if(istype(O, /obj/item/weapon/reagent_containers/syringe))
 
 		var/obj/item/weapon/reagent_containers/syringe/S = O
 
@@ -572,7 +600,9 @@
 				seed = S.seed //Grab the seed datum.
 				dead = 0
 				age = 1
-				health = seed.endurance
+				//Snowflakey, maybe move this to the seed datum
+				health = (istype(S, /obj/item/seeds/cutting) ? round(seed.endurance/rand(2,5)) : seed.endurance)
+
 				lastcycle = world.time
 
 			del(O)

code/modules/hydroponics/seed_datums.dm

@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 	//Tolerances.
 	var/requires_nutrients = 1      // The plant can starve.
 	var/nutrient_consumption = 0.25 // Plant eats this much per tick.
-	var/requires_water = 3          // The plant can become dehydrated.
+	var/requires_water = 1          // The plant can become dehydrated.
-	var/water_consumption = 1       // Plant drinks this much per tick.
+	var/water_consumption = 3       // Plant drinks this much per tick.
 	var/ideal_heat = 293            // Preferred temperature in Kelvin.
 	var/heat_tolerance = 20         // Departure from ideal that is survivable.
 	var/ideal_light = 8             // Preferred light level in luminosity.
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 	var/spread = 0                  // 0 limits plant to tray, 1 = creepers, 2 = vines.
 	var/carnivorous = 0             // 0 = none, 1 = eat pests in tray, 2 = eat living things  (when a vine).
 	var/parasite = 0                // 0 = no, 1 = gain health from weed level.
-	var/immutable= 0                // If set, plant will never mutate.
+	var/immutable = 0                // If set, plant will never mutate. If -1, plant is  highly mutable.
 	var/alter_temp                  // If set, the plant will periodically alter local temp by this amount.
 
 	// Cosmetics.
@@ -99,13 +99,13 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 
 //Returns a key corresponding to an entry in the global seed list.
 /datum/seed/proc/get_mutant_variant()
-	if(!mutants || !mutants.len || immutable) return 0
+	if(!mutants || !mutants.len || immutable > 0) return 0
 	return pick(mutants)
 
 //Mutates the plant overall (randomly).
 /datum/seed/proc/mutate(var/degree,var/turf/source_turf)
 
-	if(!degree || immutable) return
+	if(!degree || immutable > 0) return
 
 	source_turf.visible_message("\blue \The [display_name] quivers!")
 
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 //Mutates a specific trait/set of traits.
 /datum/seed/proc/apply_gene(var/datum/plantgene/gene)
 
-	if(!gene || !gene.values || immutable) return
+	if(!gene || !gene.values || immutable > 0) return
 
 	switch(gene.genetype)
 
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 	return (P ? P : 0)
 
 //Place the plant products at the feet of the user.
-/datum/seed/proc/harvest(var/mob/user,var/yield_mod)
+/datum/seed/proc/harvest(var/mob/user,var/yield_mod,var/harvest_sample)
 	if(!user)
 		return
 
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 	if(!got_product)
 		user << "\red You fail to harvest anything useful."
 	else
-		user << "You harvest from the [display_name]."
+		user << "You [harvest_sample ? "take a sample" : "harvest"] from the [display_name]."
 
 		//This may be a new line. Update the global if it is.
 		if(name == "new line" || !(name in seed_types))
@@ -364,6 +364,12 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 			name = "[uid]"
 			seed_types[name] = src
 
+		if(harvest_sample)
+			var/obj/item/seeds/seeds = new(get_turf(user))
+			seeds.seed_type = name
+			seeds.update_seed()
+			return
+
 		var/total_yield
 		if(isnull(yield_mod) || yield_mod < 1)
 			yield_mod = 0
@@ -396,7 +402,7 @@ proc/populate_seed_list()
 // be put into the global datum list until the product is harvested, though.
 /datum/seed/proc/diverge(var/modified)
 
-	if(immutable) return
+	if(immutable > 0) return
 
 	//Set up some basic information.
 	var/datum/seed/new_seed = new