Phones struggle with texture on uniform surfaces like pottery. The lack of a real lens means it can't pick up fine surface detail in flat light, which is exactly what you need for those incised lines. That's why even a basic DSLR with a prime lens makes such a huge difference.

Is it really that big a deal to pass a test with a cheat sheet? I mean, a 92 is good, but the whole point of the journeyman test is to prove you know the code book on your own. If you need a chart in your pocket, what happens on the job when you don't have it?

My buddy's basil went crazy after he tried seeds too.

Wait, they let you keep a chart in your pocket during the test? That's wild! I've never heard of that being allowed. Congrats on the 92 though, that's a killer score. The new meter from your foreman is a solid prize too.

Your water lock jar should have worked fine if the cabbage was fully submerged. In my experience, the real issue is usually not having enough weight inside the jar itself. A proper crock is great, but you can get the same results with a glass weight in any jar.