• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, October 8, 2010

The Ion network wants to plant a message of ratings growth on agency desks. Later this month, the network will park a mobile greenhouse outside New York agencies and visitors can walk away with a personal bamboo plant.

Why bamboo? Bamboo plants are said to be among the fastest-growing in the world. Per one measure, during the 2009-10 broadcast season, Ion saw a 50% growth in prime ratings among 18- to-49-year-olds, although that was from a .2 to a .3 -- about what VH1 or BET get.

Separately, the one-to-grow-on message will have another grassroots effort with street teams targeting consumers in Manhattan as they hand out seedlings signifying growth. On Oct. 27, the traveling greenhouse makes a stop in the Flatiron district for consumer tours.

The network has recently taken on a sort of CBS Classic look with multiple episodes of former network hits "Ghost Whisperer" and "Without A Trace." In addition, "Criminal Minds" is filling in its afternoon and prime-time schedules on weekdays. Movies fill weekends; this month is screening premieres of "Changing Lanes," "Snake Eyes" and "Scarface."

Ion reaches 98 million homes, about as many as a fully distributed cable network.