Oh, last post was a mistake
And as for the red crystal not having to be ingested, it follows the basic principle of magical strength:
Chew < Ingest < Apply/Rub on < Be near it < Be far away < Hear about it
So, by concentrating the red flowers, we move from level 2 to level 4 in magical strength. And, of course it still retains its original property of only affecting organic lifeforms.
Misery and Sue get their power not from the crystal, but through the doctor, so he can control them. And because he has the power, he can do what he want regardless of the limitations of his own power source.
EDIT: Oh, and I would imagine the crystal's property of transmitting light, and therefore radiation, helps as well.
And before someone asks, it spins because it's important.