physan, MSU fertilizer and demineralized water

[W Stender]

OK, I know this is an old post, but I need to give you some information. Physan should never be mixed with ANYTHING! I found this out the hard way. I use Physan as a drench solution in my plants a few times a year and since I started doing it, I have never hard black root rot problems. So far, so good. Well, one morningI decided I would be "smart" and save time by mixing Physan, MSU and liquid kelp fertilizer together. BIG MISTAKE! The Physan turned the liquid kelp into a gelatin gooey mess that literally destroyed my watering can and stained my hands for days. It was stringy and stunk. It took weeks to get out of the plants. Fortunately the plants seeems none the worse for the wear. I have now learned not to mix anything together EVER! Hope this helps.

As a side note, I am starting a twice a year regimine with Phyton 27 as a preventative the same way Norman Fang does in his greeenhoused (Hobby Growing). Once in the spring when things go out and once just before they come back in. last year I lost 25 plant to various fugal and bacterial problems and I will not put up with that again.

[Paull]

I can't answer your issue directly, but I suspect that using demineralized water is depriving your plants of one or more trace elements necessary for growth. It is also possible that one of the ingredients in your cocktail is acting as a chelating agent (a compound that removes metal ions).

[BettyE]

Originally Posted by BobInBonita

Googled it - here's the link to the Physan label

http://www.physan.com/PAGES/Physan20_8oz_Label.pdf

It is a quaternary ammonia. Sodium hypochlorite would be bleach - and a whole bunch cheaper.

This is FUNNNNNNNNNNNNNNY, because I've been using bleach for yrs! I use it one part of bleach to nine parts water...works much better than any other commercial fungicide, and it does not stunt the growth of my orchids...BettyE

[Ray]

That's an awfully strong bleach solution. I recommend one ounce per gallon (1:128).

[orchidsarefun]

Ray or Betty - can this be used as a spray solution ?
Can the bleach solution be mixed with fertiliser ?

[Ray]

Yes, it can be used as a spray. I would not mix it with anything.

[vmax3000]

I used a bleach solution dunk (one in a series) while repotting this spring. It was ~.25 cps per ~2 gallons of water. Of course, nothing else was mixed into that bucket of water. It ended up being harder on my hands, but my plants look great.