Dry Ice to kill pests --

[Stray59]

Hello everyone - I posted this in Pests and Diseases area earlier today, but I think it is so cool that it deserves posting here also.
I found this while browsing the other categories; I think this came from Terrarium Growing area, but not sure. I would love to give credit to the member who posted originally, but can't find the post now- if you posted it, take the credit for it. And you have my "Thanks" as I HATE to use chemicals!!
Here is a Christmas tip for everyone - enjoy!

"Place the infested plant in an airtight container and place a small metal container of water in one corner. Place a chunk of dry ice in the water and wait. The CO2 will slowly fill the container. Take the container of water and dry ice out before it cools the container too much and continue to 'pour' the carbon dioxide 'fog' into the container until it is completely full of the fog; close the lid and leave overnight. The following morning remove the lid and take the plant out. The CO2 will replace all the oxygen and all the bugs and eggs will smother, even those in the soil. The plant will LOVE the CO2 treatment and will not be harmed in any way; in fact they say the plant will respond very positively to this treatment.
No harmful chem's, no residue to worry about and the plant loves it - what more do you want.
We can buy Dry Ice from Walmart, but most ice cream stores will have it for their ice cream shipment and will sell it buy the pound. BE VERY CAREFUL WITH IT -
Don't handle the dry ice without gloves on and don't place it on or in anything that it will harm if it gets too cold (Do NOT try to keep it in your freezer - it will crack the plastic!). I just put mine in a cheap Styrofoam cooler, wrapped heavily in newsprint; it will crack plastic coolers, so again, be careful.
Hope this helps - it is a great tip for me!
Merry Christmas everyone, and Happy New Year (can you believe it is going to be 2013 in a few days?)
Steve
"

[ginnibug]

Wish you could demo this at the upcoming CIOS meeting on Sunday. I know it will work but I feel rather hesitant to try it, might freeze my hand off or something and I kinda need them soo......... ginnibug

[zxyqu]

I've heard of this working as well, but one quick point of caution. make sure the plant has some sort of heat source during this. Dry ice sublimating makes the air really cold, so if the "cell" is too small, it might get really cold in there without secondary heat. Good topic though.

[Marty]

Howdy, it's funny... I came up with it, now it's used in all kinds of hobbies. Even a dry ice manufacturer published this once on their website as innovative use of dry ice (sent me a t-shirt too YAY! )

Here's the original article on OB Eliminating terrarium pests - Orchid Board

[zxyqu]

+1 for Marty... Like you needed any more cool points.

[Marty]

hehe, thanks. ;-)

[JanS]

This is REALLY COOL!! I read the original thread with the terrarium pics - great idea Mr. Marty!

Now here's a question: could this be adapted for termiting a house? We're going to have to have our house termited and we have many plants around the house and growing through openings in our decks and the termite guys said unfortunately whatever plants stay under the plastic tarp tent will have to die. Could CO2 treatment instead of whatever noxious gas they use be a solution? CO2 is cheap, environmentally friendly and even if it took a few days more, I am sure many people would opt for the extra time rather than have their side-house landscaping killed...

[tropterrarium]

I've done the dry ice routine a couple of times on my terraria. with 1-2 lb for the 90 gal it works like a charm. I measured the cooling, and it is maybe 5F, so nothing to worry about, really.
Tried it with 10 lb dry ice in my 9x4 GH, and there it didn't do a thing. Found live centiped the next day. So very high concentration is mandatory for this to work.