what is Physan?

[Lady Tottington]

Hi all! I keep hearing about Physan, and I don't really understand what it is... can someone enlighten me?

Also, I have a couple pots that I would like to reuse, these were from other orchids that I repotted, but I think I am supposed to clean them, correct? Would a simple bleach water solution work to sterilize anything that was in the pot, followed by a good rinsing?

Thanks friends!

[Hedge]

Bleach is fine for cleaning pots - I use it fairly weakly. Physan is a product available in the States Physan 20

I quote:
PHYSAN 20™ is a broad range disinfectant, fungicide, virucide, and algaecide which effectively controls a wide variety of pathogens on hard surfaces and plants. Its applications include greenhouses; hard surfaces; lawn and turfgrass; seedlings and cut flowers; decorative fountains, pools and birdbaths; and plants.
PHYSAN 20 is an EPA approved concentrate formulated with unique germicidal agents to provide overall protection for your plants and greenhouses.
PHYSAN 20 poses no human or environmental risk when it is used at recommended use levels and according to label instructions.
PHYSAN 20 controls disease-spreading organisms which can be carried from plant to plant by using contaminated pots, flats, seed beds, soil, tools and human hands.

[britbloke]

If I might add, some people here, seem to use Pool algaecide in place of Physan, because it's much less expensive.

[PaphMadMan]

Both Physan and pool algaecide are quaternary ammonium disinfectants - sometimes even the exact same compounds though concentration may vary.

Bleach and Physan will both work to disinfect a pot, and work best on clean non-porous materials. Small numbers of porous pots like terra cotta are best disinfected by boiling or in a pressure cooker.

[Lady Tottington]

I see! Thank you! Sounds valuable. Do most people order it online? It's not a product available where I'm at, so I'm wondering how vital it is to have.

Thanks for the info on the algaecide too... makes sense.

[jenmonkey]

Hah! Interesting. So, I'm a hairdresser, and we use quats to disinfect our combs and brushes. I can just use that then. The things you learn on this board...

[PaphMadMan]

Originally Posted by Lady Tottington

I see! Thank you! Sounds valuable. Do most people order it online? It's not a product available where I'm at, so I'm wondering how vital it is to have.

Thanks for the info on the algaecide too... makes sense.

Large garden centers may have Physan, otherwise it is available from greenhouse or horticultural supply websites. There are many ways to adequately clean and disinfect a few pots so if you just have a small collection you can probably do without it.

[Lady Tottington]

I have a relatively small collection, maybe only 25-30 orchids... perhaps not as many as most on this board

[fotofashion]

I bought my last jug of Physan at Lowes. It isn't cheap but you only need a few drops. The last bottle I bought lasted years.
One thing about bleach is that it will lose its strength but Physan doesn't seem to.
Beverly A.