Physan 20

[Oscarman]

I have been experiencing a bit of rot (looks like erwinia sp.) with some of my Paph seedlings, and was considering the use of Physan 20. Can anyone comment on it's use or life experiences you may have had with Physan 20.

Thanks,

[Ray]

Physan seems to be a pretty good general disinfectant. I use it at 1/2 tsp/gal to keep algae on the GH walls at bay, with no ill effects in the plants, but I believe 1 tsp/gal is the curative rate.

[weng]

It won't kill your plants, but it will certainly stop them growing for months. Check it out for yourself on an epiphyte with an exposed root and see if the green tip stops growing a couple of days after application.
Weng

[Marco]

I use 1 tsp physan per gallon and use a potfull of it per plant once about every 2 months and my plants seem to be fine

[justatypn]

Marco, every 2 months, is this for maintenance purposes? I had always thought that Physan was to be used only if rot is apparent?

[ScottMcC]

Originally Posted by weng

It won't kill your plants, but it will certainly stop them growing for months. Check it out for yourself on an epiphyte with an exposed root and see if the green tip stops growing a couple of days after application.
Weng

This has not been my experience. I gave all my plants a liberal dose of concentrated physan (2 T/gallon) when I repotted them, and they seem to be growing like weeds. Perhaps this is species dependent?

[Ray]

I'm quite sure it is species dependent, as I've seen both ends of the spectrum, with the only plant that stopped growing being a chiloschista, and that has resumed.

None of the other plants I have seem to care.

[weng]

Hmm... This is most interesting. Thank you all for the input. There had to be some reason why many of the orchid growers still use the product.
Weng

[bwester]

physan is just a disinfectant. It wont heal rot. I use phyton 27. Its a systemic bactericide that has saved several of my plants from erwinea. good stuff.