Eradicating CHC mold. - Orchid Board

Izzie · #1 08-09-2010, 12:36 PM

So I'm having a grand old time dealing with newly repotted phals getting their roots all rotted from white fluffy mold.
They're in CHC with a little charcoal. Which I boiled for 30 min and soaked in physan before hand.

After reading every thread that I can possibly find on this subject here on the board, and seeing several different remedies, I'm here to ask which one you think is best.

1. Best remedy without unpotting plant?
2. Best remedy for treating the media itself?

After dunking in brown listerine, then physan, and now dousing with H2O2 (over a few days, as the mold kept growing), I've come to terms with having to repot.

The snag I've hit, however, is that the only place that sells CHC in my area is an hour away. And I still have a whole bag of this stuff.
Being the desperately broke college student that I am, I'd much prefer to sterilize what media that I have.

Is that possible? I understand that mold spores can be very persistent.

My current thought is soaking in a VERY strong solution of bleach. (media, not the plant.)
Not sure how long I'll keep it soaking.
Would probably be a good idea to soak further in fresh water afterwards, yes?

I hope you all don't mind me doing a different spin on a rather redundant topic.

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #2 08-09-2010, 12:55 PM

Bleach is usually very strong.

Soaking for 1/2 an hour is usually enough.

Yeah, rinsing out with freshwater thoroughly is recommended.

Izzie · #3 08-09-2010, 01:00 PM

I was thinking 1/2cup to a gal? Think that's strong enough to go to war with the evil buggers?

Izzie · #4 08-09-2010, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by King_of_orchid_growing:)

Yeah, rinsing out with freshwater thoroughly is recommended.

I was thinking more like soaking for half an hour or something. Would be awesome if just rinsing would work though.

Scrubbing the roots clean is going to be a chore. Hopefully some cotton balls soaked in H2O2 do the trick.

Izzie · #5 08-09-2010, 01:56 PM

Bah, after doing some research about bleaching bark, I worry about it leaving residue that will take a long time to leach out with fresh water rinses.

Are we sure that boiling the media will not get rid of mold spores?

King_of_orchid_growing:) · #6 08-09-2010, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzie

I was thinking 1/2cup to a gal? Think that's strong enough to go to war with the evil buggers?

Yup!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzie

I was thinking more like soaking for half an hour or something. Would be awesome if just rinsing would work though.

Scrubbing the roots clean is going to be a chore. Hopefully some cotton balls soaked in H2O2 do the trick.

Won't the H2O2 just fizzle out into water and oxygen rather quickly if you just apply it using cotton balls?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Izzie

Bah, after doing some research about bleaching bark, I worry about it leaving residue that will take a long time to leach out with fresh water rinses.

Are we sure that boiling the media will not get rid of mold spores?

Idk, you said you boiled it already, and mold still sprouted.

I guess you could try it again, maybe this time at a higher temperature or a longer period of time.

Izzie · #7 08-09-2010, 03:43 PM

I've heard that technically, the chemicals in the bleach should evaporate as well- still leary though.
What if I soaked the media in H202? Or alcohol? x.x

About dabbing with the H2O2- I can see what you mean. Perhaps I'll just lightly scrub what I can off, and soak in physan...