Bicarbonates for mildew and fungus

[RJSquirrel]

Potassium bicarbonate anyone ?

Ammonium bicarbonate ?

Sodium bicarbonates ?

Ray I think this question is for you...

I was looking at rotating some different fungicides bec i don't want to make any resistant strains..hmmmm

SubdueMaxx looks like good stuff at about 1000 bucks a gallon.

They always seem to leave out orchids. They list everything else under the flipping sun but orchids..Orchids are the rodney dangerfields of the plant world.

greenhouse grown ornamentals would include orchids in a round about way I assume.

Chime please

[camille1585]

baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is the one to use. Back when I was working at Cornell U, we would spray our plants with it when we noticed the first signs of mildew. It worked well, though I don't know the concentration of it.
Another great natural fungicide (mainly works preventatively, though has some curative action) is horsetail plants. Boil 1kg horsetails in 10L water in rainwater or other pure water if possible (sorry too lazy to get the conversion in pounds/gallons) for an hour. Turn off heat, let it steep 24 hours then filter. Water plants with it to ward off soil borne fungi, or spray the leaves.

[Ray]

If you have mildew, the traditional treatment was an emulsification of superfine oil in water containing baking soda.

I have been selling a lot of Oleotrol-M to grape growers for downey and powdery mildew, and it's a good general purpose fungicide, too. No fear of resistance buildup, as it uses physics to kill, rather than being a toxin that disrupts physiological functions.

It consists of nanoparticles of vegetable oil. When applied, they pierce the cell walls of the pathogen, and then, in an effort to lower the surface energy (picture a drop of oil on water, and how rapidly it spreads to a thin film), is basically blows them up.

Another item in my arsenal is stabilized hydrogen peroxide, sold as OxiDate (hand-held pump sprayer) and Zero-Tol (hose-end applicator for larger areas like entire greenhouses). The stabilizer keeps it chemically active until it dries. I use this in the greenhouse on a regular basis, to keep algae down, and have seen almost no occurrances of any rots.

[RJSquirrel]

thats what I wanted to hear thank you both. Camille thats where i got the idea was from the Cornell University botany pages..oddly enough

And Ray ,I was reading about the Superfine Spray oil being good for pests also as it smothers them, if a Bug cant breathe well we know what happens.

Very good and thank you again. I feel like Im getting back on the right track after my mad science has worn me and some of my plants out

I hadnt known until someone posted recently that Physan (consan) was not a fungicide. Huh? I should have known that by reading the labels myself. I missed a beat on that one. Had thought I was rotating it out with the liquid copper. I have too many dendrobiums now that are very small and I had no idea copper is not dendrobium friendly for some reason. I thinks thats my next question is why is copper bad for dendrobiums. My best guess is it collects in the canes and eventually builds up and kills it. Copper is not fish or frog friendly either. I will be glad to give up the blue hands. Yay I got it all over me. Doesnt taste very good either.

Thanks you again!!

[Arenalbotanicalgarden]

Go to Walmart and buy a $12 fan.

[RJSquirrel]

thats no fun buying a fan ..I have several. Its just miserable outside already and am preparing for the too hot muggy nights when the fungal bugs bite

[rangiku]

RJ, I've had no luck with Phyton 27, but Cleary's 3336F works well for me and isn't that expensive. You can spray it and use it as drench.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by RJSquirrel

And Ray ,I was reading about the Superfine Spray oil being good for pests also as it smothers them, if a Bug cant breathe well we know what happens.

Yeah, and it can gunk up plants pretty well, too. The Oleotrol-M is nothing like superfine oil in its application or mode of action.

I hadnt known until someone posted recently that Physan (consan) was not a fungicide. Huh? I should have known that by reading the labels myself.

Physan absolutely is a fungicide - and bactericide, algaecide, and virucide. AND the label states that very clearly. So does the Consan page at its manufacturer's website.

[RJSquirrel]

yes I see that after I went home and read the label.

Now I don't remember what it was thats not a fungicide I wanted to use . Im just confused myself with too many facts....I need to take it easy for a few days..

Thanks Ray

[YAgo]

Hi guys, I need to ask Ray if Potassium Bicarbonate could work as a fungicide with phalaenopsis in LECA.
My Orchids are generating an infection from the Crown into the base of the leaves, making them squishy, transparent and weakening completely to the point that the whole plant separates from the crown.
I have been cleaning the LECA with water and Clorox, rinse well, and the plants have been submerge in Physan20 (2 tsp per Gallon). After drying I submerge them agains in water (with SuperThrive, 2.5 ml (per gallon) of SuperNova Grow an Subcultures M and B) twice a week and then placed on top of a heat mat. The Orchids have been on top of the heat mat for almost 3-4 weeks for 24/7.

I don't know what else to do, I'm loosing already 5 phalaenopsis already. New rots start growing, but they fall pray of this infection.

Please I need some help.
Thanks

Yago