Can I soak a pot with media in fungicide?

[Stray59]

rlilia:
I should have said "as opposed to dipping it in a bucket of water that you would have to throw out between plants or just letting the water run through the pot".
As I purchase my RO water from a local store and bring it home in 2 1/2 gallon jugs, I have tried to find the best way to keep from wasting it; I have found that watering enough to get all the medium wet allows a lot of water to run through the pot and goes to waste. So, when I need to really soak a plant I wrap the pot in foil or plastic and then fill the pot with water and let the plant soak for about 20 minutes. Then when I remove the foil I only have to throw out about 1 cup instead of several cups in the "run-through" method. This allows me to conserve as much water as I can, and the long soak also allows the water / solution to penetrate the clay pots I use; the porous clay can hold microbes as bad as any medium.
Now of course I can't take the time to do this every time, but every month or so I "deep water" like this in the summer - in the winter I just spray them well, unless they need treated with fungicide then I use the foil wrap method.
Again, this is just how I do it - I know some will just dunk several plants in the same communal bucket of water, but I lost a huge amount of plants by doing this years ago (over 35 years - God, I am OLD!) and passing mosaic virus to about every plant I had. It only takes one infected plant to contaminate the water - but to each their own.
Basically, to answer JKeys original question - yes, you can soak medium and pots in fungicide without harming the plant, depending on the fungicide you are using. I don't use systemics as I have had no reason to; the old reliable Captan has stopped any fungus I have had and I really don't know about the long term effects of systemics.
Hope this answers your question!
Steve

[Wild Orchid]

GOT IT!
Thanks a million!

WO

[supersheep]

Stray59 - can you soak them in Hydrogen peroxide as a fungicide? I don't know where to get the other fungicides from here where I am.

If you can use hydrogen peroxide, do you still recommend about twice a year, and at what concentration of H2O2?

Oh and how long would you soak them for?

Thanks!

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by supersheep

Stray59 - can you soak them in Hydrogen peroxide as a fungicide? I don't know where to get the other fungicides from here where I am.

If you can use hydrogen peroxide, do you still recommend about twice a year, and at what concentration of H2O2?

Oh and how long would you soak them for?

Thanks!

I think hydrogen peroxide can only be applied locally as it most likely would kill the roots. Just like with humans, we don't wash our hands with it but apply locally to the wounded area and - it hurts!

My

Lilia

[WhiteRabbit]

You can use 3% H2O2.

[supersheep]

Originally Posted by WhiteRabbit

You can use 3% H2O2.

Ok cool, that's a great dilution actually, because what I've got is 6% and I think even I can work out the maths on that one!

[kaede]

I really like this Metalaxyl, and it can be combined too with Mancozeb. So far, this systemic fungicide does not damage flowers too (at least those that I have), is great with treating root or stem rot (after removing the severely black ones of course which have no cure).

One has to be careful in its usage though, infrequently, to avoid the fungus gaining resistance to it.

Originally Posted by euplusia

An epiphytic orchid in the wild needs a whole ecosystema of cyanobacteria, several types of fungi, lichens etc. for the support of water and nutrients. A potted plant needs more or less regular watering and fertilizing carried out by a skilful grower.
A fungizide can either work preventive / prophylactic by contact as is the case with copperoxychloride. Or it is taken into the phloema and xylema, transported up and down inside the plant and works systemic. This is the case for example with Metalaxyl.
It is very common for professionals to add a systemic fungicide to the soil in the process of propagation of plantlets and also orchids. But it is important to limit its use to not more than twice a year or so according to the usage sheet, for example because of stunted growth.
Of course you can soak your pots in water with a systemic fungicide. In a specific case you can ask in advance experts if it is well-tolerated by the plants.

[james mickelso]

I too use a similar method. I dip all my plants in the same 5 gallon bucket although I change the water after about a quarter of my plants have been through it. Two to three times a year I put a systemic fungicide in the water as a preventative. This is one of the ways I try to isolate and then rid the new shoots of the old fungal issues the plants usually come with. It works fairly well. In my collection I have few problems with fungal attacks although the older pbulbs/leaves/roots do have issues but these are dealt with in different ways. Virus is the main issue I face. Not much I can do about it.In my GH there is no other way to water. I buy RO water at retail stores by the gallon and transport it to my GH where I blend it 50/50 with city water. And in my ragged collection there is nothing sacred.