Can I soak a pot with media in fungicide?

[JKeys]

I am just wondering if this will damage the plant's root system.

Thanks!

[WhiteRabbit]

Which / what type of fungicide?

[Stray59]

JKeys:
I do this all the time, but I use a mild fungicide (Captan). About three times a year I will soak my orchids in a mild fungicide / Superthrive solution, to give them a boost and make sure they are well protected. Just spraying the top of the media allows for fungus to develop in areas that are not reached by the spray or trickle-down. By soaking I know that all the media and roots have been treated.
I would suggest against using a copper based fungicide. If you have an orchid that likes to have moss growing on the top, such as a Sophronitis coccinea, the copper fungicide will kill such; I just don't trust it. There are other fungicides that are probably too strong for such, so I would use a mild solution no matter what. Again, like whiterabbit says, it depends on what you use.
Steve

[Wild Orchid]

That's a very interesting question!

A link recently suggested by another OB member for Physan 20 usage also instructs to soak the media.

Physan 20 Orchids

I often wonder also if I could soak a newly bought Phal in both Physan and seewead at the same time, or if there's an order in which one should be applied first.

Lilia

[Stray59]

By the way - I meant to mention this. I don't soak plants in the same water over and over - even though I THINK I have a clean collection, the chance of transferring a disease is just too risky. I just wrap the pot with foil and fill the pot with solution, let it soak and then dump the "waste" on my garden. Captan and Superthrive has no interaction with the foil, but some chemicals do, so you can use plastic wrap or a very deep bowl that is just a little larger than than the pot. This way I do not waste a lot of RO water or fungicide / fertilizer.
Just something to think about!
Steve

[Jayfar]

Isn't the fungicide also going to kill off the beneficial mycorrhizal fungi as well (not to mention other beneficial microbes)?

I think yes, per this other extensive thread on OB:

Beneficial fungus....?

[Wild Orchid]

Originally Posted by Stray59

I just wrap the pot with foil and fill the pot with solution, let it soak and then dump the "waste" on my garden. Captan and Superthrive has no interaction with the foil, but some chemicals do, so you can use plastic wrap or a very deep bowl that is just a little larger than than the pot. This way I do not waste a lot of RO water or fungicide / fertilizer.
Just something to think about!
Steve

Hi Steve,
Can you kindly explain this part again, please? I've been thinking about the foil wrapping or plastic as you mentioned but I'm not sure if I really get the point about saving RO water and fungucide this way.
Thanks!

Lilia

[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.

[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.

[JKeys]

Thank you all-I have some physan 20 that I will use with this method.