Was just starting to fill trays to plant my seeds and I noticed a few teeny weenie crawly bugs. I put the tray in the microwave for 4 minutes or so. I guess I'll have to do this with all my soil unless I trot down to the store to buy a new mix. Do you all bother to sterilize your potting soil? Oven or microwave? I was wondering if doing a large amount outside on the B-Q pit would work.
Do you sterilize your potting medium?
Poppysue, i don't but i am not an example for anyone. i buy potting soil in bulk from a nursery out of a concrete bin. i guess there might be a houseplant i would want that for sometime. down here i would be roasting earth worms if i heated it up. i might buy soil for something, but can't think of what now.
BTW, i read Smart Soil has a little bit of the watersorb crystals in it, they sure do a mark up for that.
i don't do a lot of stuff, and do stuff different, but that's just how i do it being used to my soil/sand and area. i can't imagine what you guys go through with your shorter growing season.
I have just been spraying mine with Susie's good old tea tree oil recipe and it seems to work for me.
Poppysue,I get my potting soil/seed starting mix off the floor of the goat barn.I can imagine what Ann would say if I headed for the microwave with that stuff.
LOL, JT. my neighbor raises goats, but none are american... they show them, have nubians, dwarf algerians or something..., some don't look like they have front legs.
Funny GtS! I wouldn't worry about it but since these are seeds I don't want to have problems with bugs and fungus. I did some more soil in the microwave - I put it in gallon sized zip-lock bag without zipping it. Seemed to work ok. I'll get some new stuff when I get to the store. This time of year potting soils aren't avaiable at too many stores here. I always say I'll stock up on stuff during the summer months when it's available but I never do...
I heard on TV that it stinks if you do that in the oven. How is the smell in the microwave...I may try that?
Yep Arlene,ours are Nubians and African Boers.Pedigrees back to the Mayflower.They allow us to live here as long as we feed and water them and scatch behind their ears.Worse than cats.Spoiled absolutely rotten.
Honibee - what is Susie's tea tree solution? When I try to give my plants a little boost, I put a plastic bag over them for some more humidity but have to watch or else I get fuzzies growing. Will the tea tree help with this?
OrphanAnnie, Tea tree oil is an anti-fungal. I forget the actual ratio Cala said but it's just a couple of drops in a pint of water or so. You can find it almost anywhere now. Even WalMart has it in the pharmacy dept. I've been using it to spray my cuttings. It has a medicine-ish smell to it. I don't know if will actually kill bugs (like spider mites) but I think it cuts down on any bacteria & fungus growth. It will probably take care of any "fuzzies" you have. Doesn't seem to harm the plants at all.
Glory
Dec 30, 2001
Tea tree oil is used like neems oil....a few drops of it in a gallon of water..shake well and spray. This mix smothers the bugs. Poppysue is right it is also a great fungicide.
Maybe i shouldn't have put a drop tea tree shampoo in quart jar that i have XVP rooting with foot long pods?
Is XVP one of Erics hybrids? I don't think the Tea tree will hurt. Maybe it will help with rotting problems??
i thought it might, the leaves on it look good, and maybe 1/3 to half inch from the joint of pod and peduncle is green. the rest of the stem/peduncle isn't, but never has been.....
yes, it is like versicolor peach but lighter, i really really like it. should be a TON of seeds on those three pods..... well, enough to share anyway.....
Two drops of oil in a quart of water. I use it to water all the plants.