Does anyone have a source for these containers?

Does anyone have a source for these containers? I ran out and I forgot where I ordered them. I am not particular about shape, round would be fine but I need a tight seal.

Sorry no

i see them all the time at Smart & Final stores here in Ca. here is there link http://www.smartandfinal.com/ i hope u have them in ur area. good luck!

Bummer, I can't really locate anything but recipes at that site. Thanks for trying. We do not have that chain of stores here in Illinois or in Wisconsin anywhere near me that I know of.

That type of container is called a 'magenta' container (no idea why, but it is a registered trademark). They're specifically designed for plant tissue culture, so I don't think you'd be able to buy them from that kitchen product site. They are pricey because they are vented (reusable and autoclavable). You should be able to get them from any company that sells scientific labware.

Although I've not purchased boxes from http://www.phytotechlab.com , I do know that their prices for plant culture chemicals and growth media is excellent. I recently bought 500g of a plant hormone at this site for only $80 (it was $120 for 100g anywhere else). This site also seems to have a bunch of other brands for culture vessels. Be careful to read the description, some have built in filters for specialized laboratory work and such and are VERY expenisve ($60 each!!!). Item code E048-1EA is probably just what you need, but do browse the site a little as I didn't take a really close look and there may be something more suited to what you want. The site is a little odd in that you'll have to look at the item code for the quantity number. For instance E048-1EA is for one, but E048-25EA is for 25. It threw me for a loop when I first looked at the site.

I had been looking for a "Chartreuse" container. I was close- not.

You hit it on the head with the E048-1EA. That seems to be considerably more expensive than what I paid about 5 years ago but prices probably went up which is to be expected. They are reusable so I should be fine with about 20 of them.

The culture you see on my window sill is Pinguicula vulgaris. I've also got a few Cypripedium reginae ready to go. I have a lot to learn about tissue culture and flasking in general.

I'm currently looking for Hormex #8 for another little project so I'll have to poke around that site a little more.

Thank you very much heavelybubbles.

Lauren

Lauren,

sorry to hear there are no Smart & Finals stores in ur area. i do not understand why their website is filled with recipes when most of the goods in their stores are bulk food items and equipment for restaurant supplies.

may i suggest for u to find in ur area some restaurant suppliers cuz i definitely know the container u are looking for are available. they are not that expensive at all. next time i am in the area of Smart & Finals, i will check for u their prices.

i have, in the past, explored restaurant suppliers and find their prices far way below the price of what u would normally find in the grocery or regular stores, so to speak. i used to be in the catering business in the past which is why i know.

good luck.... ma vie

Hello ma vie, silly question but how do you sterilize the containers you have been buying?

I use 3 gallons of bleach to 30 gal of water and soak 10-30 mins. Once you mix the bleach with water, the solution is only good for 2 hrs and then it starts to break down. Be sure to rinse well.

I've been cheating. I have a girlfriend who is a microbiologist and I was having her use an autoclave at her work.

If you all are able to use readily available bleach, I want the cheaper containers. I was buying the other ones because they were the right size for one of the autoclaves at her work.

equilibrium, phytotecklab is great!!! I second that.

I have purchased tons of stuff from phytotech lab and they are a great company. I would highly recommend them.

Phytotech Lab has a great reputation and I hate to sound really cheap but at $3.50 per magenta container plus shipping and handling, I'd rather go with what ma vie is using. If other people are getting by sterilizing with bleach and not using an autoclave, no point to having containers that are the exact size to fit in Vic's autoclave. Does this make sense? I'm thinking containers from a restaurant supplier are going to be half the price of those from Phytotech. I'm more of a "kitchen" experimenter rather than an actual "scientific" experimenter so if I lose a few cultures to pathogens, that's ok.

I did learn something interesting. If anyone out there has a Bosch Dishwasher, evidently the temps are considerably higher than traditional dishwashers by about 30° and sometimes there is a 40° difference. The guy at the overstock science supply said for what I was doing, I could probaby get by with running my containers through a cycle and then dipping them in a 1:2 bleach solution as mentioned by tigerlily123. He did mention that an autoclave would always be superior but I'm basically playing around here.

Why not use babyfoold jars and buy some phytocaps (c070 - 100 for $20.95) for them. You can buy lots of babyfood jars on ebay or go to your local daycare providers, they usually just throw them away and will gladly give them to you. What kind of media are you using for your cultures??

Baby food jars are a little bit too small to meet my needs but they definitely would work. Medium depends but mostly agar but I've toyed with cornstarch and Gelrite. Use a half a gram of Gelrite to 50g of cornstarch. What are you using for your cultures?

Lauren........... i also use bleach to sterilize around here.

look into this link, u might find what u need http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/category.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=20369&Page=1

Hi ma vie, what is the item number of the product you were thinking might work from the usplastic site above?

Laauren... check this link http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=USPlastic&category%5Fname=20369&product%5Fid=18445 i was thinking one of these will work for u?

i can not recommend any cuz u urself know what ur needs are. i do not know what u got in mind. me? i am a very practical type of a person, i look around the house and find what i need. if not, i go to Walmart and find the cheapest and closest container that will suit my needs. cheaper too, since i can pick the price and no shipping or handling fee. i found some nice, neat glass jars and super cheap too! in the sewing/notion dept.

good luck!

Sewing and notions department??? We have several largeJoanne Fabric Stores out this way and they have all kinds of goodies. Glass works for me. Thank you!

Say, what are you using for a medium?

medium for what? i make my own potting soil. there are different formulas for different plants http://www.backyardgardener.com/soil.html

edited to add:
yes, the notion department cuz the Walmart in our area has the flowers and hobby stuff next to the notions department. i will not recommend Joann's stores cuz i find their prices to be rediculous high. try a local 99¢ store... u will be surprise what is available there for u.

This message was edited Mar 24, 2006 8:43 PM

Neat link. Yes, I use different mediums too. I keep lists of what I use. I feel as if I should rename myself the list lady.

Dont know is this will work but I can get a lot of CD containers. About a quart in size. They are clear and have a tight lid. They are free.
Photo is of a self wartering set up I was working on.

This message was edited Mar 24, 2006 7:52 PM

I have those! Funny you should mention doing something with those. I grow Utricularia here and the bladders (traps) are underground and a long time ago I saw somebody create something that showed off the bladders using a view through set up. I think they used baskets made out of the plastic canvas. I have tried to locate that website but never could find it again. I bet that person used CD dust towers to create that utricularia root display. I remember the Utricularia distinctly but can't for the life of me remember how they created their set up. You'll have to post a photo of you self watering set up with a plant in it or something so I can see what you're doing.

You can see the wick thru the bottom container.
What I like is being able seeing the root zone.

Another variation of the use of the containers. Mini green house

I am using MS media for my culture experiments. I have also ordered fern & musa media and plant to experiment with both of those soon.