Physan Spray usuage

I have mixed up the proper amt. to a half gallon of water to spray the avs....just as a preventative...Ki or Snowrose or anyone that knows, please help me.
May I spray the insides of big bowl terrariums and all my gessie members like episcias, streps, etc.....i am not spraying until I hear some kind of confirmation from you ladies who have used this.....
I think Ki said she had on orchids....

Hi;
I have been useing this product for some time.I add 1/4 teas.for 1/2 gallon container.Add my fertlizer to it & water my plants with it.Works great, keeps algie down.
mrsbonnie

thanks so much!!! Maybe I won't spray but use it regularly with watering!!!

So mrsbonnie, what kinda negative long term effect would it have in my terrariums??

MsC

I used to use it, but I hear more and more orchid people saying that it discourages growth..... to the point it is sounding like a consensus now. People still use it to spot treat, but use as a preventative is increasingly rare among the orchid growers.

Also, people use it on containers and tools etc., because it is reportedly effective (but not 100% effective) for all the things it claims to do. But there are alternative products out there for non-plant material....

I have had no ill effects with this product & have gone thru a whole bottle already, works for me.
mrsbonnie

Keyring, what do people do about the algae in the water of the pots for self wicking? It looks gross.....

Aside from cleaning the reservoirs now and then, some growers line the reservoirs with baggies and toss.

Would peroxide help with algae?

I don't think peroxide works on algae. It works on bacterial rot, which is what a lot of people use Physan20 for. I don't have an algae issue, so no experience there. The orchid growers don't care because algae in semihydro pots does not affect the plant. And as semihydro does not use wicks, there is no issue about the wicks getting clogged up.

Your right Gail, that algae does look gross doesn't it... it will also clog the wicks too...that is one of the brighter sides to the self watering pots...I just don't get any algae growth cause the water doesn't get any light to grow.

I have used regular algicide for the fish tanks in a mild solution for the terrariums...so does Physan do basically the same thing?
I'm trying to decide if I need to get a bottle????


MsC

And I am still trying to decide if I should use it.....Ms. Bonnie says yes and Ki says it slows down growth......I certainly don't want to slow down growth.....there was a little booklet that came with the Physan about African violet use. What it amounted to was:
for a therpeutic dose, use 1 tsp. to a gallon and drench the entire plant
for algae purposes use 1/4 tsp to a gallon to control algae
***************** still don't know what to do, but I sure don't like the algae.....

Hi All;
I have seen no difference in the growth of any of my plants since useing physian.My plants are still just as healthy as they always were. Try useing it on 1 plant, then you decide.
mrsbonnie

argh. my computer ate the post.

Gail, I said that orchid growers report that it slows down growth (that would be on orchids). Since mrsbonnie has been using it without a problem, I think it's fairly safe for you to try on gessies. I would still do a test run on some things, as your application method, rate, growing conditions, and plants are all going to be somewhat different. Also, please read the use instructions and warnings - if you can't find them, google physan20 label. It's good to read those labels/bookets in context - they are a mix of things they have to say to meet govt labeling requirements (which are not always logical) and the minimum warnings they have to put down to avoid liability.......

I do understand what you are saying, Ki...................example, we live waaay out in the country and have so many insects, etc. it doesn't do any good to call the pest control man. He isn't allowed to use anything that helps us. My brother, being a farmer, makes up our own spray and it works!!!!
I wil google physan20 label and read again taking into consideration all that you have said.

Re algae, there's a nice hydroponics thread in the hoya forum. Something about grapefruit seed extract or something?

Thanks mrsbonnie for adding to try it with one plant...good advice for everything new you do with AV's...

MsC

You are just a wealth of information

your welcome & good luck.i'm sure you will find it's a good product.
mrsbonnie

I have been using it on all my plants for about 10 days............they all look healthy to me!!!! Today I went back to 1/2 tsp. per half gallon with fertilizer in it. I was using 1/4tsp per half gallon...................if they croak, I will let you know (LOL)

I'm the one that was asking if anyone had tried the grapefruit seed extract over on the hoya forum. I had read several posts about it on a different gardening site. I ordered some because it is anti fungal - anti bacterial - insecticidal - orderless - residue free - and safe for people, animals and plants. I have not had a pest problem on any of my plants but on the other site it was claimed that using 3 or 4 drops in your misting bottle when you mist will keep your plants pest free. Also that it will kill pests along with other claims too. My own experience is this... I had a avocado pit growing in my kitchen window in a clear vase and the water always turned green quickly. The water was green when my GSE arrived and I put a couple of drops into it and with in three or four days the water was no longer green. It's not crystal clear (murky) but it's not green. I had bought some of the self watering pots for my semi mini AV's and some soil that said it was made especially for use with the self watering pots. Well it was still too heavy and I soon had all that white fuzzy stuff growing on top of my soil under the AV leaves. I used 3 or 4 drops per cup of water in my misting bottle and sprayed the top of the soil really well and with in a couple of days no more white fuzzy stuff. And my AV's are fine. So now I use it ( for just over 2 months) as a preventative for pests, fungus, mildew and I really like it and the plants do to. Chemicals make me sick so I don't have a choice with them and I'm happy to have found something that is working in a lot of different ways for me. I bought mine online and if you google Pure Liquid Gold their web site will come up and they have a list of uses for Agriculture and Gardening. So my 2 cents....My first terrarium is just over two weeks old and I won't hesitate to use this in it, I'll let you know how it goes....