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Re: Parasites etc



Aaron Liepman asked about disinfecting wild plants.

Here are three useful methods to insure against most pests, snails,
hydra. Soak new plants in a bucket containing one of the following.

ALUM: 1 tbsp./L for 1 to 2 minutes.
KMNO4: 3 ppm for 2 to 3 days kills both snail and snail eggs.
Ca(OH)2 (Lime water): 1 part to 6 parts water for 15 minutes.

I use the alum method. You can buy alum in most pharmacies
and grocery stores. It is used in preserving. Fine-leaved
plants can take 1 to 2 minutes, tougher plants a bit longer.

With KMNO4 you could also try a 50 to 100 ppm quick soak of maybe
one minute. It is difficult to maintain the 3 ppm concentration
over a long period as the potassium permanganate is gradually
combining with the organic matter in the tank.

Lime water is the saturated solution resulting when Ca(OH)2 is 
fully dissolved in water. This is a Dr. Innes solution to a
a snail oversupply.

The bleach solution may be a bit tough on the plants. However,
it is a 2-3 minute dip in a solution of 1 part household bleach
to 19 parts water.

If you were to use all four methods, I doubt that anything would
escape. I'm sure that there are commercial preparations as well.

--
Dave Whittaker
ac554 at FreeNet_Carleton.ca