Mike wrote:
Minimising reintroduction? Yes, wash all the pots, especially the underside and round the top, and the staging and under the staging. Utterly laborious but necessary. Perhaps using a dilute disinfectant. To stop reintroduction, yes, check all new plants, and keeping pots from touching each other can also slow any spread (and reduce the likelihood of fungal infections by increasing airflow).
Mike
It was once recommended to me to grow my cacti on a bed of sand. It turned out to be highway heaven for Root Mealey Bug. Needless to say that didn't last long.
I later used the sand outdoors under patio slabs. A year later I had to lift one of the slabs to re-level it. They were still thriving under there. Living on what, I don't know.
I have always soaked new cacti for a few days as part of my introduction process. Wash off all the soil then leave in a bucket of diluted neem oil and washing up liquid for a few days. Then let them dry for a few days more before potting up.
Patrick. Small varied collection of North American, Mexican and Andean Cacti. Variegated Agaves and Echeveria. Developing a succulent garden in Portugal. Joined Somerset BCSS and forum in 2007.
ralphrmartin wrote:Meths is 100% effective in my experience (if used on a dry root ball), but you are going to need a lot to give all the plants a root bath in it.
This might be a silly question but what is/are Meths? Is it anything like Isopropyl alcohol? I hesitate doing a google search for meths because I know what I will get.
ralphrmartin wrote:Meths is 100% effective in my experience (if used on a dry root ball), but you are going to need a lot to give all the plants a root bath in it.
This might be a silly question but what is/are Meths? Is it anything like Isopropyl alcohol? I hesitate doing a google search for meths because I know what I will get.
Meths = methylated spirits (UK) denatured alcohol, typically 95% ethyl alcohol, 5% methyl alcohol, plus a purple dye.
Tony Roberts
Treasurer, Haworthia Society
Chairman, Tephrocactus Study Group
Moderator, BCSS Forum
Kent
(Gasteria, Mammillaria, small Opuntia, Cleistocactus and Sempervivum are my current special interests)
