Quote:
Originally Posted by harveyc
...
Richard: Does Phytosan 20 or Spinosad control nematodes?
|
O.K., that's "Physan 20" which is 10% dimethly benzyl ammonium chloride and 10% ethybenzyl ammonium chloride: 10% + 10% = 20% -- from which the name is derived. See
Physan 20.
Nematode is a Phylum of 12,000 species, from microscopic to gigantic: the
Placentonema gigantissima achieves 8 meters in the placenta of the sperm whale. Earthworms
are nematodes. The nematodes that farmers worry about are usually viewed with a magnifying glass -- too small to see with the naked eye. If you clean (rinse) your plant off to remove soil particles, then remove excess moisture, then spray lightly with a 0.01% solution of Physan [dilute by 1:2000, or about 1 drop Physan per 1/2 cup water]. This dosage will kill any remaining tiny nematodes, any trace amounts of fungi, virus, algae, and bacteria without harming the plant.
Follow this up with a light spray of Spinosad just before you wrap up the plant. This will be a death sentence to any eggs or larvae within the plant flesh that surface in the near term.
Keeping your plants healthy and free of noxious pests long before you ship them is of course the best practice by far.
