hotrodharley
Well-Known Member
"Cleanliness is next to Godliness"
Adages are great. Years of wisdom packed into an easy-to-swallow tidbit. This one is not only true but can save your life or the lives of your grow.
In humans we know that a single viable "daughter cell" of a given pathogen (a disease causing organism or "germ") can multiply in the host at an exponential rate only a mathematician could keep up with. One inoculation with a single cell organism such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, to name just two, results in colonizations numbering in the tens of thousands in just 24-hours. One goes from "well" to "really sick" literally overnight.
So how does this translate into anything useful for you and your "patients"? What can you to do to help them with this information?
"A penny's worth of prevention beats a schillings worth of cure"
Another easily understood pearl of wisdom. Why try to beat a plant disease or bug when it is easier to simply prevent them? So let's explore what the non-medical person can do to utilize medical knowledge to improve or save your crop. Today we address a common and cheap disinfectant.
Clorox
Chemical name: Sodium Hypochlorite
Uses: A bleaching agent, a disinfectant
Disinfectant to say the least. At ratios of 10:1 (10 parts water to one part Clorox) this will kill all known pathogens including HIV, Tuberculosis and all forms of hepatitis. I use the name Clorox for name association but any bleach composed of sodium hypochlorite is sufficient including all generic brands. Most brands available have sodium hypochlorite as its main active ingredient at percentages of volume from 2.75% (cheapo generic) to 6% (Clorox brand and the range we use in medicine). Spend the extra for whatever brand to get the higher ratio. 1000 ML (1 liter) water : 100 ML Clorox yields your working solution.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS. This means for uses, mixing, storing and application. Use this to sterilize, not just clean, anything it doesn't destroy.
Uses:
* Sterilization of instruments (scissors, light fixtures, trowels)
* Sterilization of containers, especially if recycled
How to apply it
Spray bottles - spray directly on all non-living items but be prepared for bleaching if dyed etc
Dishpans- a 10:1 mix for submersion of instruments (scissors, trowels, weeders)
*** ALWAYS FILL THE INTENDED CONTAINER WITH WATER FIRST. THEN SLOWLY ADD THE DESIRED AMOUNT OF BLEACH TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RATIO OF 10:1
*** WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND RUBBER GLOVES WHEN WORKING WITH BLEACH
*** OBTAIN THE MSDS SHEET FOR ALL CHEMICALS OR FERTILIZERS USED AND KEEP THEM HANDY
How and when to use your "bleach water"
Cloning - wipe your tools before starting. Soak those that can tolerate it (certain surgical-grade stainless steels or plastic, nylon etc)
Planting or transplanting - wash containers with soap and water. Then wipe thoroughly with bleach water and allow to air dry.
Light fixtures - wipe down, or "dust", using bleach water to remove and kill anything including fungal spores of any sort.
To be the most effective you must clean the surface of your intended target after every single job. For example you want to clone your favorite lady. She's ready and willing. First prepare everything. Try to think ahead so you can work quickly, safely and cleanly.
* Scissors - wipe all over with 10:1. Not just the blades but the handles too. Try to expose every square millimeter to your bleach water. Then wipe after each single clone you work with. This means even when working with the same plant. This is very important! Get into that habit.
* Planter - Prepared as described above but just before use. Do not sterilize and then leave overnight or days or . . . ..
* Benches, tables and other working surfaces - as tolerated but scrub too if heavily soiled. Forget wood. Yes it's porous but for reasons unknown pathogens are not viable when retrieved from wood even under the most scientific methods.
* Hands - OK so not with bleach water. But use a medical grade alcohol-based hand wipe and not just an anti-bacterial soap.
It is important to use the same method every single time so your results will be predictable.
CUIDADO! BLEACH, AND BLEACH WATER, WILL KILL YOUR GROW IF APPLIED TO PLANTS OR IF THEY ACCIDENTALLY CONTACT BLEACH IN ANY FORM OR ANY AMOUNT. YOU ARE WARNED. EVEN CLOWNS.
Adages are great. Years of wisdom packed into an easy-to-swallow tidbit. This one is not only true but can save your life or the lives of your grow.
In humans we know that a single viable "daughter cell" of a given pathogen (a disease causing organism or "germ") can multiply in the host at an exponential rate only a mathematician could keep up with. One inoculation with a single cell organism such as Staphylococcus or Streptococcus, to name just two, results in colonizations numbering in the tens of thousands in just 24-hours. One goes from "well" to "really sick" literally overnight.
So how does this translate into anything useful for you and your "patients"? What can you to do to help them with this information?
"A penny's worth of prevention beats a schillings worth of cure"
Another easily understood pearl of wisdom. Why try to beat a plant disease or bug when it is easier to simply prevent them? So let's explore what the non-medical person can do to utilize medical knowledge to improve or save your crop. Today we address a common and cheap disinfectant.
Clorox
Chemical name: Sodium Hypochlorite
Uses: A bleaching agent, a disinfectant
Disinfectant to say the least. At ratios of 10:1 (10 parts water to one part Clorox) this will kill all known pathogens including HIV, Tuberculosis and all forms of hepatitis. I use the name Clorox for name association but any bleach composed of sodium hypochlorite is sufficient including all generic brands. Most brands available have sodium hypochlorite as its main active ingredient at percentages of volume from 2.75% (cheapo generic) to 6% (Clorox brand and the range we use in medicine). Spend the extra for whatever brand to get the higher ratio. 1000 ML (1 liter) water : 100 ML Clorox yields your working solution.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS. This means for uses, mixing, storing and application. Use this to sterilize, not just clean, anything it doesn't destroy.
Uses:
* Sterilization of instruments (scissors, light fixtures, trowels)
* Sterilization of containers, especially if recycled
How to apply it
Spray bottles - spray directly on all non-living items but be prepared for bleaching if dyed etc
Dishpans- a 10:1 mix for submersion of instruments (scissors, trowels, weeders)
*** ALWAYS FILL THE INTENDED CONTAINER WITH WATER FIRST. THEN SLOWLY ADD THE DESIRED AMOUNT OF BLEACH TO ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RATIO OF 10:1
*** WEAR SAFETY GLASSES AND RUBBER GLOVES WHEN WORKING WITH BLEACH
*** OBTAIN THE MSDS SHEET FOR ALL CHEMICALS OR FERTILIZERS USED AND KEEP THEM HANDY
How and when to use your "bleach water"
Cloning - wipe your tools before starting. Soak those that can tolerate it (certain surgical-grade stainless steels or plastic, nylon etc)
Planting or transplanting - wash containers with soap and water. Then wipe thoroughly with bleach water and allow to air dry.
Light fixtures - wipe down, or "dust", using bleach water to remove and kill anything including fungal spores of any sort.
To be the most effective you must clean the surface of your intended target after every single job. For example you want to clone your favorite lady. She's ready and willing. First prepare everything. Try to think ahead so you can work quickly, safely and cleanly.
* Scissors - wipe all over with 10:1. Not just the blades but the handles too. Try to expose every square millimeter to your bleach water. Then wipe after each single clone you work with. This means even when working with the same plant. This is very important! Get into that habit.
* Planter - Prepared as described above but just before use. Do not sterilize and then leave overnight or days or . . . ..
* Benches, tables and other working surfaces - as tolerated but scrub too if heavily soiled. Forget wood. Yes it's porous but for reasons unknown pathogens are not viable when retrieved from wood even under the most scientific methods.
* Hands - OK so not with bleach water. But use a medical grade alcohol-based hand wipe and not just an anti-bacterial soap.
It is important to use the same method every single time so your results will be predictable.
CUIDADO! BLEACH, AND BLEACH WATER, WILL KILL YOUR GROW IF APPLIED TO PLANTS OR IF THEY ACCIDENTALLY CONTACT BLEACH IN ANY FORM OR ANY AMOUNT. YOU ARE WARNED. EVEN CLOWNS.
I was thinking about cleaning my plants with a little kerosene whaddayathink ?
