Deflasking information to prevent damping off

[bloomorchidguy]

Hi everyone,

I'm trying to help out my fellow "geeks" here with deflasking. Some interesting research I've been conducting for a few months now has revealed some interesting results in preventing "damping off" and fungal problems. Something we all hate but at times we all have experienced if you are a flasker.

RootShield and PlantShield are two products that I have incorporated into my flasking program now for about 10 to 12 months are yielding some great results. They both prevent fungal infections. They both can been applied as either a dusting or spraying application.

RootShield is the highly-effective, beneficial fungus Trichoderma harzianum strain T-22, a special hybrid strain. It provides natural, season-long control of root diseases because it grows on the entire plant root system (root colonization). Its safe for everyone, animals, environment, etc.

RootShield protects roots from diseases caused by Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium and permits stronger, healthier root systems. It really has reduced the lost of seedlings, plus I've noticed I can fertilize more often as well because my seedlings are more healthier. Plus it gives me a chance to save some of the smaller seedlings that before I'd just throw in the trash.

PlantShield has aided me as well. As my seedlings get stronger and begin to grow new foliage I begin to balance the two applications. PlantShield protects the new soft growths from diseases and gives the seedling a chance to really get growing. I've also shaved a few months off of the time it takes some of the terrestrials, and pseudobulb lacking plants to reach maturity.

Both products seem to be helping me out very well. It is a bit expensive. But a little bit goes a long way. But I think its worth it. For every seedling I save that could be the one that will turn out to be something special.

Hope this information is useful.

Troy

[exasperatus2002]

Good info. Thank you. Can Physan-20 be used as a preventative for damping? My nursery doesnt carry what you use.

[bloomorchidguy]

Dimethyl and ethyl benzyl ammonium(Physan 20) is similar to a bleaching agent it kills on contact. But you need to repeat at less every 7 to 10 days to gain control.

The benefits I found with these other products is fewer sprays and more long term control because the fungi continues to grow and feed off of the diseases or in classifying terms "bad fungi" that is harmful. I only need to spray maybe 2 or 3 times to keep things under control.

I'm a supporter of Physan but it just doesn't work the way I would prefer it too. I know of two places that have RootShield in smaller quantities.

They are Gardenr's Supply and Territorial Seed Co.

Troy

[Undergrounder]

Great info thanks.

Personally i water from below and use an inert media and virtually never get an instance of damping off and never root rot as a result

[mehitabel]

Originally Posted by exasperatus2002

Good info. Thank you. Can Physan-20 be used as a preventative for damping? My nursery doesnt carry what you use.

Bob Gordon cautions that Physan 20 can be toxic to seedlings if overused-- ie used too often. He recommends against using it except rarely. Before reading this I got caught in a seedling death spiral with a number of tiny plants where the more they went downhill, the more Physan 20 I sprayed. Yes,I lost them all.

[kmarch]

When I used Physan 20 to deflask paph seedlings, I used it at about half strength which was what was recommended by someone at my orchid society. I used the weak Physan solution to soak the seedlings in to dissolve the agar and to water them for about a month. I didn't loose a single seedling, but in all fairness there were only about a dozen seedlings in the flask and they were quite big when I removed them.

I wish these other products were available in Australia. They sound great!

[Ron]

RootShield and PlantShield are two products that I have incorporated into my flasking program now for about 10 to 12 months are yielding some great results.

Hi, Sound good, will check up and see if available in Australia.
I have used Fungarid for many years now with very good results, the amount of flasks I have deflasked using it would run into many hundreds and the loss due to damping off is virtually nil.
Everyone has there favorite method but often a new and better one comes along.
I think as long as you are prepare to use them that is half the battle.
Good growing
Ron

[jerrymeola]

Trichoderma bacteria is very similar to the Bracilus bacteria I use. Both are organic and are natural fungal inoculates. They will not kill fungus but strengthen the plants against infection.

Physan is a product I do not like to use on orchids. If you do not already know it is the same chemical composition as swimming pool algaecide. It is much too toxic to use on deflasked plants. You can not over dose with Trichoderma but too much physan is death.

Kevin Trichoderma is available in Australia because I discussed it with Andrew through PM on this forum. He uses it. It is probably not available by the brand name used in the US.

[Ron]

# It is effective as a seed treatment with and without fungicides. It is very important to use the organism properly and to have appropriate expectations. It, or any biocontrol organism we know of, will be unable to protect seeds as well as chemical fungicides. However, it colonizes roots, increases root mass and health, and consequently frequently provides yield increases, which chemical fungicides applied at reasonable rates cannot do. An effective method of use is to use the biocontrol fungus in conjunction with chemical fungicides. The chemicals provide good short-term seed protection, and the biocontrol fungus provides long-term root protection. As a consequence, yields frequently are increased over use of the chemical alone.

It can also be used as an additive to greenhouse potting mixes. It can both reduce pesticide use in the greenhouse by limiting root-attacking diseases and protect transplants in the field by virtue of its ability to colonize roots.

Harman: Trichoderma for the Control of Plant Pathogens

Some more info on it from the website listed above.
Personally I will stick to my Fungarid, I have great confidence in it and it is also systemic.
Thanks
Ron

[Andrew]

Kevin,
I've only ever come across bulk quantities of Trichoderma. It's sold under the trade names Trichodry, Trichopel and Trichoflow (powdered, pelleted and liquid formulations respectively). They are available from agricultural/horticultural suppliers. I have bought Trichodry from Biogro in Bayswater in the past. I think EE Muirs also sell it. The smallest sizes I've found are 1 kg packs which treats 1 square metre of mix. From memory the 1kg pack is around $100. The product only lasts 3-6 months in the fridge so unless you have a lot of plants you want to use it on or you can find a group of people you can split the costs with it's not practical for the average home grower.

[digitalgate]

U have to discover what is good for you. I like 50% carptan for the beginning deflasking. From there onward rotating fungicides everyweek. Some people swear by full strength fungicides, I swear by half strength for the beginning. Must be the weather thing where everyone here have different strategy. Find something good for you. Happy growing..

[Bolero]

If these products aren't available in Australia there would be an equivalent product available I would think.

They sound terrific, so far I've used nothing with my deflasking and have been ok but I will let you know how they go by the end of summer.

[digitalgate]

yes these product are available from aus. why, because i bought them in Aus. The brand name is Trichoshield. Here the web site. But personally , i dont like using it as i have to time
the application to the weather. As the weather here is unpredictable difficult for me to apply when it is hot and dry. It is a kiss of death for my plant if i apply them in cold and wet environment.
Nutri-Life TrichoShield - Microbial Products, Plant Growth, Plant Health Australia, Crop Health Australia, Australian Crop Health