Re: Sterilising Peat

dave evans (T442119@RUTADMIN.RUTGERS.EDU)
Thu, 06 Jun 96 17:35 EDT

> From: Nexus User elliott <elliott@NEXUS.EDU.AU>
>
> I'm about to sow some CP seed, and I would like to find out what
> people do to sterilise their growing media. I usually use peat+sand.
> Some people have suggested microwaving it, but is this a good
> idea? I wouldn't be too popular if I happened to cook another
> microwave oven! :-)

Russel,

Cooking the peat is a bad idea and mircowaves don't
sterilise things anyway. Very urban myth! Anyway, what seed
are you sowing? Using bright light and good air flow should
keep the fungus at bay. If you do get some, kill by using
a spray bottle. By hitting the mycillia (sp?) with a strong
stream of water will kill it, this often more effective than
the fungicides I've tried. Maneb has proven it's worth, though
I haven't using it on seedlings...

Dave Evans