Re: Bacterial infection?

From: Peter Cole (carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk)
Date: Fri Mar 07 1997 - 15:37:04 PST


Date: Fri, 07 Mar 1997 23:37:04 GMT
From: Peter Cole <carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk>
To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com
Message-Id: <aabcdefg845$foo@default>
Subject: Re: Bacterial infection?

John Walker <jorwa@syspac.com> writes:
> Subject: Bacterial infection?
> the plants were begining to wilt and die at the leaf tips. Upon closer
> inspection I found that there was a very thin, clear "film" covering the
> surface of the water. Using a pencil I was able to gather some of this film
> off the water (it smells terrible). I'm thinking that this must be some
> sort of bacteria growing on the water's surface. I completly cleaned the
...
> but this is getting tedious. Any suggestions as to how to keep the standing
> water clean?

       <disclaimer>
       OK - this is an untested observation - it's up to you whether you
       try it, and I won't be held responsible if it does horrible things
       to your plant (though I don't believe it will.)
       </disclaimer>

       <suggestion>
       Penicillin, kanamycin, streptomycin, tetracycline and quite a few
       other antibiotics are suitable for in vitro plant culture so I doubt
       they could do any harm to established plants at an effective
       concentration. I'd recommend dissolving an antibiotic tablet,
       preferably one of the above, in water and adding some to the tank.
       You'd have to experiment a little to find an effective dose, so
       you might want to experiment on one plant first with a minimal dose
       and build up from there.
       If you give the pots a good soaking for a day or two and flush the
       pots with clean water afterwards I should think it will cure the
       problem without causing untoward harm.
       </suggestion>

         Hope this helps,

                       Peter

____________________________________________________________________________
Peter Cole, Cambrian Carnivores,:: Carnivorous Plants and seeds for sale -
17,Wimmerfield Crescent, Killay,:: http://www.flytrap.demon.co.uk/cchome.htm
  SWANSEA SA2 7BU, WALES, UK :: mailto:carnivor@flytrap.demon.co.uk
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