New plants

[Blondieskatz]

Good afternoon all,

I'm not sure if this is in the right place or not, but I think it is.

Just a question~ I have a friend who is getting som water plants from someone she knows that has a pond. When I get new plants I always dip them in a light solution of PP, she uses mild salt. I've never heard of using salt just PP or bleach. Ha anyone ever heard of this and would this kill of any parasites? 

TIA,
Blondie

[Mikey]

I'm certainly no expert but I am not familiar with using salt to de-bug aquatic plants.

I've heard of using PP as you mention.  In addition I have heard of people using a solution of bleach or a solution of Aluminum Sulfate.

[tranquility]

PP is an excellent disinfectant for plants...Salt I don't think soo  ...salt and plants do not go together....I would keep the PP and get rid of the salt....what exactly does she think the salt does? most parasites are immune to salt....and plants sure don't like it...if you don't have PP a bleach solution is next best thing...just rinse them well after using bleach...if you use pp you don't have to rinse them...
Lawanna

[Blondieskatz]

Thanks guys,

I told her I didn't think the salt was the right thing to use. Glad I was right, just double checking.

[Julles]

What's PP?

[Esther]

You know when you just have to go and crossing your legs doesn't work any longer?

[Ky Kim]

LOL@Esther.

Kim

[tranquility]

PP is Potassium Permanganate it can be used to disinfect plants or as a pond treatment(however you really have to know how to use or you can either kill ALL of your fish or not even touch the problem your using it for)....I've only used it once for fish problems and it was in a small tank that I knew was clean and that I knew the exact gallonage---I was scared to death I would kill my fish but, they made it thru with just fine... I disinfect ALL of my plants--the ones I ship out and the ones I recieve to make sure they don't have any hitch hikers....
Lawanna

[Bonnie]

PP precautions- it will stain so wear gloves, eye protection and a mask if windy.

In Esther's situation, you might need an extra pair of undies handy!
It's terrible being a woman at times!

[tweetybaby2005]

Can someone tell me where to get some PP?  Does it come in solution?  If not, how do I mix the mixture so I don't kill the plants?  Do I just dip the plants in this solution then put the plants in the pond without rinsing?

Sorry for all the questions and thank you for answering them.   I am so new to ponding that I want to make sure I get it right and not kill the plants and/or fish.

Thanks!
Kuan

[tranquility]

Kuan I order mine from e-bay I buy the powder and go by Tammie's instrustions---here they are...
Lawanna

PP doesn't kill everything. It won't kill leeches. And (maybe my snails are tough!) but, Alum didn't kill my snails. PP kills snails. And bacteria along with other critters. Alum for leeches. Seems the only posts I answer are about snails, leeches and aphids! I'm the Queen of critters! So, for disinfecting plants - I have a bit of experience here, I ship plants every week, and they are inspected by the USDA prior to shipping. So, here goes - Mix 4 oz of PP into 32 oz or water. This becomes your stock solution. Use 1 drop of stock solution in 1 gallon of water to achieve 2ppm. You want 24ppm to disinfect plants. You want to mix the PP stock solution into the container that your plants are going to be in, so I just run the hose until it is all mixed up. CAUTION #1 DO NOT USE THIS STRENGTH OF PP WHEN THERE ARE FISH PRESENT!! You'll kill them for sure! Since PP works on the "organic" material if you leave the dirt on your plants you will use up the PP before it can disinfect anything! You must wash off all of the dirt, and remove any leaves, pads that are history, before you put the plant into the PP. Most plants I leave in over night, but some are more sensitive and I only leave it in a couple of hours. CAUTION #2 - PP WILL STAIN ANYTHING IT TOUCHES! WEAR GLOVES AND OLD CLOTHES! CAUTION #3 - LIKE ALMOST EVERYTHING IN LIFE, PP HAS IT'S DANGERS! WEAR A DUST MASK, AND DON'T WORK WHERE THE WIND CAN BLOW THE PP BACK INTO YOUR FACE! PP should be treated with the same respect you would use while working with any other chemical - read the precautions and don't get cocky.
Alum will kill leeches (Ucky! I don’t like them!) 1 Tablespoon per 100 gallons. Now, look, I’ve been told that Alum will crash your Ph, so don’t use it in your pond! Use it as a pre-treater. I only found leeches in one of my marginal tanks, the only fish in there were guppies. I way overdosed the tank, and didn’t have a single guppy casualty. But I would never try it in the Koi pond! Tammie

[tweetybaby2005]

Thanks Lawanna.    I will hop over to eBay and look for some PP.  I'm printing Tammies's instructions now.

Kuan