uncle cecil on vermiculite:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=35503

--j_a

Well, that's not particularly good news, now is it? Vermiculite is in most
potting mixes for those *other* plants. Wonder if it's in some of the
commercially mixed orchid stuff?

For my part, I mix my own orchid media, so it's not an issue unless we're
working on other potted plants, which is not common.

Diana

wrote in message
...
uncle cecil on vermiculite:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=35503

--j_a

i remembered that either vermiculite or perlite was a problem, but i
couldn't remember which.

are there problems with perlite?

oh, and potting soil can give you legionnaire's disease.

--j_a



In article ,
"Diana Kulaga" wrote:

Well, that's not particularly good news, now is it? Vermiculite is in most
potting mixes for those *other* plants. Wonder if it's in some of the
commercially mixed orchid stuff?

For my part, I mix my own orchid media, so it's not an issue unless we're
working on other potted plants, which is not common.

Diana

If you want to look at details, ALL media components are a risk, to some
extent.

Perlite is almost 100% silica, which can cause silicosis. Same is true of
diatomite.

Be smart in how you handle it and all will be well.

I worked with uranium- and thorium oxides in college, both toxic as hell,
but I'm still here to talk about it - because I took relevant and
appropriate precautions. Hell, trichosporosis - a fungal infection from
sphagnum - is a bigger threat.

(And no, my recent "episode" with melanoma was not related to any of the
above)
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"unknown" wrote in message
...
i remembered that either vermiculite or perlite was a problem, but i
couldn't remember which.

are there problems with perlite?

oh, and potting soil can give you legionnaire's disease.

--j_a



In article ,
"Diana Kulaga" wrote:

Well, that's not particularly good news, now is it? Vermiculite is in
most
potting mixes for those *other* plants. Wonder if it's in some of the
commercially mixed orchid stuff?

For my part, I mix my own orchid media, so it's not an issue unless we're
working on other potted plants, which is not common.

Diana

Sage advice, Ray. That's why I *always* wear gloves, and change them often.
I wish I could convince Frank to do the same.

Diana

"Ray B" wrote in message
news:R4NUj.369$be.256@trndny02...
If you want to look at details, ALL media components are a risk, to some
extent.

Perlite is almost 100% silica, which can cause silicosis. Same is true of
diatomite.

Be smart in how you handle it and all will be well.

I worked with uranium- and thorium oxides in college, both toxic as hell,
but I'm still here to talk about it - because I took relevant and
appropriate precautions. Hell, trichosporosis - a fungal infection from
sphagnum - is a bigger threat.

(And no, my recent "episode" with melanoma was not related to any of the
above)
--

Ray Barkalow - First Rays Orchids - www.firstrays.com
Plants, Supplies. Books, Artwork, and lots of Free Info!


"unknown" wrote in message
...
i remembered that either vermiculite or perlite was a problem, but i
couldn't remember which.

are there problems with perlite?

oh, and potting soil can give you legionnaire's disease.

--j_a



In article ,
"Diana Kulaga" wrote:

Well, that's not particularly good news, now is it? Vermiculite is in
most
potting mixes for those *other* plants. Wonder if it's in some of the
commercially mixed orchid stuff?

For my part, I mix my own orchid media, so it's not an issue unless
we're
working on other potted plants, which is not common.

Diana

wrote:
uncle cecil on vermiculite:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=35503

--j_a
I quit using the medium my plants liked the most years back due to
health concerns; rockwool. The plants LOVED it but with the number of
polants I had, I was speiding three solid weeks repotting and could
hardly breathe after a day of it even WITH a dust mask.