I've just received a plants in the mail they have turned up with leaches and
who knows what else on them.
Does any one know how to steralize them before puting them in the
pond( I was going to try potasiam permanganate but can't get hold of it
chemist can't seem to get it any more in the UK)
Any comments would be much apreciated.

Jon

"jon" wrote in message
...
I've just received a plants in the mail they have turned up with leaches
and
who knows what else on them.
Does any one know how to steralize them before puting them in the
pond( I was going to try potasiam permanganate but can't get hold of it
chemist can't seem to get it any more in the UK)
Any comments would be much apreciated.



You could try washing in salted water

ok, 1st where did you order your plants from??

( would like to know so I don't find the same creepy crawlies!!!)


"jon" wrote in message
...
I've just received a plants in the mail they have turned up with leaches
and
who knows what else on them.
Does any one know how to steralize them before puting them in the
pond( I was going to try potasiam permanganate but can't get hold of it
chemist can't seem to get it any more in the UK)
Any comments would be much apreciated.

Jon

"jon" wrote in message
...
I've just received a plants in the mail they have turned up with leaches
and
who knows what else on them.
Does any one know how to steralize them before puting them in the
pond( I was going to try potasiam permanganate but can't get hold of it
chemist can't seem to get it any more in the UK)
Any comments would be much apreciated.


When I get algae infestations on plants in my aquarium I use a 5% solution
of plain household bleach for 2 minutes - generally kills the algae &
doesn't kill the plant - weak plants may not do so well (!)

Once they've been in the bleach then rinse, rinse & rinse again under tap
water & I then stick them in a bucket of water heavily laced with
De-chlorinator to make sure the last of the bleach is killed off.

I should imagine this wouldn't do any critters to much good either so it may
achieve what you are looking for.

YMMV, on your own head be it etc etc etc. ...!

I.

A couple of spoons of domestic bleach in a bucket of water will kill
most bugs except for larvel snails. I've left waterlilies in such a
solution for a week with no noticeable problem to the plant, though a
day in the bleach will probably do.
Before you dunk the plant, its not a bad idea to put it in gentle
flowing water, trim off all faded foliage and debris, before you soak
the plant in the weak bleach.
To be further on the safe side, its a good idea if to set the plant up
to grow in isolation for more than a week, most fish parasites will
die within a week without a sushi dish around to jump on.

A rinse for a few hours in moving water should get rid of all traces
of the bleach

regards, andy
http://www.members.aol.com/abdavisnc/swglist.html
(andys aquatic plantlist for interesting swaps
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Does any one know how to steralize them before puting them in the
pond( I was going to try potasiam permanganate but can't get hold of it
chemist can't seem to get it any more in the UK)