nadja77 Posted August 29, 2011 Report Share Posted August 29, 2011 I have been looking for a 'safe' pesticide to use on my dogs since I am not too fond of drenching them in those chemical concoctions, but more importantly they also interact with my African Grey, and this definitely necessitates the use of non-toxic substances. I did a bit of research, and found some interesting information on diatomaceous earth. It is said that it works for all insect pests including aphids, fleas, tics etc.. It damages their exoskeleton, which leads to dehydration, followed by death. It is also said to be safe for anything bigger than insects, even when ingested. I have read of people using it as an insecticide, and was wondering if anyone has used this on CPs successfully. Unfortunately it is made up of mineral compounds, so I am not sure if it would be suitable for them... Anyone know anything about this stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linton Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 I know that we used to add it to our swimming pool filter canister and the pool water was filtered through it - obviously the water was still safe to swim in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 I tried it as an alternative to Seramis in some of my CP mixes, based on it being used by some bonsai growers, and in every case the plants didn't do well. Even the Mexican Pinguicula I tried it on, which are normally mineral tolerant, didn't do well. I don't know how it would be applied as a pesticide though. Here's a link to an article about using it as a bonsai 'soil': http://bonsai4me.com/Basics/Basicscatlitter.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcel van den Broek Posted August 31, 2011 Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 I know it's an approved food supplement for lifestock against worminfections in cows so it should be safe for use in/on mammals if you get the dose right. No idea how effective it is agains bugs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadja77 Posted August 31, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2011 (edited) Thanks for the link mobile :) I have added some more too. It does seem to have a few different uses. I have seen it as an additive to pool filters, but as Marcel already said, I have mainly seen it used for pest control. I have read about it on another forum, where someone used it to eliminate ticks and fleas on their animals. I probably wouldn't use it as a medium substitute/supplement for CPs due to the high mineral content, but I think I will give it a try as an insecticide. Apparently it can be dissolved in water, and sprayed on the plants. I think that the amount of minerals seeping into the soil would be minimal (not sure how much can be absorbed by the foliage?) if not used too often. I am a bit hesitant with drosera though, but I always have a few D.capensis who are willing to volunteer Since its not too pricey, and if it could work as an alternative to the chemical stuff we use, it might be worth a shot. Here are some more links interesting facts about diatomaceous earth diatomaceous earth wikipedia Edited August 31, 2011 by nadja77 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davion Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 DIATOMACEOUS-Earth is Basically CALCIUM-Silicate Remains of Tiny Seacreatures (Exoskeleton / 'Shell') Often IN-Very Needle-like Forms That-R Naturally Insecticidal ... &-R Probably Very-Damaging to Roots Trying to-Penetrate it so-to-Speak. >(*~*)< The-'Best'-Form of Calcium For MEXICAN-Pings Is 2-3mm 'Granulated' SIDEWALK-Chalk IE Rehydrated &-Moulded "Plaster-of-PARIS" Sticks Available Nowadays @-Most $2-Dollar Shops so-to-Speak Mixed-INTO Your Soil-Medium @-Around 15% by Volume. >(*U^)< IE Calcium-sulphate so-to-Speak As-for R-General MEXICAN Ping-Mix: Take R Basic / Standard TUBEROUS-Drosera-Mix of 50 / 50 Peat-&-'Fine'-Quarzite [None-of-THIS- 'Grit'-sh** so-to-Speak >(*~*)<] Turn-it INTO R Sarra-Mix By Adding An-Equal-Volume of 50 / 50 Vermiculite-&-Perlite &-Then to-This ADD Your 15% Granulated CHALK (Gypsum) by-Volume so-to-Speak. IE Basically: 1-Part Peat / 1-Part Sand / 1-Part Vermiculite / 1-Part Perlite Plus 15% by-Volume of Granulated Sidewalk-Chalk so-to-Speak!!! >(*U^)< The-CHALK Can-Be Easily Granulated Using R-$2-Dollar-Shop Grater ... Though Wear-Gloves or 'Watch'-Your-Fingers so-to-Speak!!! >(*~*)< / >(*U^)< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defalotus Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 I have a ceph growing with DE in the medium and its thriving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davion Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 Some-People Will 'Believe'-ANYTHING!!!??? >(*~*)< / >(*U^)< "I"-'Think'-They're Referred-to As:"GULLIBLE"!!!??? >(*~*)< / >(*U^)< For-Others There's Always The-JPEG so-to-Speak!!! Ha-Har Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defalotus Posted September 22, 2011 Report Share Posted September 22, 2011 If you want me to post a pic just ask:). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jesse Posted September 23, 2011 Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 Anyone know anything about this stuff? Yes, what you are talking about is the natural form of diatomaceous earth. My dictionary tells that its other name is "mountain flour" and that's what it looks like: flour-like If you translate the German word for it "Heilerde" into English, it is of the meaning "healing earth" and that is, what it is sold for in German drugstores. It is told to be good for the skin, i.e. when you are taking a bath in a bathtub you can mix 6 or 8 tablespoonful into your bathing water. German women also use it as a facial mask (just add little water so it becomes paste-like), grease it into their faces and let it dry, then wash or rub off: That can be used as a natural anti-acne preparation. In this natural and dry form as "mountain flour" you can use diatomaceous earth also against insects as it damages the breathing system of insects. I'd better not inhale this stuff. On the other side there is "fired diatomaceous earth" sold and the difference is the same as with "natural clay" and "fired clay" ("terra cotta"). While fired/blazed the stuff sticks together and becomes hard. In this blazed form, diatomaceous earth is no longer like flour, it is a bit like fired clay pellets. Mostly this stuff is used in filtration plants, often also in food production. For example if you drink some wine produced in Europe, this wine will most likely be filtered through fired diatomaceous earth before. The fired/blazed diatomaceous earth can also be used in planting substrate mixes, similar to perlite. But that fired/blazed form cannot be used against insects. I think in this thread several people talk at cross purposes: Some are talking about the flour-like natural form of diatomaceous earth, and some of the fired/blazed form. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadja77 Posted September 23, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 23, 2011 (edited) Hi Jesse, Thanks for the details on its uses. I have read up a bit more on it, and fund that it has quite a number of purposes. From my time in Germany I remember 'Heilerde'. People used to take mud baths with it as one of the ingreedients as it's supposed to be good for your skin. I think I will stick to it as a pesticide/insecticide . I believe that it could work, and I don't think that it would harm the root system too much as davion believes, since the particles would just be too small to do any damage IMHO. But as they say: the proof is in the pudding, so I will order some, and report back on successes/failures of its use as a pesticide. Edited September 23, 2011 by nadja77 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davion Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 "I"-Experimented with Diatomaceous-Earth More-Than R-Decade R-Go ... But-"I"-Always 'Enjoy' Seeing Replication so-to-Speak!!! >(*U^)< Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile Posted September 28, 2011 Report Share Posted September 28, 2011 There's a diatomaceous earth growing medium available in some UK hydroponics market called Diahydro. I've never used this 'brand' but here's an article on diatomaceous earth, which mentions Diahydro: http://urbangardenma...ydroponic-uses/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nadja77 Posted September 30, 2011 Author Report Share Posted September 30, 2011 That's a great article on it Mobile, thanks for posting the link! It looks more and more like it could be suitable to use for CPs. My only concern would have been the salt content, but it looks like there is a fresh water version. Can't wait to put it to the test! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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