Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

I was wondering if anyone has used baking soda for disease control. My strawberries are suffering from gray mold - currently loosing about 50%. It's not helping that they are in the greenhouse and it's been too cold to get good air circulation to keep them dry.

I found this article about using it. http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/PDF/bakingsoda.pdf I figure I only need to spray a couple of tablespoons so I don't see it affecting my PH or sodium too much.

Any other recommendations?

From the Article:


Soap? Big no-no. However using just Bi-Carb might be useful for things like fungus and blight and shouldn't affect the system much. In fact quite a few gardening websites recommend the use of Bicarbonate of Soda to treat Tomato blight.

I've used insecticidal soaps (and sometimes Ivory liquid) and vegetable oil solutions on my aquaponic and water garden plants for quite awhile to control aphids and white flies. It's never caused any problem and it's common practice for the water garden folks to do this.

Usually it's about a teaspoon each of soap and oil per gallon of water. I will spray a quart every 3-4 days if there's an outbreak, once every few weeks as preventative maintenance.

What's your basis on not using soap?

Plenty of organic soaps, too... Just have to avoid the chemical laden junk.

Have to remember this recipe for several reasons, but turned 1500 ladybugs and some praying (or is that preying) Mantis eggs loose in my GH today...

CB

Kills Koi fast.

I come from a koi breeding background. In the past insecticidal soap has caused such a major headache, even in small doses. It will affect the way the fish absorb Oxygen. It may be safe to use in low doses where it has a chance to break down naturally before getting into the grow bed/water, such as plants in a green house. Most soaps will breakdown naturally in sunlight. But where plants get affected by rainfall, I would avoid it.

Personally speaking, I'd avoid it altogther.

Likewise..