Re: Startling statistic

**"Marge Talt" m*@hort.net**

I don't know the answer to that, really, but I'd hazard a guess that
a dilute solution of iron phosphate alone would not do the trick.  In
Sluggo and the other baits containing iron phosphate, it is mixed
with something that acts as a bait; some substance that is attractive
to slugs and encourages them to eat it before they go on to the plant
it is meant to protect.

Now, it might work if you mixed iron phosphate with beer or yeast,
both of which will attract slugs, but I do not know for sure, nor
what percentages of what at what strength.  What I do know is that
you need something to act as the bait along with the iron phosphate,
which is a natural substance found in soil but in whatever quantity
it is used in the slug products, it stops slugs from feeding so they
starve to death....at least that is what I've read about it.

I, too, think it is extremely high in price - the old 'what the
market will bear' theory, plus the fact that about every product that
is supposed to be fairly benign seems to cost more than those that
are poisonous to just about everything...guess manufacturers and
retailers have discovered that those who want something benign will
pay more for it.

What needs to happen is for someone who has a chemical background to
analyze one of these products and determine what substitutes a person
could use to obtain the same result at less cost - and, of course,
post it on this list:-)

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@hort.net
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----------
> From: Suzanne Pierot <suzanne@hvi.net>
> 
> Could I use a dilute solution of iron phosphate?  If so, does
anyone know
> what the solution would be?   I've got over 20,000 hostas and I
admit I do
> use the Ortho product, but would love to have another solution that
was less
> expensive.  Don't suggest beer, or even yeast.  With that number of
hostas I
> need something I can  easily put down in the early spring in
QUANTITY
> without breaking the bank.
> Suzanne

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