Re: Germinating seeds?
- To: propagation@mallorn.com
- Subject: Re: Germinating seeds?
- From: D* M* <d*@post.its.mcw.edu>
- Date: Wed, 24 Feb 1999 22:13:28 -0600
>In a message dated 2/24/99 4:29:39 PM Central Standard Time, peggy@unicom.net
>writes:
>
><< I have always wondered whether using sugar for this purpose would
> promote the growth of unfriendly bacteria and fungal disease? Has
> anyone noticed any difference in this regard between using sand v/s
> sugar?
> >>
>If you start with clean medium the sugar will not introduce any pathogens,
>second most pathogens live on plant tissue not on what is in the soil.
>Sugar is also a good source of nitrogen for the plants, the down side might be
>that it can be a food source for fruit flies.
Unless they have changed the molecular structure of sugar recently, there
is NO nitrogen in common table sugar (sucrose). Its formula is
C(12)H(22)O(11).
I would be very leery about adding sugar to any growing medium - it
certainly is not sterile. Perhaps it might not support plant pathogens,
but even simple fungus and molds could be a problem. Stick with something
inert, such as fine sand or talcum powder.
Don Martinson
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin (Milwaukee suburb)
USDA Zone 5 (-10 to -20F)
Heat Zone #4
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