Root control disks
- Thread starter Mmcary82
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Mmcary82
Well-Known Member
Copper paint? I’m not sure how I feel about that although I’m completely ignorant to that tactic? Is it a non toxic paint? Consuming plant material that could potentially absorbed some type of carcinogen or nasty chemical isn’t good or a route I’m interested in. If you have more info of this paint I’d love to know more.
here is a link http://horticulturespecialties.com/
Mmcary82
Well-Known Member
The product seems pretty legit, I think I might give that paint coating a try. From what I’ve read it can buy time before plants suffer from being rootbound which is a problem I run into quite frequently with the 2 gallon active aqua buckets with particular strains and even roots clogging the drain fittings. Thanks for sharing @shambler.
Copper based paints have used in the boat industry as an antifouling paint to prevent marine growths on hulls for decades.
But - the EPA is in the process of banning it. It has already been banned in several states, and in other countries. Parts of SanDiego Harbor were turned into a marine desert because of its use in marinas.
That shit is extremely toxic. Copper is not safe to use - period.
Our pl;ants need tiny amounts of copper - micro nutrient. But to stop roots it take a lot more copper than is safe.
I would never use that stuff or any copper to try to stop roots.
But - the EPA is in the process of banning it. It has already been banned in several states, and in other countries. Parts of SanDiego Harbor were turned into a marine desert because of its use in marinas.
That shit is extremely toxic. Copper is not safe to use - period.
Our pl;ants need tiny amounts of copper - micro nutrient. But to stop roots it take a lot more copper than is safe.
I would never use that stuff or any copper to try to stop roots.
Mmcary82
Well-Known Member
Do you have any suggestions on the subject?
I havent found anything that actually works, and is safe to use. Roots can get through anything other than open air.
Copper is relatively safe to use in fresh water systems, but our nutes are salt based and will corrode the copper much faster.
As far as I know, no one has tested buds for excess copper content due to the use of these disks or copper mesh, etc, so maybe you are safe. Obviously, the guys using the disks have not had all their plants die either.
But when I read that most of the plant AND animal life in a huge portion of an ocean harbor had pretty much all died off due to copper from boat hulls, that was enough for me.
Copper is relatively safe to use in fresh water systems, but our nutes are salt based and will corrode the copper much faster.
As far as I know, no one has tested buds for excess copper content due to the use of these disks or copper mesh, etc, so maybe you are safe. Obviously, the guys using the disks have not had all their plants die either.
But when I read that most of the plant AND animal life in a huge portion of an ocean harbor had pretty much all died off due to copper from boat hulls, that was enough for me.
Mmcary82
Well-Known Member
Ou
A lot of people including myself have copper piping in our water delivery system. I haven’t kicked the bucket (yet) Copper is susceptible to corrosion but as far as higher levels of copper, if toxicity were to occur it would be evident in plant growth. More unbiased studies should be done on this subject. I personally ordered some micro kote and going to give it a try, roots binding up fittings pose a large health risk to the plant if it can be mitigated somewhat and the plants themselfs seem healthy I think the scale tips dramatically in favor of using the product vs not..there are many unknowns in the world, I guess with this there is no right or wrong answer as it comes down to personal choice and ones own judgment.
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