poowee

hortriot

anaerobic action in your soil, poor/no drainage.

don't let this happen to you. ( unless you are training a great old giant of the swamps, then by all means do that stinky soil thing )

if your soil has a pungent sour odour, and is dripping wet all the time, this is not good for your pet. thats the smell of those chheky anaerobes making root beer out of the organic matter.

here's some further read'n stuff. ( yes i know thats not queens english )


http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/...t/chapter1.html

and just as a note of interest, did you know that there is such a thing as anaerobic exercise programs

__________________
another day, another leaf

Advertisement

Joanie

Is that where you hold your breath the whole time you're exercising?

Or because of the smell in the gym when everyone is through?

Joanie

__________________

baldguy

What should I do if I find that one of my trees is in soil of this condition?

__________________
"The Precious made me do it!"

Joanie

Hold your nose and repot.

What kind of tree?

Joanie

__________________

bwaynef

Weight lifting for instance?

__________________
----------------------------------
© 2004 - present bwaynef

PatArizona

G'day BaldGuy...

Try this...

Here is a rather Generic Process for Treating Root Rot.

• First, remove your bonsai from the pot, then try this:

• If the roots are black and smelly, it is undoubtedly root rot. If so,
• Rake out the roots with a root rake or a chop stick;
• Wash ALL of the old soil off your tree's roots, including all the black, rotten roots;
• Cut back on the black roots until you reach white cores;
• Discard the old soil and trimmings;
• Soak the root ball in a fungicide solution (follow directions on the label) for at least 10 minutes;
• Clean the pot using a fungicide or disinfectant (preferably both);
• Clean your tools and work area before continuing;
• Repot the bonsai in a fresh, fast draining soil…a coarse-grained soil like gravel and pine bark or pumice and pine bark (or even pumice with no organic component); and,
• Water thoroughly with a root stimulant solution (KLN, Roots2, Superthrive)...following directions on the label.

Aftercare:

Place your bonsai where it will be protected from the wind, but with as much filtered sun as possible; Monitor water content of the soil...let the soil almost dry out before watering (ie., if the soil is bone dry, water yesterday), and water only when water is needed.

For the next three weeks or so…EVERY TIME YOU WATER…water thoroughly using a root stimulant solution (KLN, Roots2, Superthrive)...following directions on the label (try ½ strength). Keep the bonsai in partial shade or indirect sunlight for at least 10-12 days…in 2-3 weeks you should know whether or not this was successful. Then gradually, across 3-4 days, reintroduce the bonsai to normal sun light.

Good luck...

Pat

__________________
BONSAI isn't about surviving in a storm, rather, how to dance in the rain.
THE ONLY WAY: Always remember, and don't ever forget, that whatever you read here is not cast in concrete... the intent of any advice is to help. In no way should you feel that I’m saying that my way is the only way…heaven forbid! I've seen far too much of the "my way or the highway" attitude in bonsai as well as in other areas of life.

BONSAI_OUTLAW

Just an interesting tid bit of information.....This (stinky smell) is most likely low concentrations of H2S gas. Hydrogen Sulfied is a deadly gas (smells like rotten eggs to me) cause by the decomposition of organic matter in a low oxygen environment.
This information excerpted from the American National Standards Institute standard: Z37.2-1972 Acceptable Concentrations of Hydrogen Sulfide.

"Hydrogen Sulfide is an extremely toxic and irritating gas. Free hydrogen sulfide in the blood reduces its oxygen-carrying capacity, thereby depressing the nervous system. Hydrogen sulfide is oxidized quite rapidly to sulfates in the body, therefore no permanent aftereffects occur in cases of recovery from acute exposures unless oxygen deprivation of the nervous system is prolonged. There is no evidence that repeated exposures to hydrogen sulfide result in accumulative or systemic poisoning. Effects such as eye irritation, respiratory tract irritation, slow pulse rate, lassitude, digestive disturbances, and cold sweats may occur but these symptoms disappear in a relatively short time after removal from the exposure."

Odors become detectable in concentrations as low as .008 parts per million (ppm)
(California studies) but the sense of smell is lost after 2-15 minutes at 100 ppm.
After you lose your sense of smell it is too late and as we are found of saying here in the oild fiel of the Texas/ Louisianna gulf coast, "you are gone pecan" as in you die.
I can see the headlines "DEATH BY BONSAI" lol

Alasdair

Hydrogen sulphide. Wonderful stuff. It disolves into the water and mucous of your eyes, nose & throat to form sulphuric acid.

I guess this is a health and safety reason for having properly draining soil!

Al

__________________
I can feel another "I wish that was my tree" moment coming on...
Currently studying BSc Plant Biology at the Universty of Wales, Aberystwyth

Joanie

Someone should write a murder mystery based on this phenomenon. Where's Agatha when you need her??

Joanie

__________________