I need advice.
I've read that the natural gouards need to be soaked in a Copper Sulfate Mixture.
Where is this chemical purchase? How is it packaged, How mixed?
The Gourds are ready to hang...entrances and porches, as well as access ports attached. Do I soak them inside and outside, or just paint the outside liberally?
Copper Sulfate Solution
Joe, I sent youan E-mail
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John Miller
- Posts: 4863
- Joined: Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:11 pm
- Location: St. Louis, MO
This is "root killer" sold in plastic cannister -- it's in green crystals -- in plumbing section of hardware stores.
Most folks mix it in a big tub and dump the whole gourd in. It's the inside bowl of the gourd that's most susceptible to rot and I've sometimes just poured the liquid into the gourd bowl and let it set overnight, or if you have drilled drain holes your gourd, you can sit the gourd down in the liquid overnight or for an hour or so.
I think this stuff does help retard rot. But be careful -- it's somewhat caustic. Best to wear safety glasses so you don't splash it in your eyes.
Chuck Abare's web site, "Chuck's Purple Martin site" is listed on the links page -- he has details.
John M
Most folks mix it in a big tub and dump the whole gourd in. It's the inside bowl of the gourd that's most susceptible to rot and I've sometimes just poured the liquid into the gourd bowl and let it set overnight, or if you have drilled drain holes your gourd, you can sit the gourd down in the liquid overnight or for an hour or so.
I think this stuff does help retard rot. But be careful -- it's somewhat caustic. Best to wear safety glasses so you don't splash it in your eyes.
Chuck Abare's web site, "Chuck's Purple Martin site" is listed on the links page -- he has details.
John M
Last edited by John Miller on Sat Jan 17, 2009 2:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Guest
I can't remember where I got the CS but I used a #3 galvanized washtub to mix it in and then dunk the gourds in it. I left it in the tub a bit to long ,several days, and it reacted with the galvanizing and with in a few motnths ate holes right thru it,,,,,,so much for that tub,I never did like it around anyway it was always in the way LOL LOL
I would suggest a plastic barrel with a lid if you are going to keep the mix. I don't know maybe you better read the directions it might just love plastic too LOL
dick
I would suggest a plastic barrel with a lid if you are going to keep the mix. I don't know maybe you better read the directions it might just love plastic too LOL
dick
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
I kept mine in a plastic tub for two years and it just stained the plastic but otherwise the tub is fine.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Joe Zorn
I think I understand now.
I have one of those plastic storage boxes that I am not using. I can store it in an empty 5 gallon closed bucket that I cleaned out and kept for some reason. Now I know why I kept it (about 10 years ago - - -
)
I have one of those plastic storage boxes that I am not using. I can store it in an empty 5 gallon closed bucket that I cleaned out and kept for some reason. Now I know why I kept it (about 10 years ago - - -
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Robert McCallum
- Posts: 215
- Joined: Thu Mar 18, 2004 8:34 pm
- Location: Oklahoma/Tulsa
The 5-gal pail will be too small except for the smallest gourds. Use a plastic trash can with cover and you can keep the stuff for a long time. Don't get it on your lawn or garden. It is sold for the purpose of killing plants in sewer lines and will do a nasty job on any growing thing.
Bob McCallum
Bob McCallum
Getting old is not for the faint-of-heart.
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Joe Zorn
Hi Robert. Good to see you again.
I've not yet purchased the product I need, but know what it is now. Actually, I did purchase something, but I got the wrong stuff. The product I bought was made by Roebik, and said it was a root killer, but I did not notice until I got it home that it said "Does Not Contain COPPER. I figured that my copperless copper sulfate probably was not quite what I needed. The person who verified that for me Sunday morning is probably still laughing at my idiocy.
Anyway, I don't have any concept of the pricing yet. I'll find out this afternoon. Depending on the price, I may not store it at all.
I wonder about the disposal procedures recommended for this terrible stuff. Surely, there are environmental issues?
I've not yet purchased the product I need, but know what it is now. Actually, I did purchase something, but I got the wrong stuff. The product I bought was made by Roebik, and said it was a root killer, but I did not notice until I got it home that it said "Does Not Contain COPPER. I figured that my copperless copper sulfate probably was not quite what I needed. The person who verified that for me Sunday morning is probably still laughing at my idiocy.
Anyway, I don't have any concept of the pricing yet. I'll find out this afternoon. Depending on the price, I may not store it at all.
I wonder about the disposal procedures recommended for this terrible stuff. Surely, there are environmental issues?
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Bill Kepley
- Posts: 52
- Joined: Mon Jun 16, 2008 3:10 pm
- Location: Ohio/Richwood
Hi Joe,
Around central Ohio people use copper sulfate to control algea in small ponds. My neighbor buys it in 50 lb bags, he said if I needed any, I could have a lb or two. As for disposal, if you keep it in an open container, the water will evaporate away, then you can reconstitute it another year with more water. Or, if you have a weed problem in a gravel drive, it will slow down the weeds. If it gets on the lawn grass, you might have a brown spot for a couple years. It turns a lot of things a lovely blue color so don't get it on clothes , cars , etc.
Bill
Around central Ohio people use copper sulfate to control algea in small ponds. My neighbor buys it in 50 lb bags, he said if I needed any, I could have a lb or two. As for disposal, if you keep it in an open container, the water will evaporate away, then you can reconstitute it another year with more water. Or, if you have a weed problem in a gravel drive, it will slow down the weeds. If it gets on the lawn grass, you might have a brown spot for a couple years. It turns a lot of things a lovely blue color so don't get it on clothes , cars , etc.
Bill
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Joe, we purchase our first six natural gourds in 1994 or 1995 and soaked them in copper sulfate. Those gourds have been offered every year, and still hang at our site today. They have hosted martins since moving to TN and offering them in 2003, but have been exposed to the elements for at least 14 years. I am not sure if that is a testimony to the copper sulfate or the quality of the gourds, but it sure worked for us.
When we first used copper sulfate, we stored it in a five gallon bucket with a lid and placed that bucket in a very remote area of our yard. After a few years we became concerned about the bucket breaking, and eventually wanted to get rid of the copper sulfate. Our home was hooked up to a sewerage system so I called the authorities and asked about disposal. At that time they told me it was perfectly okay to dump it into the toilet as it would not harm the sewers. I guess it kind of helped the Roto-Rooter efforts using a chemical method.
It does and will kill any vegetation so do be careful, and as Bill mentioned, it turns items a lovely shade of blue. Also, as Bill mentioned, I have heard you can leave it exposed to evaporate and reconstitute it for use in the future.
I hope you grow many gourds worthy of the copper sulfate bath. It sure preserved our first six naturals and hope it does the same for your gourds.
When we first used copper sulfate, we stored it in a five gallon bucket with a lid and placed that bucket in a very remote area of our yard. After a few years we became concerned about the bucket breaking, and eventually wanted to get rid of the copper sulfate. Our home was hooked up to a sewerage system so I called the authorities and asked about disposal. At that time they told me it was perfectly okay to dump it into the toilet as it would not harm the sewers. I guess it kind of helped the Roto-Rooter efforts using a chemical method.
It does and will kill any vegetation so do be careful, and as Bill mentioned, it turns items a lovely shade of blue. Also, as Bill mentioned, I have heard you can leave it exposed to evaporate and reconstitute it for use in the future.
I hope you grow many gourds worthy of the copper sulfate bath. It sure preserved our first six naturals and hope it does the same for your gourds.
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda
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Donnie Hurdt MN
- Posts: 1723
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2004 11:14 pm
- Location: North Prairie, MN
Wow Linda, fourteen years old and still going strong. And you guys have a lot more hunidity there than we do here. plus my treated gourds havent been used yet, and they are stored inside in the off season so I should get a lot of years out of them.
PMCA member and Martin fanatic....
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
2011 A pair of subbies fledged three young but none returned in 2012
2015 One Pair of subbies came and stayed a few nits but got chased away by Bluebirds and Tree swallows.
2017 0ne pair of subbies nested and fledged 4 young
2018 Tree Swallows AGAIN chased away any martins that wanted to nest
2019 Same old story................
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Linda Reynolds
- Posts: 1308
- Joined: Tue Nov 11, 2003 8:33 pm
- Location: Adamsville, TN
Donnie, yours should last a good long time.
I cannot find the photo of our originals but here is one taken tonight of the **original six gourds**. They have been modified with SREH tunneled entries, but you can still see the original access ports. All six are still serving us and our martins proudly.
When we were new to this hobby/mission and ordered these gourds, you cannot believe how scared we were to make the first cut.......you would have thought we were performing brain surgery. What fun the journey has been.
I cannot find the photo of our originals but here is one taken tonight of the **original six gourds**. They have been modified with SREH tunneled entries, but you can still see the original access ports. All six are still serving us and our martins proudly.
When we were new to this hobby/mission and ordered these gourds, you cannot believe how scared we were to make the first cut.......you would have thought we were performing brain surgery. What fun the journey has been.
Ever-Grateful,
Linda
Linda