Deflasking instructions

We are 100 % successful with the following method and think you can be too ! We create a 100% humidity atmosphere for the first 4-5 weeks which requires the use of suitable fungicides at the start. We discourage deflasking without the use of one or two residual desinfectants, since it easily can result in total loss by "damp off" fungi. Please note that many fungicides are specific and do not affect "damp off" fungi !

Materials:(1). Disposable aluminum oven pans with clear plastic lids as available in any supermarket (2). Coconut fiber (coir), not chunks. Usually available in compressed bricks. This material may contain salt, so it needs to be washed thoroughly. Best done when dunked repeatedly in a cloth or mesh bag or sheer nylon pantyhose.(3). Physan (quaternary ammonium salts) as a general residual antimicrobial used at approx 1 tbsp per gallon of water. (4). Soluble balanced fertlizer (e.g. 18-18-18) also at 1tbsp/gallon water. (5). Natriphene. general residual antimicrobial, hard to find due to patent expiration. It is also used at 1tbsp/ gallon water. Natriphene may be replaced by Physan, as an initial experiment has indicated, but this may need further substantiation.

Procedure : Dunk bag with washed coir in a pail of water with fertilizer and physan ( both at 1tbsp/gallon), let drain but not dry out.Punch 12 small hole in bottom of aluminum pan, fill pan with 1.5 inches of prepared coir and flatten surface. Take plants out of flask, wash in cold or lukewarm water , then dunk them in the Natriphene solution (Natriphene does not tolerate other admixtures or it will precipitate).Clip roots longer than 1 inch, they only function for anchoring anyway and may leave a mass of decay. The plants have to form new roots to function in new medium, hence the 100% humidity. We plant the seedlings with a large forceps ( do not dry off the Natriphene solution !) Enclose permanent labels with the plants and close the pan. Place in good diffuse daylight or under fluorescent lights and leave undisturbed for 4-5 weeks.The humidity present will suffice for this period (the condensation inside the lid is the indicator). If not, the pan can be made to soak up water through the bottom holes. After 4-5 weeks the lids come off and the plants are watered daily with a fine mist or spray with regular fertilization . They will tell you when they would enjoy larger quarters with your favorite medium. Please note : pure coir is not necessarily the best medium for all mature plants.