Content
Polycarbonate greenhouses help create almost ideal conditions for the growth and development of cultivated plants. But these same conditions also attract their many enemies: harmful insects, small mammals, fungal and bacterial spores, and viruses. In a closed greenhouse, not all means of controlling plant pests are effective. In addition, many of the parasites are microscopic in size and like to hide in numerous crevices and other places inaccessible to treatment. At the stage of too intense parasite infestation, it is advisable to use the help of smoke fumigation of the greenhouse.Both the harm and benefit of sulfur bombs for treating greenhouses are at approximately the same level, so you should be well aware of the situations when their use is truly justified.
Advantages of fumigating a greenhouse with a sulfur bomb
Fumigation, or the treatment of greenhouses with smoke, has been used for many decades and enjoys well-deserved respect not only among summer residents, but also among professionals who grow flower or vegetable crops in greenhouse industrial complexes. The essence of this method is that the entire greenhouse room is filled with a large amount of smoke, capable of penetrating into all, even the most inaccessible cracks and holes. When sulfur bombs smolder, sulfur dioxide is released, which completely destroys viruses, bacteria, fungal spores, as well as larvae and adults of insect pests. Smoke also has a depressing effect on rodents, creating a repellent effect. Thus, long-term protection is created from almost all diseases and pests that may affect crops grown in greenhouses.
The benefits of using a sulfur bomb for a polycarbonate greenhouse
Depending on the manufacturer, a sulfur block is a tablet or a single tube, the main active ingredient of which is sulfur in a concentration of about 750-800 g/kg.
Among many other types of fumigators, sulfur bombs have the following undeniable advantages:
- Perhaps it is the most universal in use, because no one can resist sulfur gas, not insects and rodents, not various fungi, not bacteria and viruses.
- Smoke is able to penetrate and disinfect the surfaces of areas in the greenhouse that are most inaccessible and impossible for other means to penetrate.
- The scheme for using sulfur bombs itself is not complicated; even a novice gardener can handle the processing of greenhouses.
- Finally, in terms of material costs, sulfur bomb is one of the most affordable means of preventive and therapeutic treatment.
Pros and cons of using
In addition, the obvious advantages of using sulfur bombs include the relative speed of solving the problem. The emission of smoke itself occurs within a few hours, after which the effectiveness of the effect remains for several months.
It should be noted that this product is highly effective. Indeed, in some cases of combating the most resistant insect pests (for example, whiteflies or spider mites) or bacterial diseases, all other means do not guarantee such an almost 100% solution to the problem.
But when processing a greenhouse, sulfur bombs, in addition to being useful, can also cause significant harm if safety measures and basic rules for working with them are not followed.
Substances that are formed as a result of the interaction of sulfur gas with water have a destructive effect on any metal structures. Polycarbonate greenhouses are most often based on a metal frame. When choosing sulfur bombs consciously, all metal parts of the greenhouse must be protected by priming or painting. It’s even better to treat them with any fatty substance (for example, grease) that will not allow the metal to enter into a chemical reaction.
The smoke that is released during the use of a sulfur bomb interacts with water and other substances present in the soil of the greenhouse (for example, wood ash), and forms different types of acids: sulfurous, sulfuric. They are able to kill not only harmful microorganisms, but also those that improve soil fertility. At the same time, the effect of smoke does not extend to the deepest layers of the soil. Therefore, after fumigation, it is necessary to additionally treat the soil in the greenhouse with special preparations containing a complex of beneficial microorganisms (Baikal, Fitosporin and others).
Smoke, in addition, has a very negative effect on any organic beings. Treatments cannot be carried out in the presence of any plants, and therefore it is important to consider the timing of the fumigation operation with this product.
And, of course, smoke poses a danger to human health, so all precautions must be taken.
Types of checkers for greenhouse processing
In general, several types of smoke bombs are known for treating greenhouses. They differ in the composition of the main active ingredient and, therefore, have their own characteristics of use.
- Sulfur smoke bombs have the widest spectrum of effects and are used against insects (whiteflies, aphids), arthropods (spider mites), slugs, snails, fungi, mold and various rots of bacterial origin.
- Didecyldimethylammonium bromide checkers are relatively safe to use and are used primarily to combat mold and fungi that cause fusarium, fomoz and other diseases, as well as pathogens of bacterial diseases.
- Hexachlorane smoke bombs, Providing a nerve-paralytic effect, they fight well against a variety of insect pests living in the soil and butterfly caterpillars. But they are useless in the fight against spider mites and fungal or bacterial infections.
- TAtank checkers safe for plants, therefore can be used during the growing season, but are effective against slugs, arachnids and insects. But they are useless for fighting diseases.
- Permethrin smoke bombs They cope especially well with all flying insects, ants and moths.
How to use a sulfur bomb in a greenhouse
To get the maximum effect from using a sulfur bomb and not harm yourself or your plants, you need to know and follow all the basic rules for its use.
When to treat a greenhouse with a sulfur bomb
In autumn, the most optimal time comes for treating the greenhouse with a sulfur bomb. The best time is immediately after the full harvest. This usually occurs at the end of September or October before the onset of stable frosts. It is important that the soil temperature in the greenhouse at the time of treatment does not fall below + 10 °C.
If the infection of the greenhouse is not serious, then a single autumn treatment is sufficient. In winter, with frost, all other parasites should die.
But special situations occur if there was no time to carry out the treatment in the fall or the degree of contamination of the greenhouse is too high. In this case, you can treat the greenhouse with a sulfur bomb in the spring.
But one should take into account the fact that at low temperatures the soil absorbs the resulting sulfuric acid too intensively. Therefore, in order not to harm the plants, it is necessary to wait until the soil surface warms up to + 10 °C. On the other hand, after treatment with a sulfur bomb, at least two weeks must pass before planting seedlings or sowing seeds in a greenhouse. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor current weather conditions and choose the moment to treat the greenhouse with a sulfur bomb in the spring very carefully. Depending on the region, it may occur between the end of March or the beginning of April to the end of April and the beginning of May.
How many sulfur bombs are needed for a greenhouse?
Sulfur blocks are most often sold in packages of 300 or 600 g. The instructions for using sulfur blocks for a greenhouse state that about 60 g of the drug should be used per 1 cubic meter of volume. Accordingly, one package should be enough for 5 or 10 cubic meters of greenhouse air volume. It is important to note that it is the volume that should be calculated, not the area of the surface being treated.
For example, for a standard polycarbonate greenhouse measuring 3x6 meters, about 2 meters high, you need about 3-4 packages of sulfur bombs, weighing 600 g.
However, the consumption of sulfur bombs also depends on the manufacturer. For example, the instructions for the “Climate” sulfur bomb for a greenhouse indicate that only 30 g are used per 1 cubic meter of air, that is, exactly one tablet included in the preparation (to combat mold, fungi and bacteria).
Therefore, before purchasing and using a sulfur bomb from a particular company, it is advisable to carefully study the attached instructions.
How to use a sulfur bomb in a greenhouse
Before disinfecting a polycarbonate greenhouse using a sulfur bomb, it is necessary to carry out a general cleaning of it, make sure that the building is as tight as possible and protect all metal elements of the structure.
- All dry plant debris is removed and burned, and the ground is dug up to move insect larvae closer to the surface.
- All auxiliary equipment is also removed from the greenhouse, and the racks, shelves and polycarbonate covering are washed with a soapy solution and then rinsed with water.
- The entire surface of the soil and polycarbonate is moistened with water from a hose to make the sulfur bomb more effective.
- Windows and vents are tightly closed, and all polycarbonate joints are treated with sealant. If possible, seal all the cracks in the doorway.
- All metal parts are painted or lubricated with a greasy lubricant, such as grease.
When carrying out the actual fumigation, non-flammable stands are prepared for stable placement of sulfur bombs. These can be bricks, stone or concrete blocks. They must be stable and occupy much more space than the sulfur bomb itself. So that if it accidentally falls, the checker does not ignite. It is necessary to place the total number of sulfur bombs so that they are evenly distributed throughout the greenhouse.
Since the smoke that begins to be released after smoldering is dangerous not only for inhalation, but also if it gets on human skin, it is necessary to be well protected from it when setting it on fire. Clothing should tightly cover all parts of the body, and the face should be protected with a respirator and goggles.
After installing the checkers, light the fuse. If you don’t have it, you can use pieces of paper, newspaper or, as a last resort, kerosene. Under no circumstances should gasoline be used to ignite a sulfur bomb. If everything went well, then dark spots appear on the surface of the tablets and acrid smoke begins to emit. From this moment on, you should leave the room as soon as possible and close the door behind you as tightly as possible.
The sulfur bombs smolder for several hours, after which the greenhouse should be left hermetically sealed for another day for the most complete disinfection. Then open all windows and doors and ventilate the greenhouse for at least 2-3 days.
Is it necessary to wash the greenhouse after a sulfur bomb?
The internal surfaces of the greenhouse do not need to be washed after fumigation with a sulfur bomb, since this will preserve the therapeutic effect for a longer period. But it is advisable to treat the soil with products containing living microorganisms and add additional doses of organic fertilizers.
Precautions when using sulfur bombs in a polycarbonate greenhouse
As mentioned above, sulfur dioxide can cause serious poisoning if inhaled. In addition, when gas interacts with water, an acid that corrodes the skin is formed. Therefore, you should take a responsible approach to protecting the body, mucous membranes and respiratory organs from harmful influences.A headdress that completely covers all parts of the body, gloves, safety glasses and a respirator are required.
After the wick ignites, there are literally two minutes left before intense gas emission begins. During this time, you need to have time to leave the premises and not expose your health to danger.
Conclusion
Both the harm and benefit of sulfur bombs for polycarbonate greenhouses can equally serve as arguments for and against their use. Everyone must make their own choice based on their own specific situation.
