Do you really need to soak real wood or plants in any thing to kill mold or fungus. Is this a big deal. What do you suggest to use if it is true.
Thanks
CKTRAINS[:)]
I’m not sure about soaking to kill mold etc. Many people soak in matte medium or glycerne to try and strengthen real plant material to make it less brittle.
Welcome to the forum by the way!
Welcome. I asked the same question last month and got little response. There is the old suggestion of glycerin, but no one claimed to be using it. I am spray painting mine with acrylic paint and that seems ok, but they have not been on the layout long. I have wondered about soaking in a thin bath of a poly/oil mix. Have not tried it yet. My worry was not the kill things but to reduce the brittleness. Good luck and keep us posted with what you learn.
I used real sticks for a group of background trees. After a while, spider mites took over the tunnel enterence. So, yea maybe you should give them a bath in alcohol for bugs if not for mold.
Sticks and woody plants don’t need preserving, only foliage, moss or plants do. But only if they get crunchy if dried out.
Here’s a link for Vegi Glycerin if you want to try it.
Soak in a solution of 2 parts distiled water and 1 part glycerin. Heat the water up to make it easier to mix. Plants may have to soak for about 2 days to 2 weeks. You have to experiment. Let them dry compleatly on a stack of news paper and turn plants daily.
You can also add fabric dye to the mix to color the plant. Just stir up the solution daily to even the color.
I’ve done about four cubic feet of spagnum moss that way.
I use glycerin on weeds also, basically what is said above only I use 1/2 and 1/2. Fred
If you are using dried plants/sticks/foilage that has been commercially packaged, like from Micheles or Hobby Lobby then they have already been treated for both pests and brittleness.
mold or fungus will be present in just about anything you find. the trick is to pick plants that don’t look like they have any. keep them dry and they won’t grow any.
your household bleach will kill mold and fungus on contact, but then your trees will stink.
mold will not take over if you keep the moisture down. the scare stories about mouldy houses need moisture to grow; either a leaky roof or bad plumbing. control your moisture and mold will not be a problem.
I usually paint them if I don’t like the color or spray them with dull coat if I do. Just to seal them up.[#welcome]