Contents
The warm and humid environment of polycarbonate greenhouses provides ideal conditions for the reproduction of microorganisms, bacteria and insects. To prevent infection of crops, shelters should be disinfected regularly. A safe treatment method is fumigation with tobacco smoke. Tobacco checker for a polycarbonate greenhouse is reliable and safe. The coating and the skeleton will not suffer from it, because the active ingredient is nicotine.
Benefits of using tobacco checkers for greenhouses
The main advantages of tobacco checkers are:
- ease of use;
- they destroy diseases and pests without harming the crops planted in the greenhouse;
- tobacco smoke repels rodents and bees;
- the smoke screen disinfects the greenhouse completely, penetrating even into hard-to-reach places;
- highly concentrated carbon dioxide released during smoldering is an excellent natural preservative, it improves plant photosynthesis, accelerates the period of fruit ripening, and the green mass becomes thicker, juicier and fleshy;
- tobacco checkers do not contain chemicals, their action is based on the destructive effect of nicotine on parasites;
- fumigation can process any size area.
In what cases is the treatment of greenhouses with a smoke bomb used?
Processing with smoke products is carried out if the vegetables in the greenhouse do not grow and develop well, and their leaves are affected by pests and diseases. This is especially true for polycarbonate greenhouses, the humidity of the air inside which is greatly increased, which leads to the reproduction of bacteria and parasites.
Fumigation with smoke bombs effectively destroys:
- aphids;
- sucker;
- spider mite;
- earth fleas;
- Butterfly Whitefly;
- thrips;
- phytophthora.
Tobacco checkers can be used to prevent plant damage, as a planned disinfection of greenhouses, to stimulate the growth of vegetable crops, and increase the safety of fruits. The nicotine contained in them is absolutely harmless to plants, and in some crops, for example, in potatoes, eggplants, peppers and tomatoes, it is contained in small quantities.
Varieties of tobacco smoke bombs
Tobacco checkers are represented by several types:
- Hephaestus;
- Volcano;
- Phytophthora.
All of them effectively destroy pests and infectious diseases in greenhouses, and at the same time are harmless, unlike sulfur checkers (“Fas”).
Hephaestus
Tobacco checker “Hephaestus” consists of crumbs of tobacco and an incendiary mixture. The packaging has a cylindrical shape, is available in weights of 160 or 250 g. It effectively fights many types of pests: spider mites, suckers, aphids. Stimulates the active growth of plants. When opened, it quickly loses its properties. It is advisable to store unused products away from flammable substances, in a dry room at t + 20÷25ºС. To fumigate a greenhouse with an area of 25 m², one piece is enough.
Phytophthora
Tobacco smoke bomb “Phytophthora” is designed to combat fungal diseases: powdery mildew, late blight, rust and other types of fungi. In addition to tobacco chips, an igniter and a combustion stabilizer, it contains an increased amount of sodium bicarbonate, which completely destroys the fungal microflora. The tool has the shape of a cylinder, weighing 220 g, one piece is enough to treat an area of 35 m². The repeated fumigation of the greenhouse with the Fitoftornik tobacco checker is carried out after 48 hours. If the packaging of the product is broken, it will self-destruct.
Vulcan
Tobacco checker “Volcano” is effective in the fight against late blight and all known pests of horticultural crops, has many positive reviews. The cylindrical product consists of tobacco dust, ignition mixture and cardboard membranes. To treat the greenhouse in order to stimulate the growth of crops, you need 1 tube per 50 m², and for the destruction of insects, one piece is used per 30 m². Substances are not addictive in insects.
How to use a checker in a greenhouse
Before fumigating with a smoke bomb, the greenhouse must be carefully cleaned, getting rid of all possible carriers of diseases and insects.
- Clear the top layer of the earth by removing leaves and dead plant bushes.
- Dismantle shelving.
- Take out all unnecessary items: boxes, pallets, water containers.
- Wash the greenhouse cover with soapy water, paying particular attention to joints and seams where insect larvae and microorganisms can be found.
- Loosen the soil to facilitate the penetration of combustion products into it. Mold, parasites and their eggs in the soil will die.
- Seal the greenhouse. Seal all gaps and cracks in doors, windows and joints.
- Moisten walls and soil slightly. The smoke bomb smolders better in a humid environment.
- Evenly arrange coasters made of bricks or unnecessary metal utensils. If one checker is used, then it must be installed in the center.
The calculation of the required number of tobacco checkers is based on the area of the greenhouse and the degree of its damage.
When to burn a saber in a greenhouse
It is necessary to disinfect greenhouses in spring and autumn. To get rid of all the damaging factors, and not be afraid that the planted plants will become infected, the procedure is carried out 2-3 days in a row. In the spring, smoke treatment of the greenhouse with a tobacco checker should be carried out three weeks before planting vegetables, and in the fall – after harvesting. After the procedure, the room is ventilated and closed until spring.
Checkers can also be used during the period of active growth. There is no need to take vegetables out of the greenhouse, tobacco smoke will not harm either the plant or the fruits.
How to light a saber in a greenhouse
It is necessary to light a tobacco smoke bomb on the street. Having installed it on a pedestal of bricks, they set fire to the wick and step back a little so that the flame that breaks out does not touch the clothes. After 20 seconds, the fire will go out and intense smoldering will begin.
This means that you can bring it into the greenhouse. Having spread the checkers around the perimeter of the room, you should exit, tightly closing the door. The smoke will last for several hours. After fumigation, the room is ventilated and a second procedure is carried out after a few days.
Reviews of people using tobacco checkers “Hephaestus”, “Phytophtornik” or “Volcano” claim that after the 1st treatment, only insects die, and after the 2nd fumigation, the larvae that have already become adults also die. Eggs are not affected by smoke.
Safety Precautions
A tobacco smoke bomb will not harm either a person, or plants, or a polycarbonate coating, but when fumigating a greenhouse, you must follow the simplest safety measures:
- If several smoke products are used, so that tobacco smoke does not corrode the mucous membrane of the eyes, it is recommended to wear goggles even before the procedure.
- Clothing with long sleeves will protect exposed areas of the body from hot smoke.
- When placing checkers, you must hold your breath or put on a mask.
- Make sure the room is airtight to prevent smoke from escaping.
- Do not stay in the greenhouse during fumigation.
- Do not go into it earlier than a few hours after the end of the smoldering checker. The carbon monoxide should dissipate.
Work in the greenhouse after the use of a smoke bomb
After using the Hephaestus, Vulkan, and Phytophthora smoke tobacco bombs, no special work is required. It is necessary to thoroughly ventilate the room until carbon monoxide and the smell of smoke are completely weathered, after which you can start daily work in it. If you need to enter the greenhouse a little before the smoke disappears, it is recommended to use a protective mask.
Conclusion
Tobacco checker for greenhouses made of polycarbonate can be used throughout the season. It does not contain chemicals, is easy to operate, and effectively destroys diseases and insects that cause damage to vegetable crops. We must not forget that smoke products require caution and all actions must be performed strictly according to the instructions.