In polycarbonate greenhouses, in most cases, a warm and humid environment is formed, which is a tasty morsel for the proliferation of various pests and microorganisms. To avoid an unpleasant situation, disinfection measures must be carried out against pests and diseases. The safest method is smoking with tobacco smoke. The use of tobacco sticks in polycarbonate greenhouses is an absolutely safe and reliable procedure. There will be no negative consequences to the coating and frame, since nicotine acts as an active ingredient. How tobacco is used in gardening will be discussed in our article.
Why is a tobacco shank preferable for a polycarbonate greenhouse?
The noticeable advantages of using tobacco shanks are:
- Easy to use.
- It fights various insects and diseases without any harm to the crops planted in the greenhouse.
- Tobacco smoke has a repellent effect against rodents and bees.
- Smoke penetrates absolutely into all places, even those hard to reach by humans.
- The carbon dioxide released is an excellent natural preservative that has a good effect on plant photosynthesis. The ripening time of the fruit accelerates, the foliage becomes juicy, thick and fleshy. There are no dangerous chemicals in the composition. Nicotine has a detrimental effect only against parasites.
- Using fumigation, you can treat large beds.
Description of the product and principle of its action
A smoke bomb visually represents a package weighing 300 grams. It is usually collected from 5-10 tablets, which are enough to treat a room with a volume of up to 20 cubic meters.
Smoke bombs are filled with various chemicals. The most common ones are:
- sulfur;
- permethrin;
- tobacco dust;
- hexachlorane;
- didecyldimethylammonium.
Most often, sulfur and tobacco bombs are produced, which will be discussed. In the first model, the active substance is sulfur, which belongs to the second hazard class and is toxic to people, birds and bees. It is prohibited to set it on fire in the basement under a residential building or under the floor.
The industry produces several types of such checkers, but their operating principle is the same. After igniting the fuse, the combustion process begins, during which the checker emits sulfur dioxide. It is lighter than air, and therefore completely fills the smallest cracks and crevices, having a detrimental effect on pathogenic microbes and insects.
This is interesting: smoke bombs are divided into universal (they get rid of mold and parasites) and specialized (against moles, rodents and insects).
In what cases is a tobacco smoke bomb used?
If you notice that your crops that you are growing in a greenhouse have begun to grow and develop poorly, and also that the leaves are beginning to be affected by various diseases and pests, then this is a clear signal that you need to carry out tobacco treatment. Polycarbonate greenhouses especially need such treatment, since it is in them that the air humidity can be very high, which is a reason for the proliferation of pests and diseases. Here are the insects that tobacco sticks are good to use against:
- Aphid.
- Medyanitsa.
- Spider mite.
- Ground fleas.
- Butterfly
- Whitefly.
- Thrips.
- Late blight.
It is also possible to use tobacco checkers as a preventive measure:
- for routine disinfection of the greenhouse,
- to stimulate the growth of vegetable crops,
- in order to increase the safety of fruits.
The nicotine contained in drafts does not cause any harm to plants at all. Certain crops (potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tomatoes) contain small amounts of nicotine. Tobacco smoke has a short shelf life. Insect poisoning occurs only at the time of the procedure. It is for this reason that fumigation must be carried out more than once.
Types of tobacco checkers
In stores you can find several varieties of tobacco sticks, which we will discuss in more detail below. All these types of bombs have proven themselves to be safe for crops, unlike sulfur bombs.
In order for there to be any positive effect, you must strictly follow the instructions of the drug. If it is not there, then this product is uncertified.
Tobacco checker Hephaestus
The Hephaestus tobacco bomb contains tobacco crumbs and an incendiary mixture. The packaging has a cylindrical shape, the weight of the package can be 160 or 250 g. Well suited for combating various types of pests: spider mites, aphids, copperheads. It has a stimulating effect on the growth and development of the plant.
If the drug is opened, it can quickly lose its properties. If you have any substance left, it is best to store it away from flammable objects. The storage room must be dry, the air temperature must be +20...+25 degrees. If, for example, the area of your greenhouse is about 25 square meters. m, then it will be enough for you to purchase 1 piece.
Tobacco checker Phytophthora
This type of tobacco stick has proven itself well against fungal diseases: powdery mildew, late blight, rust and other types of fungi. The composition of the tobacco checker includes: tobacco chips, an igniter, a combustion stabilizer, and a large amount of sodium bicarbonate, which has destructive properties in the fight against fungi.
The drug has a cylindrical shape, weighs about 220g. 1 package of the drug will be enough to treat a greenhouse with an area of up to 35 square meters. m. The procedure of fumigation with the drug can be repeated 2 days after the first treatment. If the packaging has been damaged, the drug has the property of self-destruction.
Tobacco checker Vulcan
This type of tobacco stick is well suited for the fight against late blight, as well as other pests of garden crops. It is very popular among summer residents. The drug has a cylindrical shape. The composition includes: tobacco dust, ignition mixture, cardboard membranes.
If you are going to use the drug to stimulate plant growth, then 1 pc. The drug will be enough to treat 50 square meters. m plot. If you are going to carry out treatment against pests, then for 30 square meters. m 1 pc. drug. Insects do not get used to the drug.
Gas protection
The ideal protection against toxic smoke is a gas mask. But it is allowed to replace it with a respirator. It is also necessary to wear tight-fitting glasses, which are often prescribed for use in small rooms. Ideally, you should have separate protective clothing, such as a thick coat or gown, gloves and a hat.
It is better to carry out the processing together. During fumigation, it is forbidden to eat or drink, and animals, children and other people should be kept as far away as possible. After setting fire, you should immediately leave the room, as smoke vapors are extremely toxic. In the case when several checkers need to be set on fire at the same time, movement begins from the furthest one, gradually moving towards the exit, and so quickly as to leave before the smoke begins.
How to understand that you have been poisoned by a smoke bomb
There are several signs that can tell you that you have been exposed to sulfur smoke. Among them:
- dizziness;
- headache;
- wheezing, difficulty breathing, suffocating cough;
- pain in the eyes and lacrimation;
- swelling and mucus from the nasopharynx;
- In case of severe poisoning, nosebleeds are observed.
As soon as you determine that a person has been poisoned by sulfur gas, he should be immediately taken out of the place of smoke and contact a toxicologist as quickly as possible. In case of acute signs of poisoning, you must call an ambulance.
Important: smoke bombs should be stored in their original original packaging, in a place inaccessible to children, animals and open flames.
How to properly use a tobacco shank in a greenhouse
Before processing with a tobacco stick, everything in the greenhouse must be thoroughly cleaned, namely:
- We are cleaning the top layer of soil, removing foliage and dead areas of plants.
- We are dismantling the racks.
- Remove all unnecessary items from the greenhouse: boxes, boxes, containers.
- The greenhouse covering needs to be cleaned with a soap solution. It is especially necessary to wash joints and seams. They may contain various microorganisms and pest larvae.
- Loosen the soil so that combustion products can more easily penetrate the soil. At the same time, various parasites and mold will also be destroyed.
- Seal the greenhouse, paying special attention to cracks, gaps, and joints.
- Walls and soil need light moisture. A humid environment is suitable for better smoldering. Arrange the brick stands evenly.
If you plan to use only 1 pc. drug, you can place it exactly in the center. To correctly calculate how many checkers you will need, you need to take into account its size and the purpose of their use.
What time to choose
It is best to disinfect greenhouses in the spring and autumn. To improve the first treatment, it is best to repeat the fumigation procedure 4-5 days after the first treatment.
If you are going to plant vegetables in the spring, then the first treatment with tobacco is best done 3 weeks before planting.
Autumn processing can be carried out after you have harvested the crop. After the procedure is carried out, the room will need to be well ventilated and closed until the next season.
It is possible to use tobacco sticks during the period of active plant growth. There is no need to remove vegetable crops from the greenhouse; the smoke will not cause any harm to the plants. It is best to carry out the fumigation procedure in the evening, in cloudy or cool times, so that the vegetables cannot die from the stuffiness.
Disadvantages and pros
Like any fungicide, a smoke bomb has positive and negative sides. Disadvantages include:
- high degree of toxicity of the emitted smoke;
- the toxic substance is absorbed into vegetables and fruits;
- oxidation of metals was observed during use;
- fire hazard: the product may ignite flammable materials;
- water poisoning: if ground flows come close to the soil surface, the saber should not be used to treat the basement;
- poor penetration into soil and wood: fungal spores and pests, without prior preparation, remain in the thickness of the black soil, and mold remains in the boards;
- destruction of plants: burns remain on living crops after exposure.
Despite the long list of disadvantages, this product also has advantages. For example:
- efficiency;
- sufficient efficiency;
- ease of use;
- convenience;
- safety during ignition: before combustion begins, the wick pauses for 1 to 2 minutes.
Next, we’ll take a closer look at when it’s worth treating a greenhouse with a sulfur bomb.
How to properly light a smoke bomb in a greenhouse
Setting fire to a tobacco stick must be carried out on the street. You need to install it on a pedestal of bricks, light the wick and move back a little so that the flames cannot touch you and your clothes. After about 15-20 seconds it will go out and the desired fumigation process will begin. After this, it can be sent to the greenhouse.
Checkers must be placed around the perimeter of the room, do not forget to close the door tightly. The smoking process can continue for several hours. After completing the procedure, the room should be well ventilated and after a few days the fumigation procedure should be repeated.
Many say that the use of drugs has a detrimental effect on insects after 1 treatment, and after the 2nd procedure the larvae themselves begin to die. There is no effect of smoke on eggs.
Compliance with safety measures
The use of tobacco cones is absolutely harmless both for people and plants, and for the polycarbonate greenhouse itself. But you still need to take certain precautions:
- If you are going to use several pieces of tobacco sticks, then you must wear safety glasses to protect the mucous membrane of your eyes.
- To protect exposed parts of your body, it is best to wear long sleeves.
- When you install the checker, you need to hold your breath for a while.
- The room must be airtight so that the smoke does not escape outside the greenhouse.
- You should not be inside the greenhouse during the fumigation procedure.
- After the burning ends, you cannot enter the greenhouse for several hours. Dissipation of carbon dioxide must occur.
Reviews
Olga Polyakova, 40 years old, Alexandrov We used a Hephaestus smoke bomb, we did everything according to the instructions, tobacco smoke killed all the pests, and we harvested a large crop.
Svetlana Goryunova, 51 years old, Vladimir I tried fumigation with different means, but most of all I appreciated “Late blight”. The cucumber leaves were affected by some kind of disease, after several fumigation procedures they began to turn green and the plant began to recover. The fruits were not damaged by smoke. Now every year I carry out disinfection with “Late blight” - in spring and autumn.
Pavel Rybin, 59 years old, Suzdal I always smoke Hephaestus. In my opinion, this is the best remedy for pests and late blight. The main thing is not to enter the greenhouse until the smoke has completely cleared. I don’t use sulfur bombs, because I consider them harmful to plants and human health.
We carry out a set of works after processing the greenhouse using a tobacco checker
If you use the tobacco sticks that we previously reviewed, then there is no need to carry out any specific work. You just need to ventilate the greenhouse well so that all the smoke and smell disappear completely. Then you can go about your normal business there. If you need to enter it before the burning ends, do not forget about the protective mask.
Tobacco can be used throughout the season. It does not contain chemicals. The checker is easy to use. It is good at combating many pests and diseases that can negatively affect the development of vegetable crops. It is important to remember that when using tobacco pellets you must follow safety precautions and follow all operating instructions
