Sulfur blocks for polycarbonate greenhouses, how they work, what they are used for

Fungal diseases, pests and bacteria are some of the most common problems in growing plants in greenhouse. Closed ground conditions are perfect for both seedlings and harmful organisms.
There are many methods to protect yourself from the spread of parasites, and one of the most well-known is treatment greenhouses through a sulfur bomb.
Content:
- What are sulfur bombs for polycarbonate greenhouses, where to buy
- When should a greenhouse be treated?
- How does a sulfur bomb work?
- Is it possible to use a sulfur bomb for a greenhouse with seedlings?
- Rules for using sulfur bombs, what are the benefits and harms
What are sulfur bombs for polycarbonate greenhouses, where to buy
Sulfur checkers are a set of 5-10 tablets. The product contains 750 g/kg of sulfur, which is the main active ingredient.
When preparing a substance for processing, it is important to consider that the number of tablets recommended for use depends on the size of the room (calculate in the ratio of 50-150 mg per cubic meter).
Depending on the substances that make up the product, fungicides may differ in the nature of their action:
- Sulfur - when burned, they produce sulfur anhydrite, which eliminates insects, fungi and ticks. Has a depressing effect on small animals.Used for insecticidal and bactericidal treatment;
- Didecyldimethylammonium bromide preparations have a bactericidal effect. Recommended for eliminating bacterial and fungal diseases, destroying insects;
- Hexachloranes - have a nerve paralytic effect and are used to prevent the reproduction of soil insects, butterflies and caterpillars. Not suitable for killing ticks;
- Tobacco - during combustion they release nicotine. Used for fumigation of greenhouses from insects;
- Permethrins - have a nerve-paralytic effect aimed at moths, all flying insects and ants.
You can purchase checkers either in a specialized store or order them online. But in the second case, you should be careful, as there is a danger of running into a fake.
Before buying a drug, it is important to decide what specific problem is bothering you. Different types of checkers act on diseases and insects in different ways, which is important to consider when choosing.
When should a greenhouse be treated?
It is important to remember that fungicide smoke has a high level of toxicity. When processing a room with plants that are in the period growing season, the risk of death of cultivated species increases.
It is recommended to carry out the treatment in the interval between harvesting and planting new plants.
Depending on the degree of damage, the frequency and nature of fumigation differ:
- Initial level of damage by fungal and bacterial pests. In this case, it is recommended to treat the room once a year in the fall. This is enough to damage bacterial colonies and fungal spores. The rest will die when the soil freezes in winter;
- The critical level of damage is when fumigation once a year does not cope with the problem. In this case, it is recommended to carry out the treatment in the fall, before mothballing the greenhouse, and in the spring, before the actual landing new plants. With this treatment scheme, all pests that survived after the autumn treatment and winter frosts will be completely destroyed.
It is important to remember that as a result of exposure to sulfuric acid in the soil, it is actively absorbed. This negatively affects the acid-base balance substrate and can damage plants. Therefore, planting should be done only a week later - the second after spring fumigation and replacement of the top layer of the substrate.
How does a sulfur bomb work?
The scheme of action of the product is simple and consists of only a few points.
Consists of the following stages:
- After lighting the wick, the sulfur that is included in the composition begins to smolder;
- Anhydrite is produced;
- The released gas mixes with oxygen and thus fills the room.
This processing method compares favorably in a number of indicators, except for safety; before the spark hits the checker, the wick will smolder for at least two minutes, this series includes:
- Speed of action;
- High efficiency;
- Relative cost-effectiveness;
- Simplicity and ease of use.
The smoke that is released during the fumigation process seeps into places such as foundation cracks, joints of frame parts and other hard-to-reach parts greenhouses. Often this is where parasites and pathogens accumulate.
Anhydrite, which is produced during combustion, combines with oxygen to form sulfurous acid.This gives an additional disinfecting effect for the walls of the room and the substrate.
Is it possible to use a sulfur bomb for a greenhouse with seedlings?
The use of sulfur bombs for fumigation of greenhouses with living plants is not recommended. This can provoke the development of burns on the leaves and even cause death. seedlings.
Fumigation should be carried out during the break between collection and disembarkation. This is the optimal time when the action of the fungicide is aimed at pests.
To fumigate rooms with seedlings, you can use a tobacco stick. Nicotine has a more gentle effect on green living organisms than sulfur.
Sulfur dioxide, in contact with plants, has a depressing and destructive effect. Therefore, treating a room with a fungicide during its active use negatively affects the condition of the crop.
Rules for using sulfur bombs, what are the benefits and harms
Despite the fact that at least two minutes pass from the moment the wick is lit until the spark hits the tablet, caution should not be neglected. When installing and setting the tablets on fire, you need to dress in thick clothing and take care to protect your respiratory tract.
In order for fumigation to be as effective as possible, it is worth preparing the greenhouse before starting processing.
To do this you need:
- Carry out a complete cleaning greenhouses, cleaning all accessible corners as much as possible;
- Wear thick clothing and respiratory protection;
- Caulk all possible exits and cracks to achieve maximum sealing of the greenhouse;
- Before direct treatment, it is recommended to moisten the surface of the soil and walls with water;
- Place checkers on a hard surface (stones, metal plates);
- The number of tablets should be selected from the ratio of 50-150 mg per m3. You need to determine more accurately yourself, depending on the degree of damage;
- To ignite, you can use paper that is placed under it, a wick or pure kerosene.
- It is important to remember that the use of gasoline in this case is strictly prohibited;
- After setting fire, you need to close the door tightly and do not open it for three days. After this, ventilate the room.
It is worth using sulfur bombs after several years of growing the same species, the presence of outbreaks of diseases, or the fixation of harmful organisms. When using the product, the top layer of the substrate is disinfected.
However, before starting to use the drug, it is important to soberly assess its benefits and harms. Thus, the use of tablets is characterized by speed of action and low cost.
The benefit of sulfur bombs is that their use helps not only to quickly and effectively get rid of small insects, but also to repel rodents.
By timely cleaning the greenhouse from pests, the chances of re-infestation are significantly reduced. This will help protect plants from damage by pests.
However, it is important to remember that in addition to its benefits, fumigation can be harmful.
The main disadvantages include:
- High toxicity of sulfur smoke. Therefore, fumigation of a sealed greenhouse should be carried out without the presence of a person in it. Otherwise, the risk of poisoning increases;
- Sulfur significantly reduces performance fertility substrate. To prevent the development of this problem after treatment, you need to replace the top layer;
- Sulfurous smoke has a negative effect on metal parts, which is important to consider before lighting.It is recommended to cover all metal parts with a primer.
It is important to remember that the product will solve problems with parasites and plant diseases only if used wisely.
If fumigated too frequently or the procedure is carried out during the growing season, fumigation will do more harm than good.
Treating greenhouses with sulfur bombs is one of the common methods of combating pests. Having a depressing effect on small rodents, the product completely destroys fungi, bacteria and harmful insects.
However, it is important to remember that, despite all its advantages, this is a highly toxic drug and when using it, it is recommended not to forget about personal protective equipment.
You can learn more about the use of sulfur bombs for greenhouses by watching the video:
Comments
At our dacha, we use sulfur bombs for polycarbonate greenhouses once a year, when we open the dacha season. The checkers work well and the plants are not susceptible to fungal diseases in summer and autumn.
I haven’t used sulfur bombs yet, but I’ve heard good reviews. For now I only grow seedlings in the greenhouse, and then I transfer them to open ground. In the future I plan to use the greenhouse more widely and try checkers.