beneficial nematodes blender and drip tape

4season · April 30, 2015

A friend gave me some supposedly soluble beneficial nematodes, but the ones he used didn't dissolve well. I was thinking of blending them on high speed and then feeding them through the drip tape. Since there are millions to the teaspoon they should fit through the tape if they survive the blender. Your thoughts?

heirloomtomaguy · April 30, 2015

They will go through the drip tape fine but the blender may be troublesome. Maybe contact the manufacturer to find out their thoughts.

clkeiper · April 30, 2015

I would think NO NO NO. What did the directions tell you to do? Mine say to let the box sit out for 1/2 hour and then mix the specified quantity into a gallon of water and let the saw dust float to the top and strain that out. Then use the water as/where needed. OR contact the manufacturer and ask for more detailed directions.

Cole_Robbie · April 30, 2015

I would put them in a bucket with filtered water and little molasses, then place an aquarium air pump on the bucket to aerate it. A little water pump from something like a desktop fountain would work just as well. Bubble it about two days at room temp. You can filter it through a "paint strainer," which is a mesh bag they sell in the paint section of hardware stores, often with the spray gun stuff. They look like bridal veils or mosquito nets.

Whatever bacterial spores you have should grow and multiply, feeding off the molasses. If you had a tiny bit of worm castings or compost to add, your end product would be an aerated compost tea.

beeman · May 1, 2015

Putting them through a blender? You do realize these things are living things and though microscopic are still fairly delicate? You'll smash them to pieces and lose the benefit. They certainly won't be able to seek out any prey in the ground.
I don't understand "soluble" as these are insects!
Treat them carefully would be my advice.

Tracydr · May 1, 2015

Yes, these are tiny worms or insects,not bacteria. Rehydrate them and spray or sprinkle on the ground.

4season · May 1, 2015

Ok, I will treat them gently. I know they are alive, was just having a bigger is better, more horsepower moment.

April 30, 2015	#1
4season Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: albuquerque Posts: 308	beneficial nematodes blender and drip tape A friend gave me some supposedly soluble beneficial nematodes, but the ones he used didn't dissolve well. I was thinking of blending them on high speed and then feeding them through the drip tape. Since there are millions to the teaspoon they should fit through the tape if they survive the blender. Your thoughts?

April 30, 2015	#2
heirloomtomaguy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: glendora ca Posts: 2,560	They will go through the drip tape fine but the blender may be troublesome. Maybe contact the manufacturer to find out their thoughts. __________________ “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it."

April 30, 2015	#3
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	I would think NO NO NO. What did the directions tell you to do? Mine say to let the box sit out for 1/2 hour and then mix the specified quantity into a gallon of water and let the saw dust float to the top and strain that out. Then use the water as/where needed. OR contact the manufacturer and ask for more detailed directions. __________________ carolyn k

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April 30, 2015	#4
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I would put them in a bucket with filtered water and little molasses, then place an aquarium air pump on the bucket to aerate it. A little water pump from something like a desktop fountain would work just as well. Bubble it about two days at room temp. You can filter it through a "paint strainer," which is a mesh bag they sell in the paint section of hardware stores, often with the spray gun stuff. They look like bridal veils or mosquito nets. Whatever bacterial spores you have should grow and multiply, feeding off the molasses. If you had a tiny bit of worm castings or compost to add, your end product would be an aerated compost tea.

May 1, 2015	#5
beeman Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 692	Putting them through a blender? You do realize these things are living things and though microscopic are still fairly delicate? You'll smash them to pieces and lose the benefit. They certainly won't be able to seek out any prey in the ground. I don't understand "soluble" as these are insects! Treat them carefully would be my advice.

May 1, 2015	#6
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	Yes, these are tiny worms or insects,not bacteria. Rehydrate them and spray or sprinkle on the ground.