Can cacti survive bleach?

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 12:38 pm

I decided to steep me plant-watering bottle in bleach, as the inside was a bit hacky. Left the bottle in the kitchen for 10 minutes while I did something else, and in that tiny space of time, the bairn waltzed in and took the unprecedented step of 'watering' the cacti.

The cacti look OK at the minute, like, but they might be just taking a long time to die....

BritishWestHpool · **Joined:** Thu Aug 17, 2006 11:35 pm **Posts:** 1243

I read your title as saying beach and thought of course they can you silly bugger, they survive in deserts so they're gonna be fine down the beach arent they?
Erm...then I read your post.
Personally I reckon your cactus is gonna die a slow and very painful death.
And cheerful talk wont help one little bit either I'm afraid.
Please keep an eye on it and let me know how this develops (dies).

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 1:10 pm

Although repotting them immediately might help them and then rinsing the new compost / soil through to the point of saturation, leaving them a few hours and repotting them again in more clean soil / compost.

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 1:24 pm

Well, I hope I don't have to report their untimely death Mr BWH :evil:

And will try Mr R's rehydration technique.

The bairn is quite attached to them so I'm in the dog-house. She's even given 'em names :laugh:

kev_hufc · **Joined:** Mon Jun 25, 2007 12:23 am **Posts:** 514

Mr Ripper wrote:

Although repotting them immediately might help them and then rinsing the new compost / soil through to the point of saturation, leaving them a few hours and repotting them again in more clean soil / compost.

Mind your fingers, seem's as though Mr Ripper neglected to warn you! bbolt

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 1:42 pm

He would

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 2:14 pm

I don't think I could bring myself to kick Rupert

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 2:19 pm

He did. He drank bleach. I've explained all that :roll:

Montpoolier · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 2:52 pm

I tried growing cactus once and ... surprisingly found that they didn't like water very much. Beware of Mr Ripper's technique!

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 3:25 pm

Richard M. Head wrote:

I tried growing cactus once and ... surprisingly found that they didn't like water very much. Beware of Mr Ripper's technique!

Overwatering knacks them, the Mrs has several in our house.

Hence why I said that once you've soaked them in "clean" compost in order to dilute the bleach to repot them again into dry stuff.

Spender · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 3:26 pm

Ultimately, you bloody murdering maniac, it's all down to you. Considering most plants, crops and flowers thrive on shite, sunshine and filthy rain, you decided that you'd treat the cactus like it needed bottled spring water and clean out it's 'pseudo breast.'

I hope you can't sleep. :evil:

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:21 pm

If all of the above fails flush it down the Toilet and hey presto....you've got rid of the Plant and cleaned the Toilet Bowl at the same time!!!! :grin:

Spender · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:25 pm

Aye but if you get a blowback at optimum cramming time and a sphincter full of cactus spines, I'd hear the howls of agony from here. :roll:

And when you consider that you'd have to go to North Tees face down on the bus with your crackers round your knees...... :shock:

Not good eh?? refred

Mr Ripper · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:25 pm

I've just been reading up on this especially for you Mrs Grabey.

Apparently the best "cure" for the plant is to hide it under the pillow of whoever poured the bleach on it.

Miraculous by all accounts.

Check it out www.cureyourplantswithwitchdoctortechni ... xpense.com

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:27 pm

Well, the cacti are still alive. They just look cleaner than usual.

I've been told off again and told to say it's not called Rupert. So, I made a mistake. it's not called Rupert, right?

Spender · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:30 pm

Probably best now to call Rupert, 'Its wants throwing in the bin, someone's poisoned it...' :roll:

Spender · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:31 pm

grabec wrote:

I've been told off again and told to say it's not called Rupert. So, I made a mistake. it's not called Rupert, right?

Probably best if you now refer to Rupert as, 'It wants throwing in the bin, someone's offed it...' :roll:

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:33 pm

It will always be Rupert to me

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:45 pm

Not now it won't!!!! confised

it'll be known as Dead Rupert!!!! confised

grabec · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:47 pm

Don't say that, Mutley. I'm living in hope, here :laugh:

MutleyRules · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 4:48 pm

Spender · **Posted:** Mon May 19, 2008 6:04 pm

How about 'Rup-ex??' :grin:

Can cacti survive bleach?

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