copper wire and tomatoes

[Beap52 858]

My neighbor lady decided to try hand at planting a tomato this year.  She was told that if she took about a 4 foot stick, wrapped copper wire around the stick, stuck it in the ground near the tomato that some how it would produce a full lush plant with great fruit production.  

 

Her husband was telling me about this wonderful scheme.  I told Joe that here in Missouri we call that a lightening rod!   Apparently, Joe told Cindy and today he told me that when the weatherman forecast a lightening storm earlier this week, she took her copper wound stick inside!  Not sure if she protecting her stick or the tomato.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,892]

Forgot the tin foil strips and metal colander hat...

 

 

[Achto 27,743]

1 hour ago, Beap52 said:

She was told that if she took about a 4 foot stick, wrapped copper wire around the stick, stuck it in the ground near the tomato that some how it would produce a full lush plant with great fruit production.

 

Strange... & I've heard that a copper nail driven into a tree will kill it.

[Ed Kennell 38,599]

11 hours ago, Achto said:

 

Strange... & I've heard that a copper nail driven into a tree will kill it.

My septic tank pumper guy told me to throw all my old scrap copper pipe into the tank to kill the tree roots.  

[SylvanLakeWH 25,892]

2 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

My septic tank pumper guy told me to throw all my old scrap copper pipe into the tank to kill the tree roots.  

So he can charge you extra when it plugs up??? Sorry, i can't buy that one on any level... 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,090]

16 hours ago, Achto said:

 

Strange... & I've heard that a copper nail driven into a tree will kill it.

Copper is the active ingredient in products that are sold to clear tree roots from drain pipes.

[SylvanLakeWH 25,892]

42 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

Copper is the active ingredient in products that are sold to clear tree roots from drain pipes.

Yes indeed... but not in scrap metal form...

[Beap52 858]

9 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

My septic tank pumper guy told me to throw all my old scrap copper pipe into the tank to kill the tree roots.  

You really have to chew it good before swallowing, then it will kill the tree roots!

[953 nut 55,737]

16 hours ago, gwest_ca said:

Copper is the active ingredient in products that are sold to clear tree roots from drain pipes.

The previous owner of a house we owned in Florida had planted trees right over the drainfield. Had the pipes roto-rootered and they installed a port that I poured a copper sulfate solution into once a month to keep the roots at bay.           Don't know if copper alone would do the trick.

Copper sulfate crystals, also known as "Bluestone", can kill roots in septic and sewer pipes without harming trees. Copper sulfate is a contact herbicide that works by penetrating root cells and disrupting their structure, causing dehydration and eventually root death. Roots in contact with the solution absorb copper for a short distance, but the absorbative function is destroyed before toxic copper travels very far.

Edited May 21 by 953 nut

[Ed Kennell 38,599]

3 hours ago, 953 nut said:

Don't know if copper alone would do the trick.

Copper will oxidize in a wet environment forming copper sulfate.   Bacteria found in septic tanks increases the oxidation process.

[953 nut 55,737]

7 hours ago, Ed Kennell said:

Copper will oxidize in a wet environment forming copper sulfate.   Bacteria found in septic tanks increases the oxidation process.

The port for adding copper sulfate solution went directly into the drainfield so it wouldn't become diluted.

[Ed Kennell 38,599]

4 minutes ago, 953 nut said:

The port for adding copper sulfate solution went directly into the drainfield so it wouldn't become diluted.

Yes, If the CuSO4 were put in the septic tank, very little would ever find it's way to the drain field.  It settles to the bottom and of course the tank water exits near the top just under the sludge layer that floats on top.

When we discovered the cedar tree roots had entered my tank. my son Mike who owns a HVAC/Plumbing business treated it with CuSO4.   He actually injected it thru the floating sludge layer to get it into the bottom of the tank.   With scrap copper worth over $3:00/lb, it is cheaper to use the copper sulfate that he buys in bulk.

[8ntruck 7,079]

@Beap52 - sounds like you've got some interesting neighbors - they seem to react well and seem to be just a little too easy.  I'd have to watch myself, so I wouldn't get into trouble picking on them.

 

On the subject of copper in the sceptic system - if building a new drain field, would it be a good idea to put lengths of copper pipe in each run of the drain field?

[Ed Kennell 38,599]

1 hour ago, 8ntruck said:

would it be a good idea to put lengths of copper pipe in each run of the drain field?

If there are trees nearby, I would add a pipe stand for inspection and to add copper sulfate only if needed.     With the price of copper I think this would be a better solution.

[953 nut 55,737]

7 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

On the subject of copper in the sceptic system - if building a new drain field, would it be a good idea to put lengths of copper pipe in each run of the drain field?

Just keep the trees a reasonable distance away, especially willow trees.