Question
If plants are acquired from an extraneous source( outside ), how would you go about introducing them into your clean, pest/fungi free grow room?

Answer
Dear Gary:

Outside plants introduced into a grow room or hydroponics environment are susceptible to a multitude of pests not only on the plant, but their containers as well.  Some of the basic care guidance for preparing outside plants is sterilization of the containers.  Since most plants come in plastic or glazed pots,  carefully squeezing the container on its sides to loosen it and slide the root ball out of the container.   They will only need surface cleaning: use a 10-percent bleach solution to accomplish this. Then brush all loose debris out of pots and stack them in a plastic bucket; 1 part bleach is mixed with 9 parts water until the pots are submerged. The pots soak overnight. The pots are removed and dried and are ready for the plants to be returned intact to each pot.

The other plant pests include: spider mites, aphids, and thrips which can destroy plants.  A good Insecticidal soap is a very safe and effective alternative to conventional insecticides in many garden situations. It is used mainly for soft bodied pests like aphids, thrips, scale insect crawlers and spider mites but is also a very effective leaf wash to remove aphid honeydew, sooty mold and other leaf debris.  Spray plants following label directions before transferring to the grow room.

Sincerely,

Mack Jean
AllExperts
Master Gardener
Tennessee