Breeder STS Dry Kit Instructions
Instructions for Breeder Dry STS Kit
Reccomended Supplies
- Distilled or Reverse Osmosis Water (1 gallon to start)
- 2 32oz Brown Glass Bottles
- 32oz Brown Glass Bottle w/Black Sprayer Top
- 60 cc/ml Syringe
- Surfactant - included.
- A Cool Dark Place for Storage (Fridge)
- Nitrile Gloves
- 500ml/2 Cup Glass Mixing Container
- Small wire whisk
- Safety Goggles
Basic Safety Recommendations
The following steps require careful measuring, along with basic chemical safety. It is strongly recommended you work on a flat surface with a plastic sheet or several layers of newspaper to protect it. Silver nitrate does stain brown to black, so gloves and safety goggles are recommended.
Sodium thiosulfate has a very low toxicity, make sure you still wash up any spills well to remove all concern. Both of these solutions can be safely rinsed down the drain, when followed by a large amount of water.
Measuring and Mixing Stock Solution "A"
- Fill your 500ml measuring cup with 500ml of distilled water
- Mix the silver nitrate crystals (small black bag) into the 500ml of distilled water
- Pour the silver nitrate solution into a brown glass bottle and seal tightly
- Label the bottle "A" Silver Nitrate
- Thoroughly clean the 500ml container and rinse with distilled water
Measuring and Mixing Stock Solution "B"
- Fill the 500ml container with 500ml of distilled water
- Mix the sodium thiosulfate crystals (larger clear bag with white or clear crystals) with the 500ml of distilled water
- Pour the sodium thiosulfate solution into a brown glass bottle and seal it tightly
- Label the bottle "B" Sodium Thiosulfate
- Thoroughly clean the 500ml container and rinse with distilled water
Keep Both "A" and "B" Solutions Cool and Dark!
Mixing and Diluting STS
The next step is to mix the two stock solutions together properly, creating the actual Silver Thiosulfate Solution (STS).
Before using the STS, it must be diluted to a weak solution for spraying!
- Measure 50ml of stock solution "B" with the 60cc syringe and gently squirt it in the 500ml glass measure
- Thoroughly rinse the syringe with distilled water, or change to a new syringe
- Measure 50ml of stock solution "A" with the 60cc syringe
- While whisking solution "B" in the glass measure, slowly squirt solution "A" into the glass measure in less than 30 seconds
- Pour the mixed solution into the 32oz brown glass bottle with black sprayer top
- Add 900ml of distilled water to fill the sprayer the rest of the way, leaving room for a little bit of surfactant
- Add included surfactant - one drop per 500ml.
- Test spray on a leaf to see if solution still beads up and rolls off
- Add additional surfactant and shake well, until the solution spreads across the leaf instead of beading up
- Thoroughly rinse all tools using more rinse water than usual
You now have a sprayer bottle with a 1:9 dilution of STS and water. You want to do your best to protect it from light and heat.
The Breeder Kit is large enough to reverse many plants and is the best option if you are doing more than 2 small sized plants.