Realwomen.co.nz

I thought it would be timely to remind those who have gardens and pot plants to please be careful when handling potting mix. Not many ppl realise how dangerous it is if it is inhaled, and that they should always wear masks and gloves . Warnings are on the bags, but when you talk around to ppl I find that not many of them have have ever stopped to read them , or even noticed them. There should be more publicity given to this danger .
I became desperately ill with it myself about 6 years ago, so I thought I would put this up for the gardeners among us. Be careful. I have just learned that there are several ppl in hospital with it right now. This is the season for it.

Mime thank you. I had bought some potting mix at the weekend and noticed how bad the smell was and must admit I forgot all about the warnings. So yes a timely reminder to us all.

I avoid bought potting mix & try to never handle compost without giving it a good watering first.
It is a very good reminder.

We all dash to get things done & forget the basics, then worry for days.

I thought by the time I got to this age I would have life all down pat. Yeah right!

Never a day goes by that I don't spend time chiding myself for such obvious needless stupidity.

Yes, a very timely warning but not quite in time for me. I've been feeling like the dregs for the last week and today have been diagnosed with Legionairre's disease. Lucky to avoid hospital but I generally keep good health and am strong so that has saved me. Bad cough, lung pains, sweating rivers several times each night, shivers and shakes, almost complete loss of appetite just slowly coming back a bit now, weakness and extreme tiredness I'll be investing in a mask for the future. And all this joy from a $2 bad of potting mix..

Oh Faye I am so very sorry to hear that you are ill with such a nasty disease.
Please take very good care of yourself.
What a rotten time for it to happen---not that you would want it anytime.

Dear Faye that is dreadful. I read and knew of this possibility on the packs of soli previously and always felt a little concerned but wore gloves, but not a face mask and used it outside. It seems no matter how well one is garbed, without a mask it can get to you and I am so sorry to hear you have been and still are so ill with this disease. I hope it does not carry on for too much longer or have any after effects .
Thinking of you . I am

hugs too

Oh Faye, I'm sorry you have caught this disease.

Takes all the fun out of doing plants when this is likely to happen!

I'll be specially careful myself from now on.

Do hope you come right for Christmas.

Hugs,
Lucky.

It sounds as though there has certainly been a real run of this dreadful disease this spring/summer - and particularly in Christchurch.
I heard some numbers including a death, quoted on the national news this morning. It has been particularly bad in Christchurch evidently ( the Garden City of NZ anyway) and so the Canterbury Health Board are concerned enough about it, to be suggesting that the manufacturers of potting mixes and compost include with each bag sold, a safety mask to be worn by the user. What do you think about that ? I would think that more publicity in the way of notices at the points of sale, and in advertisements when they advertise specials would be a big help too. Their should be huge signs in garden centres about it. I know that It is already printed on the outside of the bags but in quite small print- who actually stops to read that ? Maybe they should make that bigger and more noticeable too or include a seperate sheet inside the top of the bag, with all that information written on it .
Faye, I am so glad that you seem to be recovering well, from your tangle with this awful illness. It could have killed you.
In the interests of the safety of all our fellow gardeners, I thought I would raise this subject up again. Mask up, and don't take risks while you are handly this potentially lethal stuff !