Mine turn a slight blue hue, yes. Try adding a sticker... I just use simple horticultural oil because I want also want to do a dormant oil spray at the same time. -Glenn

If it is a pretty color you would like, I recommend a Bordeaux mix. I don't think it is any more effective just more noticeable. I prefer adding the oil as Glenn has suggested. Al

Ramble, I can see where your concern comes in. Lot's of folks on the forum mention copper turns their trees blue. Since your trees aren't very blue, you're wondering if your dosage is correct?

Some copper formulations turn the trees more blue than others. I've found KOCIDE 3000 doesn't turn the trees very blue. That's because it utilizes much less active ingredient, w/ the same level of control. I don't know how Dupont achieved this because it is supposedly more effective than other copper pesticides which have the exact same active ingredient (copper hydroxide).

However, if you look closely, you should see a light hue of blue w/ KOCIDE 3000, but it's not obvious.

You might also notice lots of blue specks on the wood if the Kocide wasn't fully dissolved; solution good, specks not good. Make sure the Kocide is completely in solution before spraying. My tap water is harder than the hobbs of hell and will not allow Kocide 2000 to fully dissolve, being too lazy to buffer the pH, I've been using D.I water in the mix tank, works great but sure ain't cheap. The colder the water, the slower the Kocide will go into solution I suspect.

Do you add Hydrated Lime to your "Kocide 3000" mix when intending to use it for fungicide use?

Kokos,

The purpose of adding lime is basically two-fold. One, the lime is a "sticker" helping the copper stay on the tree. This is the same lime people used in the old days to make whitewash to paint on their picket fences. A mix of lime and chalk As you can imagine such a cheap "paint" didn't stay on very good, but it was better than nothing. Nowadays, there are other stickers just as good as lime.

The other purpose of lime is to reduce the acidity of copper sulfate so that it's not as toxic to foliage.

I've no idea how lime would react with KOCIDE (copper hydroxide) which is different from the copper in Bordeaux (copper sulfate). Who knows, lime may precipitate the copper out of copper hydroxide. Neither do I know if adding lime to KOCIDE would make it less phytotoxic, but I doubt there would be any advantage in adding lime to KOCIDE, otherwise Dupont would have probably already done it.

Ramble: for what it is worth, 16 cups/gal, 3 tsp/TBSP.

16 cups/8 = 2 cups
6 tsp/8 = 3/4 tsp

So, if you want 2 TBSP/gal, use the rate 3/4 tsp/2 cups.

OK Olpea, now you can give me a hard time :)

I just ordered some off Johnny's Seed's. Up here in Canada it is $185.00 plus 13% tax. I got it for $125.00. Dollar is the same now anyway. I'll just pick it up when I go over to the states to do my groceries.

Anyone know if I can use Kocide 3000 while temps are in low 30 degrees (farenheit)?
I will wait till temps are above freezing for a day, just enough for it to dry. Good idea?

I notice when I add a heaping amount to any tank solution I have a more blue appearance that does not rinse off the trees so easily.

I mix 1 TBSP of "Copper" to 1 Litre of Water