Mixed Daconil Shelf Life

6 years ago

According to Garden Tech customer support, the Ready-to-Use Daconil (that comes in a sprayer) can be used for years, but if you mix the concentrated product yourself, you should use it within two days. When I asked what the difference was, she said "the water". This does not make any sense to me. She also sounded to me like she was making up answers as I was asking the questions. The label does not mention the time limit for using after mixing.

I hate to dispose of the unused mixed product for several reasons, including the risk of ground contamination. Also, I like to have a sprayer loaded with mixed daconil, so I can use it instantly if it seems necessary, but the Ready-to-Use product is way too expensive.

Does anyone know if the two-day time limit for using after mixing is real?
Has anyone successfully used the product for longer?
Any idea how to test the effectiveness of stored Daconil? (other than spraying it and seeing if the plants keep dying :-)

Thanks!

Featured Answer

daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Chlorothalonil is the active ingredient in Daconil.

"In studies conducted in water over ten weeks time, chlorothalonil, at low levels, was generally stable."

http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/profiles/extoxnet/carbaryl-dicrotophos/chlorothalonil-ext.html

The soil half-life is a few months.

So I have to assume that the stability of the concentrate when mixed in water is pretty good.

But it's true, the Garden Tech website says that Daconil should be used within 24 hours once mixed. No explanation given. I routinely keep the mixed concentrate for a week or two, and it seems to be effective.

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Comments (6)

HU-472169054
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks, daninthedirt! One week is great, since it means I can use any leftovers on the next scheduled spraying (and in between, if needed).
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daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I should add that sometimes things can be oxidized slightly when combined with water. So it's possible that the strength of the stuff is compromised by mixing with water, but I have to believe, on the basis of the Cornell report, that there is still a lot of active ingredient left.

You're absolutely right that the ready-to-use stuff is obscenely overpriced, compared with the concentrate. One would like to assume that the ready-to-use stuff is just concentrate mixed with water. I wonder what they dilute it with. Now, that being said, I see from the Garden Tech label that Daconil "Ready to use" is .087% Chlorothalonil mixed in with 99.913% "Inert ingredients".

Ah, I found it.

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/daconil-fungicide-liquid-mixing-instructions-83526.html

What they do is dilute it with propylene glycol. So I'm guessing that if you want to do it right, you need to dilute it with the right kind of antifreeze!
HU-472169054 thanked daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
I like to have a sprayer loaded with mixed daconil, so I can use it instantly if it seems necessary

==>> that comment cracked me up a bit .. lol ... the instant need ... lol.. i know exactly what you mean.. been there.. done that ...

but even if you have to spend 5 mins remixing ... you can still mix new..

and keep in mind... you could also get a hand quart spray bottle.. and just mix a 1/4 batch ... get this.. most sprays are still rather effective.. is you undermix .... absolute precision in dividing say.. one tablespoon by 4 ... err on the low side ... [i always wondered why a teaspoon wasnt 1/4 of a tablespoon ... of course.. metric might make it all easier ...] ...

but my point is.. mix light.. never favor the idea that twice as much is twice as good ... thats just called profit for the seller ...

thx for the chuckle ....

ken
daninthedirt (USDA 9a, HZ9, CentTX, Sunset z30, Cfa)
6 years ago
In fact, there's the reason for the obscene price of ready-to-use Daconil. In bulk, I can get propylene glycol for about $10 a gallon. Add some concentrate, and maybe a nifty sprayer on top, and you'll be up around $5/quart. I wonder if that's why ready-to-use pesticides are always obscenely priced compared to concentrates.
HU-472169054
Original Author
6 years ago
This sure sheds some light on this mystery :-)