[Percularis]

I collected a bunch of fallen magnolia leaves from the ground around a magnolia tree today. I recalled reading something about magnolia leaves making good leaf litter. The ones I got are mostly green/yellow with some brown since they fell off the tree. I think it may be a good idea to clean them to get bugs and stuff off. What should I clean them with and how should I clean them? Will putting them in a bucket of water do any good? Also, will they sill be useful if I mash some of them into a few pieces? They're pretty big and my viv is pretty small.

Thanks in advance

 

[SamsonsFrogs]

Try to collect the dry leafs. What you can do is put the green/yellow leafs in a garabage bag and put somewhere for the leafs to dry. By the time the leafs are dy they should be brown in color. Also cleaning/baking/boiling the leafs also rids it of harmful parasites and bacteria that could harm your frogs and plants.

 

[Percularis]

Try to collect the dry leafs. What you can do is put the green/yellow leafs in a garabage bag and put somewhere for the leafs to dry. By the time the leafs are dy they should be brown in color. Also cleaning/baking/boiling the leafs also rids it of harmful parasites and bacteria that could harm your frogs and plants.

I guess boiling would come before drying, correct? I'll go boil them... lol I'm boiling leaves, that's so odd.

 

[SamsonsFrogs]

Yes, you are correct

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[tattoomc]

which is the best method to get the leaves clean? i guess what heat for the oven and how long? boiling for how long? and the drying i can figure out on my own... do i only need to do one of the heating methods? thanks

 

[SnakePaparazzi]

I don't recommend boiling them (it's an extra, unnecessary step). I simply dump them (one hefty bag at a time) into the bathtub, soak, rinse and then air-dry for a few hours, then off to the oven for at least 10 minutes (or until dry if longer is necessary) at 300°.

-Christian

 

[tnwalkers]

i used my pressure cooker 5lbs for 30 mins then set out to dry... no baking needed

 

[Eiffel70]

I don't recommend boiling them (it's an extra, unnecessary step). I simply dump them (one hefty bag at a time) into the bathtub, soak, rinse and then air-dry for a few hours, then off to the oven for at least 10 minutes (or until dry if longer is necessary) at 300°.

-Christian

Soak in what? Also, is this advise good for ANY leaf litter? I collected sea grape & oak leaves today & would like to disinfect them before putting them in the viv (which is empty anyway, lol)

 

[FrogBoyMike]

yeah i also wanted to use oak leaves as i have a few trees in my yard. also heard they could be used for tadpoles? same disinfecting process?

 

[SnakePaparazzi]

yeah i also wanted to use oak leaves as i have a few trees in my yard. also heard they could be used for tadpoles? same disinfecting process?

If collected in a pesticide and fertilizer free area, no need to wash... When you bake them they pretty much clean themselves.

 

[Eiffel70]

Good to know. That'll save me some time... next time, lol.

 

[FrogBoyMike]

good to know. thanks snake

 

[Steve88W]

I would still recommend washing them.
At the very least, when you bake them, it'll steam off the excess moisture and help to ensure a cleaner product. If you don't boil, then use a diluted bleach solution. (I prefer to boil as you can save the tannin rich water for tadpoles, etc)

Also- store the leaves in paper grocery bags. Plastic bags may cause your leaves to mold.

 

[varanoid]

I boil then bake to a nice crisp. I don't harvest yellow or green leaves at all.