Cheaper alternative to Indian almond leaves?
- Thread starter wtusa17
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wtusa17
Fish Addict
If I pick them from the tree they would die, no?
Salty&Onion
Fish Aficionado
It'll take a long time tho
wtusa17
Fish Addict
True. I have 8 more Indian almond leaves. If I pick them now what should I do with them to let them dry out?
You must collect dead dry leaves, having fallen on the ground after dying on the tree. This is best done in the Autumn; deciduous trees that go into a winter hibernation in temperate zones shut down their sap flow to leaves in the autumn, the leaves die and become brown and fall to the ground. There will be no sap in these dead leaves. Provided the area is free of toxins (pesticides, fertilizers, oil, etc) you can collect them. Do not boil them, that removes all the benefits. Do not collect any with bird droppings, these can introduce disease. Some people rinse them off, then lay them out to dry, I usually just lay them out after collecting them from my rear garden because I know there are no toxins there. I put them in a plastic bag and use as I need them.
One reason I say not to boil them is with dried leaves as they decompose they produce a lot of infusoria, and this is the first food of all fish fry. So if you have fry, they will feed off this and develop faster than without dried leaves.
Most hardwood trees should be safe; oak, maple, beech are frequently named. Avoid any evergreen tree/bush leaves, and avoid all conifers (thinking of wood here, they have needles not leaves as such).
One reason I say not to boil them is with dried leaves as they decompose they produce a lot of infusoria, and this is the first food of all fish fry. So if you have fry, they will feed off this and develop faster than without dried leaves.
Most hardwood trees should be safe; oak, maple, beech are frequently named. Avoid any evergreen tree/bush leaves, and avoid all conifers (thinking of wood here, they have needles not leaves as such).
wtusa17
Fish Addict
Ok thanks. There should be plenty of dead leaves on the ground right now. How can I make sure they don’t have any bad things on them?
I would rinse them off under the tap. Avoid any with bird droppings, or anything you may not recognize.
wtusa17
Fish Addict
Ok. Thanks for the help. So just wet them and let them dry out?
wtusa17
Fish Addict
Would something like this work?
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I think you could pick them live. Just wait until they get brown and crispy before you use them.
Salty&Onion
Fish Aficionado
And privet bushes
Salty&Onion
Fish Aficionado
That looks like a privet bush to me. It is toxic so I would not use it.
wtusa17
Fish Addict
It’s from an oak tree
Salty&Onion
Fish Aficionado
It is not
wtusa17
Fish Addict
I’m standing right under an oak tree and there are no other trees near me
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