I hit upon this effective remedy by sheer chance. My pot of Rodent Tuber (Typhonium flagelliforme Lodd.) became distressed with slimy rotting tubers. It was apparent to me that the plant was dying and it seemed that I was going to lose my pot of precious Rodent Tubers. Fellow gardeners will know the hollow feeling in the gut.
Apparently the bulbs’ soft rots are caused by several types of bacteria, but most commonly by species of gram-negative bacteria, Erwinia, Pectobacterium, and Pseudomonas. The soft rot decay is generally odorless but becomes foul and slimy when other secondary bacteria invade the infected tissues.
Meanwhile, I have a large stock of homemade “garbage enzyme”. This garbage enzyme has tons of uses, ranging from natural floor cleaner, kitchen cleaner, dishwashing liquid, air purifier, insect repellent, pesticide, and fertilizer.
I wondered what would happen if I were to soak the diseased bulbs in a small container of garbage enzyme and I did just that. I soaked (immersed) the bulbs in the garbage enzyme for about 30 minutes and then re-potted the bulbs in a pot of fresh soil. The bulbs didn’t die and after a few days, there were new fresh leaves! It worked! So if you have a diseased rotting slimy bulb or tuber…immerse in garbage enzyme for about 30 minutes or more before re-potting in fresh soil. You can save the bulb or tuber.