We get lots of emails from customers about challenges with dyeing and needing Botanical Colors’ President Kathy Hattori’s help. Why not share the learning so we can all benefit? From our inboxes to you, it’s simple: You Asked, Kathy Answered. Email questions@botanicalcolors with your plea for help!
YOU ASKED: I’ve prepared my Ceriops and it is currently maturing in the storage vat (soon it will be a month!) It has some mold forming on the top of the liquid. Should I keep checking and removing it during the month, or leave it and scoop it all off at the end of the 30 days? I suppose this might be a very silly question, but I’m not sure if I’m not supposed to be disturbing the vat right now, or if the mold matters. I appreciate the clarification, thanks!
KATHY ANSWERED: Thanks for checking in on your ceriops liquid. Remove and discard the mold as it forms and it’s totally okay to be mixing the ceriops liquid during the 30 day aging period. If you find that mold is a problem, try adding a few drops of oregano, clove or other herbal oil known for being antimicrobial and can help keep mold from forming.
We have been using it as a room temperature dye the way that our friends do at Threads of Life but last year we also heated it and got very good results. The one thing that we were consistent with is that we save as much of the dye liquid and return it to the storage after dyeing.
Learn more about Ceriops Dye from Threads of Life here!