Here was an interesting find from this morning -- the presence of live aphids in a six-week old culture. The section of flower-stalk that had been put into media was about 3 cm long, a single strand; and the bud was then as tight as a drum. To add insult to injury, the stalk -- from plants grown outside -- was rinsed for five minutes in dionized water; given a 45 second dip in 91% isopropyl alcohol; a rinse in 2% hydrogen peroxide; a second rinse in sterile water; and was soaked for four hours in an 8% PPM (a potent biocide) solution to boot . . .