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Commission member describes 'slime flux' incident and urges caution: 'don't do anything'
Summary
A commission member described a slime‑flux event that produced vinegar‑like smells and bubble‑like foam on a large oak, prompting visits from the gas company and fire department; he cited Purdue guidance advising mostly nonintervention and a dilute‑bleach or water rinse if needed.
A commission member described an unusual tree condition known as "slime flux," recounting a household incident that produced a strong vinegar‑like smell and a spray sound that raised concerns about a gas leak and prompted calls to the gas company and fire department.
Tom, a committee member, told the commission he and his daughter found the backyard tree “totally soaking wet” with a bubbling foam on the bark about 7 feet up; multiple people and emergency responders checked with gas‑sniffing equipment before focusing on the tree. Tom cited guidance from Purdue and said the condition can be mistaken for a gas leak. He summarized Purdue’s advice to mostly avoid aggressive interventions and noted that common homeowner responses — drilling or cutting into the tree — often make the problem worse.
Tom described the practical guidance he shared with his neighbors: “you really shouldn't do anything about it. You really can't do anything about it except spray it with water or spray it with a very low dilution of bleach and water, like, 10 to 1.” He emphasized that although the smell and sounds can alarm residents, the condition is typically a biological tree response rather than a utility leak.
Commission members asked about species and management. Tom said the incident involved an oak he estimated at about 50–70 years old; he and colleagues noted that slime flux can appear on several species and that smaller affected trees in woodlots could be removed selectively to reduce local seed/spore pressure, but that large, otherwise healthy trees often heal without intervention.
The commission agreed to begin a monthly "educational corner" and suggested Tom prepare a short synopsis and share a Purdue handout for distribution to residents and on the commission’s outreach materials.
Tom’s account served as a reminder to residents and first responders to verify the source of unusual smells before assuming a utility leak and to consult extension or university guidance on tree conditions.
