[OGD] Re: Sterilizing
In a message dated 9/7/04 6:23:55 AM, Bob Scully writes: > I respectfully take exception to the apparently dominant opinion on the > efficacy of bleach as a reliable virus sterilant for orchid pots and cutting > instruments. > Thanks. Let's hear it for the self-cleaning oven, periodic sample testing, disposable blades, and bleach for non-suspect plastic pots & labels. (If a plant in a plastic pot tests positive, I throw the whole thing away, pot & all.) Iris "If we see light at the end of the tunnel, It's the light of the oncoming train." Robert Lowell (1917-1977) ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
[OGD] Re: Sterilizing Pots
In a message dated 8/31/04 4:05:46 AM, Roberts Flower Supply writes: > I would suggest rather than firing your pot over again at 900 F that a soak > in 20% hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) will kill all your bugs but also > remove all the salt out of your clay pot. > Sorry to differ with you, and here I think I am on firmer ground than with 8 foot tubes. I used to sterilize all my pots with bleach solution. The past ten years or so I have been sterilizing the clay pots and metal stakes in the self cleaning oven, which I believe gets to 700 deg. F. Sterilizing metal in bleach solution was too corrosive. Unfortunately, high heat destroys galvanizing and stainless steel rust resistance, but the alternative is worse. I found that in a hard water area, the sodium hypochlorite in bleach combined with calcium in the water to saturate the pot with calcium chloride or something similar, which is poisonous to plants. It killed the roots wherever they touched the pot. I may not be exactly right about the chemistry, but I could see the results. Cleaning the pots in the self cleaning oven is harmless and efficient. The oven doesn't care in the least. Iris ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
[OGD] RE: Sterilizing Pots
I was only talking about pots not metal stakes. Calcium chloride is very soluble on the acid side. With the mix you used it is possible you were close to a neutral solution that could of caused it to precipitate that could give you problems. I never had a problem using the hydrochloric acid method. I have been doing it for 30 years. The rinse afterward is important and if your water is hard a double rinse may be necessary. The pots generally come out looking new. Your method will sterilize but not clean the pots. The energy cost and effect of the fumes in your house may be a different story. Wayne _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 8:47 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Sterilizing Pots In a message dated 8/31/04 4:05:46 AM, Roberts Flower Supply writes: I would suggest rather than firing your pot over again at 900 F that a soak in 20% hydrochloric acid (muriatic acid) will kill all your bugs but also remove all the salt out of your clay pot. Sorry to differ with you, and here I think I am on firmer ground than with 8 foot tubes. I used to sterilize all my pots with bleach solution. The past ten years or so I have been sterilizing the clay pots and metal stakes in the self cleaning oven, which I believe gets to 700 deg. F. Sterilizing metal in bleach solution was too corrosive. Unfortunately, high heat destroys galvanizing and stainless steel rust resistance, but the alternative is worse. I found that in a hard water area, the sodium hypochlorite in bleach combined with calcium in the water to saturate the pot with calcium chloride or something similar, which is poisonous to plants. It killed the roots wherever they touched the pot. I may not be exactly right about the chemistry, but I could see the results. Cleaning the pots in the self cleaning oven is harmless and efficient. The oven doesn't care in the least. Iris ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids
[OGD] Re: sterilizing pots
Greetings - For those with a self-cleaning oven, I think this is an excellent way to clean and sterilize pots. I usually run the cleaning cycle and extra hour or so (so the oven actually gets clean, too), and the pots come out with only a fine coating of ash. Algae, fungus, roots, etc. are all carbonized. I believe the 500F+ temperature is sufficient to kill all manner of virus, bacteria, and varmint egg. Legal Disclaimer: Warning: not to be used for plastic or wood! Regards - Nancy "Measure twice; cut once." Nancy's first rule of woodworking "When it comes down to marrying, better speak once, think twice." George Thorogood Yahoo! Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Re: Sterilizing pots
> There you go! Like Iris, I run a full load of pots, when the oven needs to be cleaned anyway (you cannot use chemicals in a self-cleaning oven!). At perhaps 5-6 times a year, I think the cost is negligible compared to scrubbing and bleaching and rinsing and dipping in fungicide, algaecide, viricide, soap, etc. And bleaching out the knees and hems of my jeans! After the oven-cleaning process, the only thing left in/on the pots and in/on the oven interior is a fine layer of white ash - I shop-vac it out. Regards - Nancy Yahoo! Mail Stay connected, organized, and protected. Take the tour: http://tour.mail.yahoo.com/mailtour.html ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Re: sterilizing pots
- Original Message - From: "nancy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2005 12:50 PM Subject: [OGD] Re: sterilizing pots > Greetings - > For those with a self-cleaning oven, I think this is > an excellent way to clean and sterilize pots. I > usually run the cleaning cycle and extra hour or so > (so the oven actually gets clean, too), and the pots > come out with only a fine coating of ash. Algae, > fungus, roots, etc. are all carbonized. I believe the > 500F+ temperature is sufficient to kill all manner of > virus, bacteria, and varmint egg. > Legal Disclaimer: Warning: not to be used for plastic > or wood! > Regards - Nancy > > > > "Measure twice; cut once." > Nancy's first rule of woodworking > "When it comes down to marrying, > better speak once, think twice." > George Thorogood > > > -- A self-cleaning oven uses tremendous amounts of electricity for a cycle. It will make a noticeable difference in your electric bill. If you don't believe me, just go outside and watch the pretty electric meter whirl like a dervish for hours whiles it's carbonizing your oven's interior. Might as well be firing pottery in it while your at it. David S. ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Re: sterilizing pots
A self-cleaning oven uses tremendous amounts of electricity for a cycle. It will make a noticeable difference in your electric bill. If you don't believe me, just go outside and watch the pretty electric meter whirl like a dervish for hours whiles it's carbonizing your oven's interior. Might as well be firing pottery in it while your at it. It's cheaper than chemicals. An oven uses about 4Kw. Let's assume you run the oven for 2 hours. Let's also assume a duty cycle of 50% (it's probably less). Electricity is $0.10/KWH or less in most of the US. That makes the cost of cleaning a load of pots 40 cents or less. Plus you don't need to dispose of the used chemical wash. Plus you don't need to rinse. Plus it is easy - you just turn the oven on. Plus my wife likes Me to clean the oven. Mike ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Re: sterilizing pots
It's cheaper than chemicals. An oven uses about 4Kw. Let's assume you run the oven for 2 hours. Let's also assume a duty cycle of 50% (it's probably less). Electricity is $0.10/KWH or less in most of the US. That makes the cost of cleaning a load of pots 40 cents or less. Plus you don't need to dispose of the used chemical wash. Plus you don't need to rinse. Plus it is easy - you just turn the oven on. Plus my wife likes Me to clean the oven. Plus, mine's gas-fired, and doesn't use electricity, except for the glowbar. And, when you're done, there's no bleach residue (caustic soda/hypochlorite/etc.) absorbed in the terracotta to be flushed out. Carl "hot stuff" Gustafson ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
Re: [OGD] Re: sterilizing pots
In the discussion of sterilizing pots some people were wondering about residual chemicals. The Chlorine should dissipate into the air by just leaving them outside for a day or two. If you want to use the pots right away you can soak them in a dilute vinegar solution. The acid should solubilize any residual chlorine and leave a residual acetic acid smell. I do this with my pots I want to clean and get back into production fast. Other wise I just rinse them and put them out on my deck for a day or two and then stack them back in the potting shed. If you are worried about getting bleach on your self, wear old cloths designated just for the cleaning process. The disposal of the bleach is easy, just neutralize it with a some vinegar, let it sit over night and dump it out. I have been doing this for years and I have found no problems with my grass where I dump the solution on my lawn. I also tried the oven once and my wife said never again. It is very handy, but I did not like moving the pots into the house and then back outside. It is easier for me to stack pots for cleaning in one area and to then move them to the outside into my cleaning tubs and then move them back into the greenhouse. Everyone has their own system, take what you can from each and apply it to your conditions. That is typically how we grow our plants and we can do the same with how we keep our plants clean and virus free. -- --Tom / | Tom HillsonAgriculture Computer Services Manager |(515) 294-1543 College of Agriculture | Iowa State University - |"The only thing I have too much of is too little time" ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
[OGD] Re: sterilizing pots (and demonizing bleaching)
Hi Bert - My intention was never to castigate those who like to bleach their pots! With a house and yard full of children and pets, a container of bleach and pots is a very bad idea. Whereas, I have a door from my kitchen (and the oven) right to the patio (where I repot). And, your pots must be in much better shape than mine are when you clean them. Soaking in bleach does not remove roots on the outside and inside, mildew, fungus, and algae. Spider webs, insect eggs and casings, cocoons, etc. That involves a lot of scrubbing and resoaking. I'm a hobbyist, and the oven method works best for me. And yes, I am in absolute charge of the oven! I doubt anyone else in this family knows where we 'keep' it. Regards - Nancy __ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ___ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) orchids@orchidguide.com http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
