STERILIZATION: Tools (general)

Orchid Doctor

by Robert M. [Bert] Hamilton (Compiler)

Originally published in The Orchid Doctor in 1980 and 1988

Posted by Sys Admin almost 8 years ago.

Article Blog   Article Index
Heating knives to red hot can distemper the metal; use cheap knives with non-conducting handles; single razor blades are good but can cause nasty cuts and they deteriorate quickly from rusting, etc.; best yet is a long thin blade with sheet metal handle, a Japanese industrial knife "Nikken Sofutu Kamisori" available from supply firms; sterilize them by baking. OD68-148

To kill Tobacco Mosaic Virus heat metal to boiling 212 deg.F. (100 deg.C) for at least one minute; to inactivate TMV in undiluted plant juice requires one minute heating at 96 deg.C. (204.8 deg.F.); for Cymbidium Orchid Mosaic Virus heat for 10 minutes at 65 deg.C. (117 deg.F.) C72-42

Share on Social Media:  
Log in to Add a Comment

More The Orchid Doctor Articles under the Heading Sterilization

Sterilization Comments
STERILIZATION: By Microwave Ovens Flasks with agar medium and stoppers can be qui ckly processed, but care is necessary, for details of two methods, refer to OR86-334 0
STERILIZATION: Compost With heat: heat the compost at 180 to 190 deg. F. for 30 minutes. A71-21 0
STERILIZATION: Cutting Tools Place in sodium hydroxide 20% solution for half a minute; in trisodium phosphate 15% solution for 15 to 30 minutes; in 5% clorox solution for five to 10 minutes. AU87(1)-16Use cheap cigaret te lighters to flame the blades before using. OIE86Sept-7 0
STERILIZATION: Loam or Leaf Mold With heat: dry the materials first, then heat at 250 deg.F. for 30 minutes to kill virus; or use a pressure cooker at 212 deg.F. for 10 to 15 minutes. A70-345 0
STERILIZATION: Of Pots and Media Immersion in water heated to 162 dF (72 dC) for 10 minutes stopped the loss of seedlings from disease where fungicides had little if any effect. AU81-20 0
STERILIZATION: Pots With a pressure cooker: they should be sterilized this way as a matter of course, if of clay. A73-615 0
STERILIZATION: Tools With Clorox: use one part Clorox to four parts water. A73-615; use one part Clorox to nine parts water. A79-910; Clorox kills in five to ten minutes. A79-1258; A80-110With flame: a candle flame is slow and poor. A70-1099; an alcohol lamp is good but better if the blade is first dipped in alcohol. A70-1099; hold the blade in the flame of an alcohol lamp or a Bunsen burner or a blow torch and heat the metal short of white heat. A73-334; flame the blade in a propane burner until nearly red. A75-437With Physan 20: it is relatively slow and heat treatment is more reliable. A76-115; use it at 2 ttpg; it is not highly toxic to humans. A79-272; use at 2 ttpg. for five to 15 minutes. A79-272; OD76-122With sodium hydroxide (NaOH) use a 2% solution for two or three minutes. A70-427; caustic soda; use a 2% solution. A73-615; use a 2% solution. A79-910; a 2% solution kills virus in half a minute to two minutes; it is the fastest. A79-1258; A80-110With trisodium phosphate: use a 15% solution in w... 0
STERILIZATION: Tools -- with Chemicals A mix of formaldehyde and sodium hydroxide was once used but now just a 2% solution of the latter is used and is as good; it has a higher pH of 14 than the formaldehyde; the higher the pH the quicker the denaturization of virus. A69-902 0

New Topics

  1. James W McCully asked question How to read archived articles ? in category General Discussion
  2. David George asked question recently purchased orchid - what to expect in category General Discussion
  3. Danielle Carbonneau asked question phalaenopsis, dendrochum and Odontoglossum in category Phalaenopsis
  4. Nicholas Filannino asked question Phalaenopsis William Kistler? in category General Discussion
  5. Mark Farran asked question How to open and read articles listed in category General Discussion
Ask a Question

Start a Topic

New Comments

  1. Louis Wilson commented on member plant E. alata f. alba by Louis Wilson
  2. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Phal. amabilis var. formosanum by Vickie Seibert
  3. Julie Ellner commented on member plant Rlc. Green Dragoon 'Mendenhall' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  4. Danielle Carbonneau commented on member plant Ons. Catatante 'Los Roble' by Henry Shaw
  5. Barry J Silver commented on orchid Lyon. SunCoast Pink Passion
  6. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Phalaenopsis William Kistler?" by Nicholas Filannino
  7. Carol Holdren commented on orchid Colm. Eric Gabriel Heines
  8. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Cattleya little susie" by Juliann Eckhard
  9. Carol Holdren commented on member plant Bc. Morning Glory by Chris Siolo
  10. R .Benson commented on member plant Kir. New Hybrid (Fred Clarke) SVO9831 by R .Benson
  11. Carol Holdren commented on topic "Blooming Stenglottis Venus “jamboree “" by John Urey
  12. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Lc. Canhamiana var. coerulea 'Cobalt' by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  13. Jeanne Uzar Hudson commented on member plant Sns. gemmata by Jeanne Uzar Hudson
  14. Stefan Neher commented on topic "Orchid roots .com site?" by Mary Lane
  15. Kevin Barry commented on member plant Bul. Tammie Sue Pernas by Tony Pernas
  16. Linda Hartman commented on member plant Ctt. Final Blue by Linda Hartman
  17. Kevin Bergeson commented on member plant Paph. rothschildianum by Kevin Bergeson
  18. Carol Holdren commented on topic "recently purchased orchid shows unstoppable roots " by David George
  19. Michael Makio commented on orchid V. Beatrice Makio
  20. Carol Holdren commented on topic "shorter stem with less vigorous blooms" by katherine mott