Cleaning orchid soaking pots - Orchid Board

sapphirerose · #1 10-11-2016, 08:31 PM

When I water my orchids, I drop the clear plastic containers into larger containers ,so that they can soak. Then, I plop the soaking containers into the dishwasher and put them in a cabinet when clean until next time. Should I be bleaching them after each watering?

PaphMadMan · #2 10-11-2016, 09:07 PM

Assuming you are using a typical dishwasher detergent product and dishwasher settings, the containers are very effectively sanitized. Bleach could do no better. It would be a long labor intensive effort to even come close.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by jkofferdahl

I'm kind of paranoid and don't like to water two plants from the same water. Fortunately, my plants grow in a window right above the kitchen sink and so watering is very convenient, admittedly. When multiple pots are soaked in the same water then any possible issue with one plant potentially can spread to them all.

I'm assuming each soaking container and the water in it is used for one plant, and then the container goes in the dishwasher. If multiple plants soak in the same water/container there is no point to an elaborate cleaning process afterward.

sapphirerose · #3 10-11-2016, 09:17 PM

One plant soaks in one container, and then that container goes into the dishwasher and into my cabinet once dried. I don't soak multiple plants in the same container in the same session. However, the soaking containers are similar, so I can't guarantee that the container I used for plant A won't be used for plant B the next week.

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I only have 10 orchids right now, and only a small number need water any one day. None seem to dry at the same rate. Who knows what I would do with 100?

PaphMadMan · #4 10-12-2016, 06:54 AM

The method is very effective if you have a small enough collection for it to be practical. The best watering method is whatever allows you to consistently give the plants what they need. And what you are doing is perfectly safe and appropriate in terms of avoiding cross-plant infection or infestation.

sapphirerose · #5 10-12-2016, 07:03 AM

Thanks all! I've been reading across the forum, and since I tend to be a bit Type A, I was thinking that I was going to have to label my soaking containers with plant id or water one at a time in the sink and bleach the sink between plants because I can't be setting a plant down into the dampness in the sink from a previous plant....

You get the picture.

At least this way, I can give them their soaking while I make my coffee and get them tidied back up in time for me to leave for work on time.

Thanks again!

Orchid Whisperer · #6 10-12-2016, 07:38 AM

I agree, the dishwasher treatment is an effective way of cleaning your soaking containers.

For plastic orchid pots, I hand scrub the pots to remove traces of orchid roots and other organic matter. When they are as clean as I can get them by hand, they get the dishwasher treatment.

Terracotta pots receive a more complex treatment. Hand scrubbing, bleach water soak, soak in clean water, air dry, then I place the pots in the oven and very slowly raise the temperature to 500 F, leave it there a half hour, and leave the pots to slowly cool in the oven.

bil · #7 10-12-2016, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sapphirerose

I only have 10 orchids right now, and only a small number need water any one day. None seem to dry at the same rate. Who knows what I would do with 100?

I use a spray to water mine. It's a slower process, but allows the medium and the roots to take up the water. They stand in a saucer, supported on an upturned saucer of a smaller diameter which allows run off, witout making a puddle on the shelf or allowing the plant to sit in water.

Ray · #8 10-12-2016, 08:54 AM

Why to you clean the pots each time you water? I use a clean (often new) pot when I pot up a plant, and it won't be cleaned until I have repotted the plant into something bigger.

Leafmite · #9 10-12-2016, 04:26 PM

She is just being very careful and that is a good thing. I admit, I am not very careful when it comes to watering the orchids. Watering is the least of my worries. My other plant interests probably pose the largest threat to my collection. I grow passionfruit (you cannot seem to find the fruit for sale in Ohio) and figs (also rather rare here) and both have a reputation for mosaic virus (i.e. FMV). Now I have just read that many dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees use virused stock to keep them small. No idea if that is true but my yard does contain two semi-dwarf apple trees.

I do isolate new orchids and choose vendors carefully to try to minimize the chance of virus, I add calcium to try to help the orchids and other plants withstand fungus and bacterial issues, I buy predator bugs to help with issues for mites, aphids, mealy bugs and scale. I even have Malathion, Sevin and Bayer 3-in-one on hand. Still, the only way I think for me to ensure that my orchids are not infected would be to get rid of the other plants and...that is just not going to happen.

So, after learning all of this, I think I am going to enjoy the orchids I have, not buy any new ones, keep a few favorites in a special place, do what I can to prevent the spread of virus and not worry too much. If they show signs of virus, off to the bin. What else can I do?

rbarata · #10 10-12-2016, 04:44 PM

Quote:

grow passionfruit (you cannot seem to find the fruit for sale in Ohio) and figs (also rather rare here) and both have a reputation for mosaic virus (i.e. FMV).

I grow passion fruit plants in between my cymbs. Their leaves are so ugly (well, most of them) that if there's some virus I really can't tell.