How to disinfect glazed orchid pots

[kindrag23]

I have a pretty glazed orchid pot, I currently have it sitting in my sink. I have it in my sink with bleach water solution. Once I pull it out of there will it be okay to go ahead and re use? The orchid I had in there previously started to wilt and die. It was a vanilla Plantifora, its middle started shriveling up and I tried to make sure it survived it did not......

[Ferns Daddy]

I would rinse it well in plain cold water well before using it, I put my glazed pots in the dish washer then let the soak over night in cold water just to make sure all the soap it off it.

[kindrag23]

Okay well I scrubbed it very well after bleaching and ring w cold water. My monn. Millennium magic needed a heavy pot to stay upright in.

[Island Girl]

If you let it sit out in the sun for a day or two that will get rid of any residual bleach that's left on it... Also, u can get dechlorinators that are sold in pet stores for fish aquariums... That's what I use, I just add it to my rinsing water, & let it soak in that, for 15-20 min, then re-rinse in more plain water with the de-chlorinator added again (to be on the safe side... Prob overkill tho). The brand I use is called "Prime" it's in a red-labeled bottle (white bottle, red label). Can take a pic if you'd like, tom after work & after a thing I gotta do for my dad.... But, it's a fairly common brand, it's every fish hobbyist's top choice (a little goes a long way, too... Like two drops per gallon, although, for this, I use a capful per gal.... Like I said, overkill )

[kindrag23]

I will probably use this method for my terracotta pots that I will be re using. Thanks for the great info!

[JackiBlu]

I've been away for a while --

For years I have put my clay pots - (even glazed) in my oven at 200/225 degrees for an hour, after I've scrubbed & let them air dry. I seem to get good results. Has anyone else done this or had problems if they have done this?

-- Many years ago, I read an article about potting soil (dirt) to put it in the oven same degrees to kill the whatever is in it. That I never did but know of others who have.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I read on another forum to use trisodium phosphate to kill any viruses/bacteria in cutting tools and/or pots.

For a glazed pot, I think bleach is probably sufficient.

I am going to try the TSP next week to sanitize everything, but I would never chance putting unglazed or glazed pots in an oven. That's just me though.

[RandomGemini]

Agree, Prime is the best, safest and most effective dechlorinator on the market.

[ALToronto]

Some glazing contains heavy metals that orchids do not tolerate. No amount of washing and disinfecting will eliminate them. Unfortunately, there is no way to find out whether the glaze is toxic or not. You may have to use a plastic inner pot inside the pretty glazed one.

If you still want to use just the glazed pot, you can try soaking it in an acidic solution, such as citric acid dissolved in water (2 tbsp in a litre of water). It may leach out the toxins, but no guarantees.

[Island Girl]

Here's a guide to disinfecting clay pots... Don't know why I didn't post it before sorry 'bout that y'all!

http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/PD...ySueBottom.pdf