How can I sterilise cork bark slabs
 

I have received today some pieces of cork bark and they look to have been used before , they have dead roots on and one has a dead bug on it. I was wondering how I could sterilise them before mounting my orchids onto them. I know for fish tank wood you can put it in the oven for an hour and it will sterilise it but I am not sure I can do this for cork bark, any suggestions much appreciated I dont want to find something nasty on my plants through lack of preparation. Thank you in advance

I cam across this just the other day when I was going through the book "Understanding Orchids" by William Cullina. He recommends boiling used cork slabs for 30 minutes to sterilize them.

Thanks for the important info, Camille.

Marilyn

Thank you Camille, sounds like a good idea. I will get to sorting them out.

I wouldn't think putting them in an oven for an hour at 300 degrees would be too detrimental, personally.

What we ended up doing was microwaving them on half power for 4 and a half minutes ( outside as hubby didnt want the house to smell :roll:) then soaking them in warm water for 20 minutes and then I went ahead and mounted my little guys the trouble was I have M.E and my hands dont always do what they are asked so hubby to the rescue and between us we managed to get them firmly secured onto the cork bark. below is a picture of my first attempt any advice on anything obviously wrong is very welcome. I will not be buying much from this place again as I thought the bark was unused and obviously wasnt when it arrived and I was worried about insects being in the bark hence this process. thank you so much all for your help I really appreciate it and if hubby isnt home and I have to do it again i shall boil it :evil: