Since I started this thread, I thought I would sum up progress. As far as I am concered the matter has been fully addressed. Thanks Leo Although late I have been busy this month. I would like to point out some things. Plastic pots are cheap. Is it really worth the time to clean them? Let us say we took a day to clean 100 ea of 2 1/4, 4, 5, and 6 in pots. The cost of these pots would be $7.69, 10.95, 12.89, and 20.95. (direct catalog prices) or a total of $52.48. If I assume the cost of shipping of the pots and the cost of chemicals cancel each other out I am being paid $6.56 per hour for hard work with hazardous chemicals. Is it worth it? Can I actually clean 400 dirty pots in that time period? What happens if 0.2% is contaminated and kills the next orchid? That can cost more than all the pots. So in my opinion plastic pots 6 inches and smaller is a no win. Use them for annuals or send them out for recycling. 8" and above may be worth it but I still do not believe it is worth my specimen plant unless I am putting the same plant back into it. For clay I have always used hydrochloric acid (muratic acid, followed by fresh water rinse and a couple days in the sun. Check the archives of this digest for that discussion. Wayne Roberts Flower Supply _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
