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I didn't anticipate that the concentration of bleach used for
decontamination would be of such concern. The effectiveness
of chlorine as a viricide was evaluated experimentally at very low
concentrations, presumably to determine minimal conditions for decontaminating
water for human consumption. The concentrations we use for decontaminating
tools and pots are so much greater that they should be
effective almost instantaneously. The only
reason for diluting it for tool dips is to lessen the ability of splashed
droplets to cause cuts to smart and clothing to bleach. The difference in
expense of filling a jar with concentrated or dilute bleach [1:5 Chlorox or 1:10
pool chlorine] is not as significant as it would be for filling an 18
gallon plastic tub for pots.
I didn't realize that the pointless
directive to hose out pots before adding them to a bleach bath came from an old
Orchid Bulletin. Another myth. I do remove the bulk of old media
before bathing in order to limit the ability of such debris to consume chlorine,
but it is not necessary to remove residual dirt, clinging roots or
algae/moss. The chlorine oxidizes and removes all of these over
night, as long as there is sufficient residual chlorine, hence labor is
minimal. How does one know that there is sufficient residual
chlorine? By the fact that the pots are clean to the eye after
treatment. Bert Pressman
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