| Sterilizing tools is your best bet to avoid spreading viruses throughout your orchid collection. However, the question is how to do it. Several techniques are in current use, not just for orchids but all plants. These include alcohol soak, sodium hypochlorite (Chlorox) soak, trisodium phosphate (TSP) soak, and heating by various means (oven,torch, etc). Disposable razor blades used one time are a good choice to avoid the sterilization issue.
I know of no properly conducted research that supports any of these methods except extreme heating. That is why the American Hosta Society sponsored research at the U of Minnesota is so important. (Some of the methods above have been suggested by virus experts, but are not backed by any research that I know of). The AHS study includes testing various sterilization methods for effectiveness.
Alcohol soak (sometimes followed with a flaming of the residual alcohol) is the easiest on metal tools. Chlorox and TSP are extremely corrosive to metals so don't buy expensive tools if you plan to use these methods. Your tools won't survive for long.
Heating briefly with a propane torch or in an oven for 1 hour at a minimum temperature of 350 F seems the most effective method for me at this time. Heat is known to kill viruses in general. If you buy $1 scissor at a dollar store, they will last at least 25 torch cycles being heated very hot (red hot tips). Most of these cheap scissor now have plastic handles (or plastic coated handles). The torch heat is not conducted into handles enough to hurt them, but heating in an oven is not recommended due to melting. You can buy a cheap propane torch used to sweat copper fittings at any home improvement store for under $30 including your initial propane tank.
Less anyone think viruses are trivial, American sweet potatoes can only be grown from virus free seedlings produced from meristem tip cloning. North Carolina State and Clemson both produce these seedlings for farmers. New news from Florida (this week) indicates that watermelons can not complete their growth from Orlando and points south due to a virus infection. Unless a method to get virus free vines is developed, watermelons will not be able to be grown in south Florida at all. Eventually this will creep into other areas and potentially become world wide.
Do whatever you wish, but obtaining virus free plants and maintaining good sterile practices is vital if you wish to collect orchids over the long haul. It is not optional.  |