Another S/H Question

[janice]

Does anyone have advice on re-using clay aggregate.....how to sterilize. Someone told me to place in a low temp oven over night??? Are there any other ways??

[tom499]

The media is inert and pretty clean already, so a few minutes in a microwave would sterilise it.

What the microwave may smell like after I'm not sure

You could always put the stuff in boiling water? I've not heard it done, but its rock, so I figure boiling water wont damage it in anyway.

[jay]

you could also use a 10% bleach solution to soak, rinse, rinse, rinse, let it dry out and then it will be ready to use.

[janice]

Thanks, I had wondered about all 3 suggestions - micro wave, boiling or bleach. It just seemed like baking it all night would be a pain.

[Tony]

Janice

I don't remember where I read it but I believe 20 minutes in a 400 degree oven will do it also. Tony

[BillC]

Hi Janice, just two cents worth from Home Harvest supply :

Perfect for passive, wick, and subirrigation use, individual hydroculture pots or hydroponic systems. pH neutral. Reuse over and over by rinsing out roots then sterilizing in a very mild bleach solution. Rinse well before using. Orchid growers use this medium extensively.

Other methods will also work for you. You choose!


Bill

[Brooke]

Soak in a Physan solution over night and then rinse thoroughly.

Brooke

[janice]

Thanks, Bill and Brooke. all this just seems so much easier. I want to reuse some in the next few weeks for some new orchids I bought.

[Sam_Smith]

But if you do, rinse reeeeeeeealy well, has anyone ever heard of using hydrogen peroxide? I can't remember if that was what it was.. A hydroponics guy I used to buy stuff from suggested it over bleach because it turns into harmless stuff when it decomposes.

Sam.

[janice]

Sam, that is interesting..................I hope someone has an answer....

[Miki]

Hi Janice,
This is Ray Barkalow's* way of recycling LECA:
1. Let the medium dry out completely.
2. "Winnow" it in a breeze (or fan blast) to remove the dried organic matter.
3. Soak for 24 hours in water containing 1 tablepoon Physan per gallon.
4. Soak in plain water to leach the excess Physan, and it's ready to go.

I have used this method, and my orchids are doing well.

* Ray is the guru and founder of s/h- holes on the side of the container. You may want to visit his website: www.firstrays.com

[janice]

Miki, thanks because I do use a lot of S/H. I have been picking out dead organic matter..............and that can take some time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!