Member discussion regarding the methods, varieties and merits of growing tomatoes.
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
June 12, 2017 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,124
|
How much bleach to use for sterilizing pruners?
I'm getting ready to prune some unruly IND. plants, and I want to sterilize the pruners (scissors, actually). How much bleach to use in say a pint of water? And is it necessary to rinse after the bleach dip (or just wipe with a rag)?
Thanks, GG |
June 12, 2017 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Greenville, South Carolina
Posts: 3,099
|
I use isopropyl alcohol. Dip my pruners in after each plant. I dont wipe it off or anything.
|
June 12, 2017 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Minneapolis MN
Posts: 25
|
Looks like 10% bleach by volume will work.
(from https://hortnews.extension.iastate.e...994/clean.html) |
June 12, 2017 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,124
|
Thanks, and the IPA does sound a little easier.
|
June 12, 2017 | #5 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: NewYork 5a
Posts: 2,303
|
I use IPAlcohol as well. A clean soaked rag in a zip-lock. I have a flat bottomed tool bag
open top style, not too big, that i keep in the barn and add to the already stocked tools per garden visit. Holds just a little bit of everything...pre-cut string trimmer line, velcro ties, markers, scissors, pruners, etc. Not many good flat surfaces for a jar but i did set a cup in a 2 gallon bucket of sand for stability this past weekend. Big pruning of the fruit trees and starting on the grapes.... Handy to keep in the shed. I buy the Costco three pack. I have a few lidded jars around for dropping in ticks and tortoise beetles, (the bugs of the moment). Slugs are making an appearance...but soapy water works for most. |
June 12, 2017 | #6 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Newfoundland, Canada
Posts: 6,793
|
I confess I've used household bleach undiluted, no rinse just dip and clip. I poured it in a tub with a tight fitting lid, just enough to dip the pruner blades. The tomatoes have not complained at all about being exposed to plain bleach on their cuts. Those cuts didn't get infected either, which encouraged me to keep doing this when it comes time to deal with mold infesty plants. Cut away a bad stem and they live on.
But I guess it's overkill I could have used 10% as well. I guess it makes the 'no need to rinse' point though. This link here is about sterilizing pruners between cuts, and they did recommend 1:10 bleach as the most effective. http://blog-yard-garden-news.extensi...ing-tools.html Last edited by bower; June 12, 2017 at 04:19 PM. Reason: add a link |
June 12, 2017 | #7 |
BANNED FOR LIFE
Join Date: May 2014
Posts: 13,333
|
I use a relish jar that is 25% alcohol - 75% water. and use a scour pad. It works well for scissors and knives.
Last edited by AlittleSalt; June 13, 2017 at 11:38 AM. Reason: typo |
June 12, 2017 | #8 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Ottawa Kansas
Posts: 35
|
I am new to gardening but I have just been using IPA as well on a wash cloth. I will soak it now and use a baggie as oakley said, I like that.
|
June 12, 2017 | #9 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10
Posts: 9,283
|
I use Lysol Wipes, they don't dry out as fast as alcohol dipped wipes. Kills 99.9%, per the label.
|
June 13, 2017 | #10 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,124
|
Good ideas/info! The IPA gave me an idea for a slight alternative. I don't have many ind. plants that need pruning, so I decided to use alcohol wipes. About 1 cent per plant using a fresh wipe for each plant. I like the Lysol wipes idea, too.
-GG |
June 13, 2017 | #11 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: North Dakota
Posts: 111
|
X2 on the Lysol wipes.
|
June 13, 2017 | #12 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Southern Connecticut
Posts: 435
|
I either use my fingers to pinch things off or my Mora knife to cut things off. No sterilizing ever and I have not had any problems. Of course I am not growing for market so if I were to lose a couple of plants it doesn't matter.
Cloz |
|
|