reusing pellets

[Cinderella]

Just wondering if those of you who grow in s/h reuse the pellets when you repot or when an orchid dies. The pellets are probably porous and do they absorb salt from the fertilizer?

[LJA]

As a general rule, I personally wouldn't transfer anything porous from one plant to the next, especially anything that's been in contact with the roots or have had roots "etched" onto it (clay pots). It's too easy to spread contagion that way.

I don't know how expensive the stuff is you're using, but if that's an issue and the media is clay or porcelain based, soaking for several hours in clear water, rinsing, then soaking again and rinsing should leach out most of the salts or fertilizer.

After that, *bake the media* in your oven for an hour at as high a temp as you can to kill any pathogens!

Somewhat of a hassle, I know, so if the medium is inexpensive enough, I'd just use fresh....

[uncasteeb]

I generally soak mine in a bleach solution.Then rinse a few times.Leave it soaking in clean water for a few days & then rinse again.Bakiing is a good idea but generally i forget this stage.

[LJA]

Steve, your way will work too, absolutely. I just like the heat method because I'm never sure that a disinfectant will reach everywhere in porous material, and I tend to be paranoid (maybe overly so) about stuff like that....

[Cinderella]

Well, maybe I'll just use new.....my collection is not that huge. I have heard the baking is good too but smells plain awful. Worse than my cooking.

[MikeWA]

I actually just soak mine in water for a day or so and reuse them. I have not had any problems.

[TundraKev]

Why couldn't you just boil them or steam them? Little or no smell.

Kev

[Cinderella]

Hmmm. Mike I didn't know you were an s/h grower. Or maybe I forgot.

Kev, I don't know.... I'll bet they would still smell.

[TundraKev]

They might smell a bit, but not like baking would. Baking really brings out the worst in organic stuff.

[LJA]

I don't know if you'd be able to avoid the smell completely, but I'll bet that boiling would also take care of the soaking / rinsing steps, all at once. Less hassle if you're going to reuse.