Bleach for seeds

[spiderorchid0609]

What is the best bleach for sterilising seeds?
I was thinking of using miltons disinfectant liquid.
Also what solution is the safest for the seeds to be disinfected in?
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[Halloamey]

The best disinfectant for seeds or seed capsules is liquid bleach [6-8% Sodium hypochloride Na(OCl)] or Calcium hypochloride CaCl(OCl) powder, without anyother additives for color, scent etc. The liquid should be diluted to 5% (5 parts bleach to 95 parts water) for sterilizing seeds, whereas for the capsules a 10% solution is good. I recommend sterilizing the green pod, so that you can skip a washing step and most importantly not subject the seeds to the agent. In my experience Mercuric chloride is even better for disinfection, but due to its toxicity it is best to use it only in laboratories which have the right disposal available.

[spiderorchid0609]

Thanks for the information. I have seeds and an unopened green pod.
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[letranthienkim]

sommeone use H2O2 to sterilise seeds ,when you use that method,you can sow seeds & h2o2 in your flasks.....

[theLab]

hello,
I use 3-5% H202 for disinfecting the seeds (tropical epiphytes), heavily shaking is important.

For terrestrials it is better to take household-bleech (0.5%).
keep them exposed to the disinfection liquid for 5-8 minutes.
Cypripedia take longer up to an hour (or even more) to be exposed in the liquid.