Sterilizing a wooden basket.

[BrassavolaStars]

Hello All,

I have an old wooden basket that I would like to be able to reuse but I am not sure how to sanitize it.

It had a sick plant in it many, many months ago.

What would be the procedure for disinfecting a wood basket if that is possible?

[Shadowmagic]

might be a bit risky re-using it but in theory anything over 70 degrees c will sterilize it. So placing it in boiling water or the oven. If you pick the oven you need to keep it long enough to warm up but not too hot that it will catch fire which can happen with wood in an oven. go for 150-200 degrees for an hour maybe but keep an eye on it.

[Ray]

Soak it in a Physan solution.

[SouthPark]

Originally Posted by BrassavolaStars

Hello All,
I have an old wooden basket that I would like to be able to reuse but I am not sure how to sanitize it.

Does the basket fit inside a big pot? Immersing into a pot of hot enough water (eg. near 100C) is another method, aside from those various other good ones.

[Diane56Victor]

Microwave? But again with regard to the earlier warning about things going up in flames.

BEWARE OF ANY METAL ON THE ITEM, microwave won't like that at all.

What I can say for sure is that microwaving potting soil smells terrible! Been there done that.....!🤢

[DirtyCoconuts]

i am a big re-user so my method with wood is wire brush the surface clean, diluted bleach and water solution for a strong scrub ( 1/100 mix approx., you should be able to smell the bleach but it shouldn't sting your nose)
then i soak the basket a few times (i only use rainwater thanks to my location but your municipal water should be fine) and then let it dry in the sun which cooks it a bit.

i should note that i have no idea about diseases as i don't have them i my plants but if your was indeed diseased, you might not want to use it again at all....what was the disease?