seeds disinfection

[oriky]

Hi, any advice how disinfecte the seeds for the next sowing season/before sowing?

in my last sowing almost 50% of the germination tray had infection...

[Aiko]

Are you sure it is the seeds and not the compost?

[RAYWOODBRIDGE]

Did you sterilize the compost before sowing and did you use a fungicide after germination, otherwise you are only going to get problems.

[Kees]

I microwave the soil and treat the seeds with iodine tincture for few minutes.

[Terry S.]

To answer the original question, sodium hypochlorite solution of about 1% concentration is normally used for seed disinfection. This can be roughly achieved by diluting 1 part domestic bleach with 4 parts water. The seeds are treated for a few minutes and then washed with clean water before sowing. There is plenty of on-line info about this.

Having said that, I have never had any problems with infection on the seeds. Moreover, I have never used fungicides on seed pots. Infection is most likely to occur with seeds that were in a fleshy or gel-like medium in the seed pod and of course I mainly sow mesembs and haworthias.

[oriky]

yes, the soil was autoclave, and also microwaved..
one supplier have the problem with the seeds...