On the contrary, I think everyone *can* afford a few sets of cutting tools.
If you buy orchids (no matter where and for what price), you can buy an
extra clipper. You don't need to spend a fortune on tools. HD has adequate
clippers for around $5.00. The very best? No. Do they get the job done? Most
emphatically yes.

As far as insects and other beasts, we're in S. Florida and grow roughly 250
plants outside under screen year round. We are no strangers to bugs and
frogs. We also have little lizards all over the place. Most bugs are
harmless. The lizards and little froggies eat bugs. We all need to adapt to
our own environmental conditions.

Look, what we've been discussing here is pretty standard, basic orchid care.
Avoiding contamination is one of the first things growers talk about when
teaching newbies tricks of the trade. But nobody can force you not to dunk,
or reuse tools, etc. If you're determined to continue the bucket stuff,
then you will, and I hope all goes well.

Diana

"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
I know that contamination is hard to prevent. That doesn't mean I won't
try my best to keep disease from spreading. I do, in fact, wear latex
gloves when potting, and I change them frequently.

I don't wear gloves but do wash my hands with an antibacterial soap
between plants when repotting. Old potting media is composted for the
vegetable garden.


If I don't change a pair I'll
wash my hands with the gloves on, in a bleach or TSP solution. They are
much less costly than losing a favorite plant or worse, several. We keep
a bunch of sets of cutting tools so each can sit and sterilize for a
while before being used again.

Excellent, but not everyone an afford a bunch of sets of cutting tools.

I've seen how fast disease can move through an orchid collection even
when precautions are taken. I'm not about to add to the danger. But,
that's me. To each his own.

You still have insects to contend with and in some rural places such as
where I live, frogs going through the plants.


Diana
"Manelli Family" wrote in message
...

"Diana Kulaga" wrote in message
. ..
The problem I have with the bucket method is that you can transfer
pathogens from one plant to the next. If at all possible, flush with a
hose, faucet or wand.

My thoughts are disease will travel in any case. On our hands, on our
clothes and shoes, insects can pass viral and bacterial disease from
plant to plant. We can move our plants around and unknowingly put a
clean pot where a diseased plant sat the day before. To prevent
contamination we would need to wear latex gloves and sterilize them
between plants. Each plant would have a spot and never be moved from it.
We would then still have bugs and insects to contend with. I've already
found frogs on my plants when spending the summer outdoors. Cross
contamination is very difficult to prevent.

I once worked in a hospital and known about contamination.