Question
QUESTION: Hi Wayne King,

What are the best ways to sterilize the scissor when
repotting?

If I buy the sterilized one, is there still need to
sterilize after first time use?

Do I need to sterilize each & every time using it or just
one time is enough?

Thanks in advance,
Nwe Lay

ANSWER: The best way to sterilize cutting instruments to avoid transmitting viruses is heat treatment.  A propane torch can be used for this purpose.  You need only pass the cutting tool through the flame.  This only need be done if you are using the same cutting tool on different plants. It should be used each time you make a cut.  Other options are chemical in nature such as using a saturated solution of sodium triphosphate or a 10 percent bleach solution.  The commercial growers I know use the heat treatment.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi Wayne King,

I'm getting confused. If I sterilize one time , it can be
used forever without further sterilization? Or just one
session( I mean I use this to to cut different plants on
same day)?

Thanks

Answer
The easy way to think of this is that the purpose of sterilization is to reduce the likelihood of transmiting a virus from one plant to another.  Plant viruses often go undetected.  Assume that one of your plant has a virus.  When slicing into the tissue of that plant, virus particles are likely to adhere to your cutting instrument.  The next time you use that cutting instrumeent on another plant, some of those virus particles may be left on the plant tissues of the virus free plant thus transmitting the virus from one plant to the other.  The purpose of the sterilization is to kill the virus particles on the cutting instrument before using it on another plant. Since virus particles can live for a very long time if not killed, using the cutting instrument on another day will not eliminate the need to sterilize it prior to the next use.