Microwave as a sterilizer?

[Julie Q]

My mom loves her container gardening, she's got pots and troughs every where - on the floor, fixed to walls, hanging baskets...the works.

Over the last 2-3 years vine weevil has started to really take hold, and its destroying her garden. We tried replacing all the soil (works out expensive), fumigating the greenhouse and general 'clean it up' tactics, but its made no difference.

Now, as she's on a pension and I'm 'between jobs', we're trying to avoid the expense of replacing all the soil again, and I had a brain wave.

Could she put some soil (in a container ^^ ) in the microwave and blast it for a minute - surely that'd kill any bugs/mites/ticks/eggs that were lurking?

[Alison_Kristina]

From the RHS site:

Trap adults with sticky barriers, such as Agralan Insect Barrier Glue, placed around pots or on greenhouse staging.

Vine weevil / RHS Gardening Advice

Hope that helps a bit?

[GMB27]

babies bottles can be sterilised in this way so theoretically i guess so, but it may be reeeally difficult and long winded to make sure its all treated this way

[golden14]

Microwaving would do the job for sure - 5 mins in an 850kw and nothing will be left alive, just ensure no bits of metal/foil are in with the soil, and for gods sake do not place the soil in an aluminum container or kiss your microwave goodbye!

[airconednightmare]

aye, 5-10 mins in a decent microwave is what alot of the fern and orchid folk do to sterilise soil, but we are talking about doing this half a shovel at a time. great for small amounts, might not be so easy with tons of the stuff.

there are other options to combat vine weevil, catching the adult bettles works well, or there are pestisides you could use on plants you won't be eating.