Key Benefits of Soil Sterilization In Greenhouses and Nurseries

With growers facing rising operational costs, a focus on recycling of materials, and as methyl bromide and other pesticides and herbicides are being phased out, forward-thinking companies are looking for an effective alternative to sterilize soil, control disease pathogens, nematodes, insects and weeds. Why?

• Because healthy, insect-free, and disease-free plants produce higher yields of vegetables and flowers in less time, reaching the market sooner and resulting in faster sales.

Safe, Clean & Effective. Soil sterilization is an essential part of growing plants as well as reusing or selling media. And one of the most effective ground sterilization solutions to achieve this is with something surprisingly simple: steam.

• Using a commercial soil steamer is a highly effective way to prepare soil in your greenhouses, high tunnels, or open fields for planting.
  • Using steam rids the substrate of fungi, diseases, invasive species, weed seeds, and other harmful biological materials. Using steam before planting gives you larger, healthier plants with improved yields.

Multiple Media Uses. We recommend the Sioux Steam Flo, an easy-to-use portable steam generator designed for soil sterilization in both nurseries and greenhouses. It’s an excellent soil sterilizer for bench soil, potting soil, propagating sand, and ground beds inside the greenhouse for vegetables, plus ground beds outdoors for flowers and vegetables, as well as nursery stock flats, pots, and benches. The Steam Flo soil sterilizer increases crop returns by producing “clean” soil, free from pathogens.

• The Steam Flo is simple to operate. Just level the Steam Flo with provided supplies, attach a garden hose, fill the fuel tank and connect the electrical source.

High Performance. Proven Results. The Steam Flo outputs 370-845 lbs. of steam per hour, and produces quality steam in only 15-20 minutes from a cold start. After initial startup, steam is available continuously for unlimited time periods.

• The unit can sterilize a 5′ x 50′ bench in about two hours and reduces chemical sterilizer usage.
• It can be mounted on a trailer with 15″ pneumatic wheels and pin hitch. It can be towed by a tractor to the location, indoors or out.
• If you need extra heat for short periods of time, you can easily connect the Sioux Steam Flo to a steam line for perimeter heat in hotbeds or plastic houses.

Heavy Duty Construction. The Steam Flo soil sterilizer is constructed of 1/4″ plate steel with brass and black iron fittings. Safety features include steam pressure relief valve, pressure control and automatic water feeder. The Sioux Steam Flo is built to ASME code and is National Board registered.

Interested in a free demonstration or want to learn more? Contact or call us.