Pot Recycle Poll

[Diane]

I have seen lots of people talk about using new pots when repotting. I recycle pots by cleaning them with bleach solution and a Phsyan spray. But I'd like to see what the majority of us do - so take the poll!

[bench72]

ok, my bad! I until today use to re-use pots just by washin em and them leaving them out in the sun to dry... Course, I don't think that really is such a good idea these days as I don't think that it would have killed all the virus and fungus etc etc...

Would love to know what else people use to clean their pots.

Cheers
Tim

[WolfinKW]

depends on how long you leave them in the sun. I just clean mine and let dry in the sun here until I need them. Course a few days in the sun here will kill just about anything.

[Gilda]

I put some of mine in the dishwasher, the ones I don't ,get a wash and a bleach rinse.

[catfan]

Obviously I toss the ones that are cracked or broken...and even ones containing a problem plant that I am tossing out...no sense risking it. Then I soak in a big tub with TSP and bleach...scrub, rinse, then into the dishwasher.

[LJA]

Here, if the pot is still in decent shape, and it's plastic, it gets a wash and bleach soak. Clay pots never get reused. You could put them in a 400 degree oven for half an hour, but the hassle (to me) isn't worth it.

[orchidaddict789]

I scrub plastic pots with soap until I don't see any dirt, then soak them in bleach. I use the clay pots for other non-orchid plants. For plants not as important as orchid plants (like those annuals outdoors)... I just stock up some new clay pots and use them for orchids a.k.a. important plants.

[Ennui]

Like Gilda,
I just pop those plastic pots into the dishwasher,
otherwise I let them sit a day in 10% bleach solution.
I do reuse clay as a cache pot
without even rinsing,
but am not afraid to soak in bleach soln. if they're scummy looking.
I don't happen to reuse clay on plants directly,
as I mostly move out of clay and into plastic.

[WolfinKW]

Hmmm 400 degree oven... Ummm it's a hundred in the shade here so if you set something dark in the sun it'll get well over 100 plus the UV radiation....

[Gin]

I do the bleach and scrub and dishwasher for plastic . Clay, bleach soak, dishwasher and nuke in the microwave. If it is a pot that has had a problem plant in it , or seen better days then I trash it . Gin