Whether you have clay, ceramic, plastic or resin, you will need to clean your planters and pots for new plantings for your next growing season.
Garden pots will need a thorough cleaning either at the end of the growing season or before the new one starts. There can be microscopic fungus, disease, eggs and minerals left behind that can negatively affect your new plants. By taking the time to clean and disinfect your pots, you will be giving your plants the best opportunity to thrive. Besides, you have probably invested a lot in your planters and pots and if you take care of them, they will last you for years!
Best Practices for Cleaning Your Planters and Pots for Reuse
Reusing planters and pots for gardening is best done in the following ways:
Cleaning and Disinfecting
Cleaning Your Planters and Pots
Before reuse, clean the planters thoroughly to remove any residue from previous plants or soil. Then wash them out to remove any dirt from previous use. Scour clay pots with a stiff brush to remove algae, mildew and other deposits. Scrub off white crust as well as you can.
Cleaning Fabric Grow Bags
Fabric grow bags have become popular in recent years. And just as with clay or plastic, these bags need to be cleaned. The first thing, of course, is to remove the plants and soil. If the plants were not diseased, add them and their soil to your compost pile. Toss the bags into the washer or soak them in a bucket with a detergent solution. Rinse the fabric pots thoroughly and let them air dry. Do not put them in the dryer!
Disinfecting Your Planters and Pots
Soak pots in a solution of 10 parts water to 1 part bleach for ten minutes to one hour. Substitute vinegarfor the bleach by soaking the pots for a few hours longer. The final soak and rinse should be with a dish detergent solution. Then, rinse pots thoroughly and let them dry in the sun if possible.
Repair and Enhance
Fixing Cracks or Holes in Your Planters and Pots
If there are any cracks or holes in the planters, patch them up to prevent soil and water loss. Given the material your pots are made of, you could use silicone, epoxy, or even bondo. But you may have to paint your planters and pots if your repairs are unsightly due to the size of the repair.
Adding Drainage Holes to Your Planters and Pots
If the planters do not have drainage holes, drill some to prevent water logging and root rot. However, you may not be able to drill through clay or ceramic pots without cracking or breaking them.
Repainting Your Planters and Pots
If the planters are looking worn out, you can paint them to give them a fresh look. Actually this is something we do often, especially to add a pop of color. Here is an example of a set we just completed for this spring:
Let the Gardening Begin
Filling Your Planters and Pots with New Soil
Fill the planters with fresh, high-quality potting soil to provide the best growing environment for your plants.
Planting Your Planters and Pots
Choose plants that are appropriate for the size and type of planters you have, and plant them according to their specific needs.
Seasonal Storage
Storing Your Planters and Pots
If you clean your pots at the end of the growing season, you will want to store them until the next growing season. So after they dry, stack and store them in your gardening shed or basement. This is particularly important with clay and ceramic pots. Unglazed clay is porous and can absorb moisture. Freezing and thawing in winter can cause the pots to crack. Even glazed pots can crack if left outside in freezing winter weather. These pots can be costly, so take good care of them! Bring them inside along with any other types of glass or ceramic yard art.
If stacking ceramic pots, wrap them in newspaper to cushion them and prevent chipping. You may wish to use newspaper to stack your plastic pots, especially if you have taken the time to paint them. If need be, plastic pots can be stored outside, but make sure they are covered and out of direct sunlight. Sunlight degrades plastic over time, making it brittle and causing color to fade.
Planters and Pots FAQs
Do I really need to wash old pots?
Whether the pot is plastic, clay, or some other material, debris can accumulate that may harbor disease organisms and mineral deposits will form, potentially causing problems for your plants. It is important to clean and disinfect old pots each time you use them.
Should I wash new plant pots?
Rinse pots thoroughly and soak them in a bucket of clean water until you are ready to use them. Dry clay pots can wick moisture away from the potting medium dehydrating newly potted plants.
Can you clean pots with hydrogen peroxide?
Yes. Mix 2:1 ratio of water to hydrogen peroxide. Pour the solution directly into the pot and swish it around avoiding it leaking out of the drainage holes in the bottom of your pot. Thoroughly wipe the sides of the pot—make sure you wear gloves while doing this. You can also soak your tools in the pot.
What other way can deposits be removed from ceramic pots?
Baking soda works just as well to neutralize and dissolve salt stains. Instead of making a solution for dunking the pots, just add enough water to make a baking soda paste. Rub the paste on the ceramic and then scrub it away with a sponge. As you rinse them off, your pots will look brand new.
Can I clean my plant pots in the dishwasher?
Your dishwasher is another effective tool to clean clay and terracotta pots. Be sure the pots are already free of soil and sand before putting them in your dishwasher. With the heat cycle turned on, dishwashers reach an average temperature of 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit (54-60 degrees Celsius), aiding in sterilization. Avoid the heat the cycle for plastic pots.
Enjoy Nature’s Beauty as One of the Fruits of Your Labor
Once your planters and pots are cleaned and spruced up for a pretty planting summer of gorgeous patio plants, you’ll have to kick back on the patio in your cool patio furniture with a snack and adult beverage and enjoy nature’s beauty as one of the fruits of your labor.
And remember: every day is Friday on the patio!
Please Leave a Comment: Cleaning Your Gardening Planters and Pots for Reuse
Leave a comment below and tell us if this information was of value to you or let us know what we missed and can add to this post. Do you clean your gardening pots after each season? What methods do you use that are different from those suggested here? Please include a photo so we can see how beautiful your potted plants look.
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