Strategies for Cleaning Plastic Flowerpots
Reusing plastic containers is an economical way to plant a container garden, however the minerals and debris left from preceding planting puts your new seedlings in danger. Disinfecting the containers assists eliminate. A few cleaning techniques give your plants a healthy beginning and give your previous baskets a fresh look.
Clean Away Dirt
If the plastic kettle still contains visible dirt, take time to begin with to wash it out. Dump any leftover dirt in the pot. Spray the inside and outside of the container with a garden hose down. To get a pot with lots of stuck-on dirt, a combination of dish soap and warm water helps scrub away the remaining dirt. A pad may also help remove difficult dirt .
Soak to Disinfect
A disinfecting beverage helps kill any disease organisms left from the plastic container. A diluted bleach mix functions for disinfecting flowerpots. Mix 1 part bleach with 9 parts water in a container large enough to submerge the plastic flower pot. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach recommends soaking the container 10 or more minutes from the bleach solution. If the plastic kettle does not stay submerged, then use a clean rock or other heavy object to maintain it below the bleach-water blend.
Rinse It Away
The bleach mix disinfects the strands, but you want to wash the pot thoroughly before planting. By rinsing with water, the sodium hypochlorite is removed . Plastic containers do not absorb the bleach such as clay pots, which means you can simply wash the pot rather than soaking it again. Spray the pot with a hose to wash the inside and outside.
Scrape Away Remnants
Mineral deposits frequently form as white clumps or white stains. If your strands still have residue on them after the cleaning and disinfecting procedure, you might have to bleach or scrape them away. It’s possible to use a scouring pad on plastic pots, and use a dull knife to remove debris. Scrape carefully to prevent gouging the plastic kettle. Clean and scrape some remnants on the top edge of the container as well. If the stems of the plants signature a rim covered in leftover salts, the stems can dry out.