Re-Using Plastic Pots

[Helgalush]

Hi,

Is it ok to reuse small plastic pots that have just been used for starting seedlings and things off in?

I read somewhere that you need to use horticultural disinfectant to prevent infection in new plants...but is that really necessary? I prefer to use as few chemicals as possible, if any, and it seems a bit like overkill...

But I dont want to waste all the pots I have either...

Thanks
Helen

[Shadylane]

You're supposed to clean them but many (including me) don't bother because basically life's too short. You could fill a bucket with some watered down bleach and dunk each one in it but if you don't like bleach or can't be bothered don't worry about it. I've not had any probs so far

[Paulottie]

Well, One of those things you learn as you go along. Its an insurance policy really...If you do a lot of growing over many years sooner or later you are going to encounter viruses, diseases and pests. You can end up loosing the lot. How serious is that to you? a commercial grower can't afford mosaic virus..In most cases you might probably start again or get some replacements from a nursery.

It is good policy and I'll probably fill a dustbin with ***** ...or a bucket with Miltons every year. I definitely do all the propagation equipment (and tomato equipment - blight spores etc) and try and get round to the inside of the greenhouses but I do a lot of propagation.....for growing on...well, most pots get a wash once a year but as stated above...life is short and the pub tempting. I'm not generally too uptight about it all... like a rotation don't keep growing the same crops in the same containers year on year but unless there is a problem you've already noticed you'll probably be OK 9 times out of 10.

[piskieinboots]

I wash the pots for stacking because I don't like them sitting there dirty and to ensure nothing horrid is carried over

[rustylady]

Just wash mine in hot water with a little washing up liquid added.

[womble]

I give mine a quick scrub over, but mainly because of snails and slugs, they or their eggs always try to get a free ride to my new seedlings.
I just use cold water and a brush.

Mine get left out over winter, so I'm pretty happy that most things will be killed off.

[Nykied]

Snail and slug eggs??! I must have missed something! What do these look like?

I looked everywhere the other weekend for some of that Citlox (or whatever they recommend in all the gardening mags) but couldn't find it anywhere.

[Madasafish]

Slug eggs look like little white balls: think tapioca but a little smaller.

I wash everything every year and use very cheap and nasty value disinfectant £0.30 per 250mls.

Some pots are 20+ years old. No issues ... yet..

[Bren In Pots]

When I'm re-potting I have a bucket with some Stardrops in and drop all my pots in that, when i've finished they get tipped out into a tray and rinsed seems to work for me.

[smallblueplanet]

I used to wash all our pots & modules out, but now I don't bother unless there seems a particular reason to...

[teakdesk]

There must be someone who has used the dishwasher????

I would if we had one!!

[smallblueplanet]

There must be someone who has used the dishwasher????

I would if we had one!!

Couple on here do!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ing_42588.html

Most don't do more than rinse and/or brush out.

[Paulottie]

yeah but a years supply of pots is a lot cheaper than a dishwasher a year...cant imagine sand etc does much good

[Alison]

Brush out when I can be bothered otherwise just use them and don't have any problems. If I'd had blighty toms in then I'd do them properly but not bother otherwise.

[Pies]

If you leave them out in sunlight,in the morning, so the sun can get to the inside of the pot,i.e not stacked.Then in the evening you can put them to use or store

So long as its a nice sunny day the UV light will kill the nasties