How to Sterilize Plant Pots
Old plant pots can be filled with bacteria, parasites and other harmful microbes that can destroy your growing plant. Even if you buy a new plant pot, if it has been stored in an infested area, larva, eggs and other pests can often be found on the surface of uncleaned pots. Sterilization of your pots reduces the possibility that you will be passing on harmful parasites such as spider mites, silver fish and fruit flies to your plants. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Choose a container or location that is suitable for your plant pot's sterilization such as a sink, bucket or bathtub. Decide whether you want to use a bleach-based or vinegar-based solution for sterilization. Bleach will have a stronger effect but can stain clothes and be harmful to plants if residue is left over after sterilization. Vinegar will have less sterilization power per measure but can be used on everything.
-
2
Mix a sterilizing solution. Bleach will need to be mixed at a ratio of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. If you are using a bathtub for sterilization for instance, filling the tub with 1 gallon of bleach and 10 gallons of water should suffice. If you choose to use vinegar to sterilize, make a half water half vinegar solution for your mixture.
-
-
3
Submerge your pots in the sterilization solution. Soak the pots for 30 to 45 minutes in the solution to kill harmful germs and parasites. Remove stuck-on dirt and debris with a plastic wire scrubber or a scouring sponge. If the solution doesn't cover the entire surface of the pot all at once, ensure that your rotate the plant pots until every part of the surface has been submerged for 30 minutes.
-
4
Rinse the plant pots with lukewarm water. Make sure that you rinse the pots thoroughly in the case of using bleach and be careful not to splatter your clothing. After rinsing the pots, dry them with a cloth or allow them to fully air dry on a drying rack.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Terracotta and clay pots can be placed in the oven to sterilize them for an hour at 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Sturdy plastic plant pots can be placed in the dishwasher and allowed to go through a normal cycle to sterilize them.
Keep harmful chemicals such as bleach out of the reach of those who are not responsible such as children. Bleach will permanently stain any garment it contacts.
References
Resources
More Like This
Comments
-
Clear, concise, and quick. My thanks!
-
Thank you, very useful.
