Cleaning used tree pots before indoor rooting

[Trustyfarms]

What is your preferred method of sanitizing used tree pots that may harbor fungi and bacteria before using them indoors? I have only used new tree pots in the past and was thinking of filling a large plastic tub with 10% bleach solution to submerge the tree pots for a 5 or 10 minute soak. For reference I will be cleaning around 600 tree pots and want to make this process as smooth as possible.

Pictured is Sicilian 33 from my first year grafted tree this year

 

[GoodFriendMike]

The large tub with the bleach solution. Might be your best option. Soak rinse done.

 

[figologist]

I have 3 tubs
1 full of soapy water. I scrub each pot to physically remove dirt
2nd one is just water to rinse off soap
I do a big batch of those and leave them in the 2nd tub until i'm ready to put them in tub 3
tub 3 = 10% bleach for 10 minutes
then air dry

 

[bushdoctor82]

I do similar to above with all plastic pots being reused.

• Remove debris with hose jet setting
• Soap and scrub
• Bleach solution
• Rubbing alcohol

Granted, I store my all my pots in and behind the shed and have root knot nematodes so I try to take extra precaution.

 

[ktrain]

Same as @GoodFriendMike ...with a little scrubbing to boot.

 

[betdempster]

Thanks for the info! I have asked bunch of those flimsy 4x9's but I just got some good thick sturdy ones from the greenhouse megastore because ever time I picked up one I was afraid I was squeezing the roots too much, so if I am using one of my new ones and if I have something that fails I'm going to want to reuse it. I wasn't sure how to handle that. So thanks!

 

[387PETE]

600 used tree pots !!!!! Someone rooted a lot of cuttings, or someone is about to root alot of cuttings. Or possibly both

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

600 used tree pots !!!!! Someone rooted a lot of cuttings, or someone is about to root alot of cuttings. Or possibly both

That’s exactly what I honed in on, too.
Six hundred…

Okay, now I don’t feel so silly having just scrubbed out 40 big used pots on my driveway, while sitting on my little garden cart, using a (clean) toilet brush and Dawn detergent. My neighbors probably think, I liked her better in her peony days. She was more civilized then…

 

[Trustyfarms]

Thanks everyone for the helpful recommendations! I have rooted lots of cuttings over the years so the tree pot inventory has steadily grown and now needs a deep clean. The plan is to root 500-600 cuttings indoors and then root the remainder outside in spring.

 

[BucksCountyFigs]

Thanks everyone for the helpful recommendations! I have rooted lots of cuttings over the years so the tree pot inventory has steadily grown and now needs a deep clean. The plan is to root 500-600 cuttings indoors and then root the remainder outside in spring.

Love it - go big!

 

[Schoenie]

I first scrub out all the dirt/soil outside and then run my 4x9s in the dishwasher -> they come out like new and... STERILE!
I can put 4x5=20 in a standard grow-box, and the washer will easily take that number (and then some). I have pots that I've cleaned like that and re-used several times: never noticed any issue with the possible tiny bit of residual detergent / rinse-aid...

 

[figologist]

Sounds like a job for a teenager. =)

Thanks everyone for the helpful recommendations! I have rooted lots of cuttings over the years so the tree pot inventory has steadily grown and now needs a deep clean. The plan is to root 500-600 cuttings indoors and then root the remainder outside in spring.

 

[SFswiss]

Ryan good luck with cleaning all 600 pots! I’m sure I will receive a few of em next season

 

[goodnessatlanta]

What is your preferred method of sanitizing used tree pots that may harbor fungi and bacteria before using them indoors? I have only used new tree pots in the past and was thinking of filling a large plastic tub with 10% bleach solution to submerge the tree pots for a 5 or 10 minute soak. For reference I will be cleaning around 600 tree pots and want to make this process as smooth as possible.

Pictured is Sicilian 33 from my first year grafted tree this year

That is jammy and yummy. No matter how long it will take me to get this variety, It is a MOST variety in my collection.

 

[Trustyfarms]

Ryan good luck with cleaning all 600 pots! I’m sure I will receive a few of em next season

Thanks I ended up cleaning all of them in 1 day and now they're staged and ready when I start rooting in a couple weeks

 

[goodnessatlanta]

Thanks I ended up cleaning all of them in 1 day and now they're staged and ready when I start rooting in a couple weeks

That is called determination and it is amazing.

 

[Inflorescence]

I will be honest… I do not clean the pots at all anymore and just knock out loose dirt and start again. I’ve had no issue.

 

[TorontoJoe]

I try to separate indoor and outdoor pots. I've had brutal infestations from bringing outdoor plants indoors. Now I try to avoid it altogether.. The two worst times.... first was aphids and the second was thrips. I don't even wear outdoor clothes in my indoor hydro area anymore....

If I had any concern with bringing pots in... I would at least presure wash them aggressively or hand wash outside, then put them in a dishwasher

Now, I would pay for 100 new pots if it meant not going through the indoor infestation. It was so difficult to eliminate .......and took so long to remedy.

I recommend being careful. It may not be necessary... but one aphid can cause you a lot of grief.

I wouldn't worry about it if I was just growing outdoors... but it's easy to move a plant part with pests inside where they have no predators

 

[DCallahan]

I will be honest… I do not clean the pots at all anymore and just knock out loose dirt and start again. I’ve had no issue.

Amen!!!

 

[DCallahan]

Id just buy new pots for the indoor operation, and use the old pots outside after shaking or beating out anything left inside. Sounds like you need more in total then that pile of 600.