Going potty

[bupster]

Decided it was high time to wash up all the pots I had downstairs hibernating in the hallway waiting for the spring. Found I have at least 100, including 40 3-inch pots. Do not remember buying anywhere near this amount - I don't even have a functioning shed, let alone a greenhouse. How am I ever going to fit 40 3-inch pots on a windowsill?  :o Anyone else coming upon evidence of their own insanity?

[bupster]

[saddad]

Every day!
:-[

[dtw]

I've got to clear out my front garden of seed trays with polypots in.
At least they take up less storage space.  :D

[bupster]

Have now just come across at least 50 carefully constructed newspaper pots. I may not need these any more.... ::)

[cornykev]

I try to use more newspaper pots Bupster, then your not left with all the pots gathering space, and on the subject of washing pots, do you all just use soapy water or anything stronger. ;D ;D ;D

[Barnowl]

Mine are plastic so I use washing up liquid with added vinegar. Is that OK?

I think with more porous material like clay/terracotta you are meant to use something like Jeyes Fluid: I remember seeing someone on telly just painting their pots with it but don't know if it was diluted or not

[bupster]

I haven't got rid of the newspaper ones just in case....

For washing I used very hot water and washing up liquid but kept thinking I ought to be using something stronger  ???

[debjay]

Hi :)
We add a bit of disinfectant to soapy water to wash ours just to be on the safe side ::)
debs

[springbok]

Being a complete novice and not knowing how to make a paper pot, I found this useful video with step by step intructions for novices  like me :)

http://www.ehow.com/how_1745_create-seed-starting.html

[bupster]

Oh dear. OH just rang to say he'd found another bin bag full of pots. I think they must be breeding.  ???

[Trevor_D]

Thank goodness for that! I was wondering how you coped with a mere hundred or so pots!

[bupster]

I've only got a windowsill!

[Tee Gee]

I have just washed a little over 800  three inch pots this morning along with a similar amount of cells. Plus around a dozen ¼ trays and 2 doz ½ trays.

So I am now ready for sowing & cuttings.

Will wash the cell tray inserts & full trays next week.

[Riffster]

I just wondered,

Are you doing this to stop infection reasons,  from year to year. 

I can never remember my dad or granddad doing this.  They have pots everywhere. - this is a modern / good practice thing - yes ?

[Eristic]

this is a modern / good practice thing - yes ?

Not really. It was classical Victorian torture for the younger gardener who might have to do it all day for a week.

Are you doing this to stop infection reasons,  from year to year.

That is the reason.
Is it necessary? Gallic shrug.

With modern plastic pots it may be sufficient to rub off the old soil adhering to the sides but ultimately most of us do our growing as a hobby so we should take pride in what we do. Nice clean pots look the biz and the plants feel proud to be in them and stand up straight.

[Trevor_D]

I must confess I don't always wash larger pots or seed trays - "We dry wash them," as a chap from Wisley told us - but I always do for the smaller pots for seed-sowing and the 3" pots that will contain young seedlings. It's on my list of jobs for later this week. (Along with make mincemeat for next Christmas and look for Seville oranges!)

[Tee Gee]

Look at it this way;

Some of you ladies refer to your plants as 'babies'

Like babies; plants like to be coddled at the infant stage and a clean pot or should that be 'bot' generally makes for a contented baby. ;)

[Rob the rake]

Have you noticed how much space the pots take up in your shed?
Wilkos do flexible pvc pots which take up hardly any space when stacked, and look like they'll last for years. A stack of a hundred of them is only as high as a stack of 6 rigid pots.

You can fit more in a tray too, since they're flexible they find their own shape when squashed together.

[Amazin]

Those are the ones I use Rob - you can get them to go square when you pack them into a seed tray!

[bupster]

No Wilkos near me but they're finally online - yay!

Those PVC ones sound interesting - do you know what they're actually called if I were to look them up on the website?