Pretty Plastic Pots

Although I support the global need to reduce production and consumption of plastics, I feel plastic products that are re-used/repurposed for decades deserve some consideration.    

I actually own a few plastic kitchen items inherited from my mother-in-law who passed away more than 40 years ago; these items are still in good condition and are re-used frequently in our household.  

But my focus for THIS blog will be pretty plastic pots for indoor/outdoor plants. 

Each of these decorative plastic pots might be made of resin/plastic/polyethylene, but all are synthetic and do NOT decompose when placed in landfills.   The sturdy plastic urn-style pot shown here has been used for several years for winter outdoor arrangements as well as summer container plantings (like German ivy with Osteospermum/South African daisies.)   

One of my horticulture instructors suggested we toss out any plastic containers after using since any disease or bacteria could become embedded in plastic interior surfaces and might transfer to a new plant.   I strongly disagree with tossing out these expensive decorative plastics after a short season! 

Instead, I will share the plastic pot cleaning “recipe” I have used for decades; it works!

One cleaning rag (a piece of old cotton T-shirt works well)
One cup water plus TWO TABLESPOONS liquid bleach mixed in an old glass container
One pair plastic gloves (PPE for protecting skin, hands and fingernails)
One pair safety glasses (preventing eye injury is always important)
One soiled plastic pot

INSTRUCTIONS:  If working outdoors, remove all soil and roots from plastic pot to be cleaned; rinse with hose if available.  Inside of pot might be stained from soils used, but it should clean up nicely.  While wearing plastic gloves and eye protection, simply dip cleaning rag into bleach solution.  Wipe off interior surfaces of large pot and allow bleach solution to linger for five minutes; next a quick rinse and allow plastic pot to air dry, or dry with an old towel if you wish. Dispose of the soiled cotton cleaning rag in trash; a cotton rag WILL decompose with time.  

Shown here is a birch-bark style plastic pot I purchased from Lammscapes a few years ago, which I’ve used in every season for various plants.  Here it is shown after I removed a dead plant before I bleached the planter. After using the above cleaning method; it looks like the day I purchased it from the Garden Center.   I have never experienced any negative issues when re-using a disinfected plastic pot.  NO diseases have transferred to my new plantings.  (It is important to use fresh potting soil or your homemade compost to fill the cleaned pot; using the tired, spent soil could be problematic.)

The month of March in Wisconsin doesn’t provide many days where we can “dig in the dirt.” But time spent in March cleaning and refurbishing pots means they will be ready for planting in MAY and JUNE!

M. Lynn Schmid, Master Gardener
A.A.S. Landscape/Horticulture/Arboriculture