Sterilizing containers - Page 2

KarenO · April 22, 2014

The question was in regard to seeding pots and trays. Sterile soilless mix and clean pots and equipment is commonly advised for seed starting. Nobody sterilizes large pots, earthtainers, planters etc
Karen .

adkspackler · April 22, 2014

Last year in my area zone4 alot of people had problems with blight including myself. Think I'm going to scrub my 5 gallon pots with a bleach solution an rinse them an let sit in the sun for a bit. Last year was the 1st time I ever had problems with my plants I usually just rinse the containers out an fill them with potting mix. Hoping to avoid any problems this year!

bower · April 23, 2014

I do pretty much like Karen: hot soapy water with a dab of bleach for seed starting trays and pots. We had a really blighty year one year, and the bleach cleanup made a big difference in my greenhouse - hardly any disease the year after. It is different when you grow in an enclosed space, disease spreads really rapidly and pests as well, with none of the beneficials and the better air circulation that you get outdoors, so the extra precautions are worth it, IMO. Hot water and bleach will kill eggs of tiny insect pests too, given the pots get a bit of a soak in it. I use plastic pots for the reason, they are easy to clean and re-use.

April 22, 2014	#17
adkspackler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Tupper lake NY Posts: 13	Last year in my area zone4 alot of people had problems with blight including myself. Think I'm going to scrub my 5 gallon pots with a bleach solution an rinse them an let sit in the sun for a bit. Last year was the 1st time I ever had problems with my plants I usually just rinse the containers out an fill them with potting mix. Hoping to avoid any problems this year! Last edited by adkspackler; April 22, 2014 at 10:34 PM.

April 22, 2014	#16
KarenO Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Vancouver Island Posts: 5,931	The question was in regard to seeding pots and trays. Sterile soilless mix and clean pots and equipment is commonly advised for seed starting. Nobody sterilizes large pots, earthtainers, planters etc Karen .

April 23, 2014	#18
bower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Posts: 6,794	I do pretty much like Karen: hot soapy water with a dab of bleach for seed starting trays and pots. We had a really blighty year one year, and the bleach cleanup made a big difference in my greenhouse - hardly any disease the year after. It is different when you grow in an enclosed space, disease spreads really rapidly and pests as well, with none of the beneficials and the better air circulation that you get outdoors, so the extra precautions are worth it, IMO. Hot water and bleach will kill eggs of tiny insect pests too, given the pots get a bit of a soak in it. I use plastic pots for the reason, they are easy to clean and re-use.