Cleaning Terra Cotta Pots

Even though there may still be snow on the ground and Spring is still several months away, most gardener's thoughts turn towards Spring and getting their hands in the soil once again. Many are busy designing their new landscape and deciding which plants to purchase already. Many gardeners use terra cotta pots to show off and display their blooms as they do not have the full area to have a full garden or just want a splash of color anywhere on their property. However, after a period of use and time, their terra pots will begin to stain and show their age; cleaning the pots will bring them back to their original luster. Cleaning of terra cotta pots can be done easily over a weekend.

According to the Irish Gardener and HGTV, terra cotta pots are porous which leeches out minerals from the potting soil while fertilizers can stain the pots. Because of those deposits, plant diseases can live in those stains from quite some time, thus another reason to clean the pots before each season of growing.

To clean terra, you will need a few simple household items: (1) water; (2) bleach; (3) large container to fit the pot in to be completely submersed; (4) wire brush. The recipe for the cleaning solution is ten parts water to one part bleach [example: ten gallons of water and one gallon of bleach]. Fill your container with cleaning solution. A five gallon pail will work well for small pots while larger pots will need a larger contain such as a tub. Let the pot soak in the solution for a few hours or overnight depending on how deep and how tough the stains are. Using a wire brush, scrub the inside and the outside of the pot until the stain is gone. You might need a putty knife or razor to help remove harder stains and if this is the case, use carefully as to not mar or scratch the surface as this will lead to more problems during the planting season.

Once the pot is clean, rinse carefully in plain water to make sure that all bleach is removed. Soaking the pot overnight is a good idea in helping remove any residual bleach, changing water every few hours. If the bleach is not removed, it can damage your new plants. Let the pot air dry before using. It is a good idea to clean your terra cotta pots each season to keep your plants healthy and your pots looking good in your landscape design.