Sanitizing your pots can prevent the spread of harmful disease and fungi. Here is how I safely sanitize my plant pots for seed starting.
I used to think that sanitizing your seed starting supplies was unnecessary and silly. Your going to put dirt in the pot anyway so what's the point... right?
Why You Need To Sanitize Your Pots
Last year you probably started some seeds in plastic pots. These pots had soil in them, and even though you pulled the plant out there is some soil stuck to the sides.
This soil you can see, but what you can't see is all the fungi and microbes on the pot. For a mature and healthy plant these microbes are harmless, but for young seedlings these microbes can be deadly!
Damping off is a fungal issue that can kill your seeding very quickly. Instead of growing seedlings in pots that could have leftover fungi you should sanitize them.
If you have had any issues with damping off in the past, sanitizing all your seed starting materials is a must.
What Pots Should I Sanitize
When I tell people I sanitize my pots they ask if they should be sanitize their large outdoor planters. The answer to that question is NO.
As I mentioned earlier mature and healthy plants aren't that susceptible to the disease and fungi that harm seedlings.
You only need to sanitize supplies that you use to start seedlings.
How to sanitize plant pots
Everybody has a different method to sanitizing there pots. My method below is easy, effective, and safe. Here are the steps I take to sanitize my pots.
Step 1: Scrub your pots
Get a tote or a galvanized tub and fill it with water. Then throw your pots in the water and let them soak for a little bit.
Soaking helps the dried on dirt come off easier. I then use a scour pad to scrub the soil off the pots.
I do not scrub my pots completely clean. If you get the majority of the soil off the pots the next step should kill off any fungi or diseases.
Step 2: Sanitize Your Pots with Hydrogen Peroxide
Fill a spray bottle with hydrogen peroxide and do not dilute it. Hydrogen peroxide is great at killing bacteria and fungal spores.
I lay all my pots out and then spray them down with hydrogen peroxide so they are coated in it. Within ten minutes the hydrogen peroxide will sanitize your pots.
Make sure your spray both the outside and inside of the pots. Do this in a well ventilated area so you don't breath the hydrogen peroxide in.
After I spray my pots I let them set out until they are completely dry. I then stack them up and store them for use.
It really is that simple to sanitize all your pots.
Why I Only Use Hydrogen Peroxide
I like to use hydrogen peroxide to sanitize all my pots because it is safe and effective. I have seen other gardeners use vinegar or bleach, but both these substances are bad for plants.
Hydrogen peroxide is simply H2O2. Hydrogen peroxide is just like water except it has one extra oxygen molecule.
The peroxide will simply break down into water and oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide is stored in brown bottles because light will cause it to quickly break down into water and oxygen.
Hydrogen peroxide is the perfect non-toxic pot disinfectant.
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