soo today while repotting some Dens into bigger s/h comtainers...

[johnblagg]

While getting ready to move a couple of dens into larger containers and preparing Hydrotron for use means of course I need to rinse some hydrotron and get it ready ....HMMM winter kitchen sink or bathtub to clean hydrotron is the first choice,and after making the choice I think awwww man this is going to be a pain ...then I spy a 6 inch net pot in the bucket full of hydrotron that while not clean I do keep premoistened and in the corner...lol a little extra humidty as well.

Well long story short the net pot is what I use to dip hydrotron out to fill containers and I suddenly thought well shoot run water through the net pot full and rinse till clean.Worked like a charm and made me slap myself in the head and think well duh ......no more chasing hydrotron around the sink or trying not to lose hydrotron as you pour the dirty water out and rinse...

[camille1585]

LOL, Now don't you wish that you had thought about it sooner? Funniest part is that you had that net pot right in front of you the entire time...

I've had some bad 'duh!' moments like that too. Like the time I realized while watering that instead of taking the plants out of their tray one by one to soak them I could just stick the entire tray in the tub (it has slits in the bottom)..... I know it's bad to soak in the same water, but sometimes it's either that or watch them all die from neglect!

[Gin]

Good idea beats having to stick a hand in the garbage disposal and fishing them out .

[Becca]

That's a great idea! I also steal the strainers from the kitchen and use them

[trdyl]

Yes, it is a great idea!

Originally Posted by Becca

I also steal the strainers from the kitchen and use them

I actually bought one for potting so the wife does not complain.

[peeweelovesbooks]

I bought plastic strainers. I also discovered that if you put hydroton in a bucket and fill it with water, the hydroton will rise to the top and the particles will fall to the bottom.

I rinsed out a 50 gallon bag of hydroton in about 1 hour. Of course, I re-rinsed and added bleach to them. I have to rinse them out for the final time this weekend.

I love hydroton but getting it ready for potting sucks.

[Eyebabe]

Got the master of all plans for that here and my hubby gets the credit:

1. TWO 5 gallon orange buckets from Home Depot
2. Hubby with Dremmel drill takes one bucket and drills little holes into the bottom
3. Stack "hole bucket" into "non-hole bucket", put hydroton into top bucket and fill with your r/o water etc.
4. Swish and move hydroton then LIFT the top bucket up and let the water drain into the bottom bucket
5. Discard the "dirty water" and repeat until your hydroton is "clean"
6. Transfer hydroton to "non-hole bucket" and fill with r/o water and add KLN or fertilizer overnight prior to use.

yw

[Lorraine]

You guys are so smart I'm going to get a spare bucket that fits inside the HD one I have and save the time of fishing out that darned hydroton. Thanks for sharing the suggestion.