How to clean clay pots

[Bubbach]

What's the safest way to clean calcium off clay orchid pots? I thought about C.L.R. but I'm afraid it will leave harmful chemicals in the clay,and kill my orchids. Here are some pics of how they look. They were free ,the gentleman that had them grew orchids,but passed away . I got several of them that are covered with lime and calcium.

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[Daethen]

Have you tried to just scrub it with a stiff brush?

[cbuchman]

I've had some luck soaking in a vinegar solution (about 20%) for several hours and then scrubbing. Repeat as needed. Be sure to sterilize (heat or soak in bleach solution) before using pots again with orchids.

[Cym Ladye]

Scrub out the debris; rinse or soak a little while with 5-10% bleach solution and then bake in a 325 degree oven for 1/2 - 1 hour. Soaking or scrubbing alone with 5-10% bleach will not kill any virus remaining in the air spaces in the clay.

[AuGrower]

This might be a crazy idea, but would running them through the dish washer work?

[Orchid Whisperer]

Originally Posted by AuGrower

This might be a crazy idea, but would running them through the dish washer work?

Sorry, no. Not high enough temperature to kill virus, and the dishwasher will not remove the lime deposits.

I would:
Do a long vinegar soak overnight; then
Fresh water scrub then soak;
Soak in 1 part bleach to 20 parts water (removes organic residues);
Overnight fresh water soak;
Finally, in oven, gradually raise temperature to 500F (raise to 200 F then at 10 minute intervals raise temperature in steps of 50 degrees, stop at 500F, allow pots to cool in oven overnight)

[AuGrower]

Originally Posted by Orchid Whisperer

Sorry, no. Not high enough temperature to kill virus, and the dishwasher will not remove the lime deposits.





I would:


Do a long vinegar soak overnight; then


Fresh water scrub then soak;


Soak in 1 part bleach to 20 parts water (removes organic residues);


Overnight fresh water soak;


Finally, in oven, gradually raise temperature to 500F (raise to 200 F then at 10 minute intervals raise temperature in steps of 50 degrees, stop at 500F, allow pots to cool in oven overnight)

Is there anyway to kill off potential viruses in the clay besides heat? Like a physan soak?

[Ray]

I have successfully removed such deposits using citric acid solutions.

Yes, a soak in Physan will kill viruses.

[PaphMadMan]

Citric acid is more convenient to use in some ways if you have it, but acetic acid (vinegar) is volatile and will break down more quickly than citric acid, so once its job is done it is completely gone after a while even if rinsing is incomplete. Citric acid can stick around more easily. Either of them, as a food grade product, is much safer for both you and your orchids than CLR. Nothing as safe will be any more effective at getting rid of the carbonate deposits.

Bleach solutions are fine for sanitizing plastics, but I would never use it on porous materials like clay pots that will later come into contact with plants. Even after all the hypochlorite is gone the residue is mostly sodium chloride and can still be strongly basic. Oven baking is fine to sanitize, but I find a pressure cooker more convenient for just a few clay pots.