Nasty Clay Pots

[jpiper82]

I bought all new clay pots this year and now they are all CRUSTY on the outside, and top of the inner rim. How do clean these pots?

[Nievesgirl]

good question mine look the same !

[Darkhorse]

Mine look like this too.  I thought it was the calcium in my water at first, but now I think it's the salts in the fertilizer since others seem to be having the problem.  I put them in the tub when repotting and scrub the daylights out of them with a hard brush.  Anyone have a better idea?

[jpiper82]

I seem to have found a way to clean these nasty clay pots.
Rinse out the clay pot with water. Get a two gallon plastic bucket, buy two gallons of white vinegar, put the pot in the bucket, pour enough vinegar in the bucket to cover the pot, and then wait for 24 to 48 hours depending on how crusty the pot is.  Remove pot lightly brush, rinse with clear water and let dry.  bingo! new pot.
Hope this works for you too.

John

[Charlie]

Nice tip! Vinegar is highly acidic and the way we wash out emitters that get clogged with salts is to run acid through the drip system for a few minutes (not while the emitters are in pots!).

Charlie