How many times can i reuse my smart pots?

[StrapAssassin42]

I asked a salesman in a grow shop about smart pots and he said i could only use them 2 or 3 times before i get too much salt build up.
I had never heard anything like that before... he went on to discredit himself by trying to sell me on a plastic pot that his company makes... it has holes drilled all over in it... looked ok but they wanted $10 for one 3 gallon pot.
Needless to say, I told him to go fly a kite.
Anyway, can i continually use the same smart pots if i wash them out good?
Will a notice a difference in yield if im using 3 gal nursery pots now and i go to 3 gal smart pots?
Thanks for any input!

 

[OrganicOzarks]

You can use them for years. It is a good idea to wash them after a few uses, but I have been lazy and running some in veg for over a year, and not washed them once. I guess I need to get on that.

 

[Sundance]

This may be of help


http://www.smartpots.com/faq


Sundance

 

[northstate]

I say use them until they blow out. Washing is good every few times if you use heavy salt ferts but as said above, I planted in white crusty 100gals from a friends back shed this year and it looks to be helping if anything. NS

Yield will go up but so does water use and they dry out quick if they are small. Medium makes a difference IMHO, a little less porus in the smarties(small, inside) mix. Give them a try side by side and see for yourself. Good luck. NS

 

[supersmallgiant]

Was he wearing dirty clothes? He obviously has never heard of a washing machine...

And you wouldn't have salt build up to begin with if you use drip clean.

 

[mg75]

not sure about yield going up using smartpots. water and nutrients use will definitely go up. you will see salt accumulate on the sides as the smartpot dries. dripclean is not the answer to all salt issues (especially woven material). washing machine works great, but it's better to wash it in a commercial laundromat because small coco/soil particles tend to stick to the fabric after you pull the plant out. shaking it will not get rid of all the particles and they may clog your drain hose on the washing machine. i use oxyclean, bleach, and a small amount of detergent. they come out like new.