do you reuse your smartpots?

[MacGyver420]

does anybody out there who uses smartpots (or something equivalent) reuse them for multiple grows?

and if so; how many times would you say you reuse them before you throw them out?

 

[Iron_Lion]

I stopped using them all together, they are a beeotch to clean. One use isn't so bad but by the second time they were all clogged with shit.

I actually didn't see any benefit to using them what so ever.

 

[Ottoman]

MacGuyver, I like to use smart pots and yes I do re use them. I've used some of my up to 5+ harvest so far and they're still in strong shape. When your done using it for the harvest take the rootball out, obviously, then turn the smartpot inside out for the extra dirt is hanging on the outside, then beat it against a pole or tree something of that nature. That should get the big stuff off. After that I go to the laundry mat and run them through a heavy duty washing machine still inside out....This should make you pots 99% clean, just don't put them in the dryer! You MUST hang dry them after the washing machine cycle, but usually after that spin cycle in a heavy duty washer the pots are almost already dry....I understand its seems like a lot of extra work for some pots but just like anything in life, if you want something to last, you better give it TLC... If you do take care of them I don't see why you couldn't get 10-15 runs from it, indoors at least....

 

[Rob Deck]

Smart pots, the cloth pots? I wouldn't throw mine away for anything, in fact I prefer them over traditional containers. I use coco and they are pretty much always clean. When they are dirty you can throw them in the washer and viola they are clean. Yet I generally just let them dry out and shake out the coco.

Iron_Lion, my smart pots produce much more than the plastic pots I used due to their many benefits like a cooler root mass or the roots pruning themselves. Even the resin heads are noticeably fatter. Maybe you should try them out again?

 

[MacGyver420]

cool; did not think about putting them through a washer machine, that's a smart idea; im going to give it a try thanks!

 

[Iron_Lion]

Iron_Lion, my smart pots produce much more than the plastic pots I used due to their many benefits like a cooler root mass or the roots pruning themselves. Even the resin heads are noticeably fatter. Maybe you should try them out again?

They might work better with coco, I use soil and it clogs them up pretty good and I dont want to wash them in my washing machine. I used to wash mine in the bath tub but it makes a huge mess.

I didnt notice any dramatic difference when using them. The down side is they seem to be much smaller then their plastic equivalent.

At least with soil, less medium = less yield.

 

[unclefishstick]

another tip is to make sure they are bone dry before trying to clean them,makes getting the old roots out easier,then down to the laundromat to be washed with no soap. i have used many of mine 4-5 times already.

 

[Neo 420]

I didnt notice any dramatic difference when using them. The down side is they seem to be much smaller then their plastic equivalent.

At least with soil, less medium = less yield.

It's the industry. Depends on the brand. I went to buy a bunch of them a couple of months ago. The dude show me 3 brands. All was 3 gallons but all of the pots was different sizes. I got the largest ones.

Btw...

I run threw the washer twice and let hang dry. All soil is removed and they are ready to rock....

 

[Bag]

its smart to reuse, not to buy more, i liked mine when i used them, shit i didnt even clean when i reused, why more dirt is going in them,p

 

[BluEyeDevil]

Yup..handwash..and rinse..
Good as new..

 

[Arthritis_sucks]

i dry mine out then beat them againnst concrete an hose down then washing machine.

 

[ScrubNinja]

• Let the pots dry out
• Stretch them inside out over a slightly smaller regular pot
• Give it a brisk seeing-to with a stiff scrubbing brush to get almost all the root debris off
• Rinse in water (or h2o2 if I was suspicious of disease)

I have 7 or 8 grows on some of mine and don't see any wear issues.