What do you do with old nursery pots?

[natasha]

I have loads of old nursery pots. The pots that the chids come in. I will repot my chids as soon as they finish flowering, to check on the medium and for aesthetic purposes - I love using terracotta coloured plastic pots. However, I have kept the old ones, except those that are damaged. I am wondering what should I do with these stuff, since I don't think that nurseries here will buy back the old pots.

I am sure you guys must have some back in your stores too, and wondering what you did to them?

[WhiteRabbit]

good poll
i keep mine and reuse for other plants - also use for scooping and repository for unused potting mix

[greenbean]

If they don't have tons of holes or slits in the sides and bottom, as some orchid pots do, I give them to the nursery I work at. They don't sell orchids, but they can reuse most of the pots I give them. It's just a small, local nursery. And of course the regular plant pots that build up go to them too.

I do keep a few pots for myself, to reuse for orchids and the many other plants I have or may acquire. I'm always starting cuttings or seeds of something!

[Grandma M]

Most nursery pots get tossed because I grow in S/H pots. I may save a few, if they are good quality, because I do grow a few plants in a CHC mix.

When I repot from S/H pots, I wash them, store them until I have a few saved up, then soak them in bleach water so I know they are safe to reuse if I need to repot something else. S/H pots are just too expensive to toss into the trash.

Marilyn

[natasha]

i plan to paint some pots to give them new look & new lease of life. anyone have done this? if so, please let me know what type of paint to use? most of my old pots are black. i hate black pots, i'll rather spend some money and buy new pots. but i still keep them, and the pile is getting higher.

i also wash and reuse some to plant seedlings and divisions to give away.

[camille1585]

Since all the orchids I buy come in clear pots, I keep all of them, even if I'm repotting to a larger size. Clear pots are so hard to find that I keep everything for future use. For the non clear pots, I keep those too, since I'm always looking for pots to plants various things.

[Louise]

I keep them all. I wash and bleach then stock for a future use. I have mainly clear pots, some non clear and some clay too. I always find a use : if it's not to put another plant, it is to raised one...

[cb977]

I clean them with a bleach mixture and then use them when I'm giving plants/seedlings/keiki to my friends

[RosieC]

Like Sue I clean them with bleach. I then use them either to pot the same 'chid back in or for another one which needs that size pot, or for other plants.

If it's a clear pot I generally keep it for 'chids if it's opaque then I use it for other plants.

[RoyalOrchids]

I'm building a to-scale replica of Eiffel tower. When I'm done I'll plant an orchid in each one, slap in on a trailer, and haul it down to the judging center.

AAAhhhh!!!! Here comes POT-ZILLA!!!