Cleaning terracotta pots

[Lawrence]

Can anyone please recommend the best method of cleaning algae/moss / salt deposits etc from the outside of clay pots with the plant in situ

[Maggi Young]

My method for preparing plants  for show was to  give a good scrub starting with a little water and a nylon pot scourer or brush  and escalating to wire wool/ metal pot scourer depending on the resistance of the deposits. Even quite crusty  pots can be  improved in this way - once the pot is as clean as you think it's going to get, you can wipe the pot with a paper towel with a TINY amount of  cooking oil which makes it look rather smart and keeps any residual deposits  less visible for a while. Careful with the amount  of oil - you don't want to be dropping the pot because it's slippery!
 It can be useful to tip off any top-dressing to allow the inner rim of the pot to be cleaned  - an old toothbrush is handy for this part, or just a small piece of wire-wool.

Much easier, or course, to clean empty clay pots - I always soaked those for as long as possible before scrubbing them. Some add cleaning agents to the soak water but I don't think it necessary, tho' a few drops of  Jeyes fluid   is fine if you are very bothered about germs.

 Does that help? 

As an after thought - along similar lines -  I've seen on Facebook that somone recommends spraying the pots of  Hostas with WD40 - he reckons this keeps slugs off them - I'm unsure as  to how slippy that makes the pots if you need to move them though - but it seems not to damage the plants - well at least not Hostas!

[Martinr]

An added note on cleaning salt deposits from empty pots for those with hard or hardish water. Soak the pots in rainwater, not tap water. 2 or 3 days and they are clean or if not the reside comes off easily

[Lawrence]

Thanks Maggi, wire wool and elbow grease it is then, in preparation for AGS Bakewell, can't wait, seems like ages since I've been to a show,, well Chesterfield in April, two months is a long time without alpine therapy

[Martinr]

Careful Lawrence, I detect incipient obsession......................welcome to the club

[annew]

I stack mine in an old dustbin and cover with water with a hefty squirt of bleach. Best left 2-3 days after which the clean easily with warm water and a sponge scourer.

[brianw]

Using a piece of fairly soft red brick and lots of water, works for me. It shapes itself to the curves of the pot as you use it. Wet-n-dry emery paper works well too if you are into metal work.

[annew]

Wet-n-dry emery paper works well too if you are into metal work.

I use that as well for stubborn bits.

[fredg]

Vinegar in the rainwater should speed things up a bit, it'll get the salts reacting