Houseplant hacks: is it eco-friendly or risky to reuse nursery pots?

Photograph: Bilal photos/Getty ImagesView image in fullscreen Photograph: Bilal photos/Getty ImagesHouseplant hacks: is it eco-friendly or risky to reuse nursery pots?You want to garden sustainably but don’t want to transfer pests to new plants. Here’s how to decide whether to refill or recycle

The problemMost plant people end up with a never-ending supply of plastic nursery pots, stuffed in cupboards or bags. Throwing them away feels wasteful, but reusing can transfer pests, fungus spores or disease to new plants.

The hack Reuse them, but clean thoroughly first. Nursery pots are brilliant for houseplants because the drainage holes stop root rot. Water thoroughly and let the excess run out, then slip the pot into something decorative.

Read moreThe method Remove old compost and roots, then wash the pot in hot, soapy water and scrub it clean, especially the rim and drainage holes where pests like to hide. If it housed a diseased or pest-infested plant, I personally don’t take the risk and recycle it to be on the safe side. But if you don’t mind taking your chances, disinfect it in a 1:9 bleach-to-water solution, let it dry completely and check for cracks or brittleness. Once the plastic starts breaking down, retire it rather than squeezing in one more plant.

The test I’ve reused nursery pots for years and clean ones have caused me no issues.

The verdict Nursery pots are made to work hard and many already use recycled plastic. Just be sure to clean out between plants, recycle when they finally do crack, and hide them in prettier pots.