A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 can I use these??

I bought some citronella candles in small terra cotta pots last year and was wondering if there was a way to clean and reuse the pots for starter pots?? I figure, they ARE the perfect size, but don't want to kill my plants, either. Any ideas?

Boil some water and drop them in. Maybe a few drops of vinegar in there too.
The smell, taste, flavour may be transferred to the boling pot, so don't use your best stainless soup pot for this. MAybe a big old tin can.

Cool! Thanks Longy!

Tonya, I know just the pots you mean, and I also have some. The only thing I'd like to add to Longy's response, is that those pots don't have drainage holes, right? You'll need to be careful not to overwater. Is there anyway to put holes in the bottom?

My hubby works as a construction superintendant...I will borrow his drill. I'll let you know if it works or if it breaks the pot.

I have never known anyone to use them but as long as they are cleaned out well, i dont see why not.
Good luck with them.

I use them, too. I boiled them in a cooking pot I then ran through the dishwasher (If my husband knew what I use the kitchen stuff for when he's not around, he'd never eat anything I make!) and then drilled holes in them. I drill holes in lots of things. I got a ceramic drill bit at the hardware store for some coffee mugs and it goes through unglazed terra cotta like butter!

I boiled them and then washed them to get any residue out. Doug had taken his screw gun to work, so I got a self starting screw and a screwdriver and made the holes. I planted some jalepenos in one and am thinking of putting a baby spider plant in the other. Thanks all!!