| Recycling Your Pots & Labels |
| Email me ....Macara@xtra.co.nz |
 |
| These will be the pieces that you have left over from that plant that you have tried everything imaginable to keep alive, but it died anyway, that same plant that you tell others, “it never showed much promise, so I turfed it.” These Pots & Labels in most cases are reusable, with just a little bit of attention. The Pots (as long as they are not cracked or broken) should have all the old mix & roots etc removed, these can then be soaked for about 24 hours in a solution of “Jeyes” or another alternative is tri- Sodium Phosphate, or Virkon, I have not tried these, but I’m told they are just as good, the solution will kill any Bacteria, Virus, or other “baddies” that lurk in the pots, they should then be scrubbed with a stiff scrubbing brush, both inside & out, then dried off & they can then be put away somewhere clean for later use. The Labels, to remove any stains & writing from them, can be soaked in Methylated Spirits for about 20 minutes to 1/2 an hour, then, before the Meths has a chance to dry off, give the label a wipe with a cloth & a bit of “Jiff” or similar cleaner on it, this, you’ll find will restore most of the labels to a reusable state, but you may find the odd one that will not want to give up it’s etchings, so these ones can be turfed as well, (after all, something is needed to label all those Orchids in the Great Green House in the sky!!) |
| “Do you really think that talking to your orchids makes them grow?” confided one keen grower to the other. “Nah,” he replied, “My missus hasn’t stopped talking to me for the last 25 years, & I haven’t grown one iota!” |