Gardening Question of the Week - How Do You Keep Containers from Staining the Patio?
Wednesday April 30, 2008
Here's another common complaint that really hasn't been solved yet. Paul wrote: "I am looking for some assistance with a container issue I am having. There are several plant containers that either sit directly on my concrete patio or on stands above the patio. All of them leave a brown stain on the concrete after watering and I cannot find anything to remove the stain. Can you recommend anything to eliminate the planted pots from staining or anything to remove the stain? Is there some way to flush all of the pots so that they will not drain brown water or am I crazy? Thanks."
I tend to clean everything with bleach, but there must be other solutions? Let us know what you clean with or what kind of "feet" you put under your pots to keep them from resting on the patio surface. Thanks for your help.
And if you're just getting started with your containers, here's some help:
- Choosing Pots
- Choosing Plants for Containers
- Combining Plants in Containers
Photo: © Marie Iannotti (2008) licensed to About.com, Inc.
Comments
Try vinegar. It is often forgotten as a cleaner. I use it with my pavers, preferably before stains dry.
Try setting containers in “saucers”. Use second, non draining, container slightly larger than pot, put a layer of pea gravel in bottom as a spacer. There are also the clear plastic saucers made to go under pots. The stain comes from the peat in the soil mix, so you will never be able to keep it from occuring. Or try setting the pots at the edge of the patio so they drai into the ground.
I made small wooden platforms using 3/4 by 3/4 cedar with 3/4 spacing which allows air to circulate preventing water from becoming trapped .. secondly on the larger pots I again made a slightly heavier cedar platform this time I attached cannister wheels so the pots could be moved around minimizing contact with the deck.
Lee Valley has little clay feet that work quite well because you can hose right underneath the pots standing on them. This said, and as Elaine pointed out, you will never quite avoid the stains, so why don’t you try colouring the concete?
Good Luck!
buy 1″ pvc conduit (plastic) pipe, and cut it into 1/2″ ‘donuts’. Cut 1/3″ and 1/4″ donuts as well. You can use the different sizes to level a pot if its on an uneven surface. Place 3 or 4 under each pot. Tuck them under just enough that you don’t see them.
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Try placing some baking soda directly on the stain and then pour white vianager on the powder. It will bubble up so don’t panic. This is the formula I used to keep my drains clear as well since we are an all natural home. You can rent a pressure cleaner. I would also place terra cotta bottoms under my pots to prevent staining in the first place.
I’m a professional container gardener and created my own solution that works with just about size and shape container out there! Check out my website - I sell them there. You can also check out my portfolio - most of the pots shown are using them.