Care of Terra Cotta Pots

Empty the pots of plants and potting soil. Brush off stubborn dirt with a stiff brush or scrubber. Cleaning the pots at the end of the growing season will stop bacteria or viruses from being passed on to the next season.

Combine 1 part bleach with 10 parts water and soak the pots for 30 minutes to kill bacteria and viruses. Tilt or lay large pots sideways and rotate the pot to cover with the bleach solution. Remove and rinse the pots and place in the sun to remove the bleach smell.

Wash and scrub the outside with baking soda and water. Add enough water to the baking soda to make a toothpaste consistency and scrub with a brush. Rinse the paste with clean water.

Store the pots upside down or lay on its side. Stacked terra-cotta pots can stick together and could break when trying to separate.

Cover large pots that are too big to move with plastic. The plastic will prevent water from collecting inside the pot, which could freeze and break the pot.