Question
Thanks to the Plant of the Month Club my collection of Sarracenia has grown quite a bit and the window boxes that I have been using for water trays are becoming impractical.  Recently I upsized my cat's litterbox and I was wondering if the old box would be safe to use as a water tray?  I have been using a litter box purchased just for the plants so I know that I can fit up to 6 6 inch pots in one box.  I need a second box so I was wondering if I can use the used litter box or if there was a chance of harmful bacteria from the cats causing a problem for the plants.  Of course it has been cleaned but since it is plastic there is always a chance of bacteria getting into the plastic and then leaching out into the water.

Answer
Hi Patricia,

If you clean the litter box with a bleach solution, you will kill any bacteria that might remain.  Also, most of the nasties that would be in something like that are not likely to affect plants.  I can only think of a tiny number of fungal diseases that might actually spread from animals to plants.  I say go ahead and use it.  If you bleach it, it will be fine.

Good Growing!

Jeff Dallas
Sarracenia Northwest
http://www.growcarnivorousplants.com