Joint compound buckets to grow in

Selecting safe containers is one of the most important questions to ask. So glad you did.

General guideline is to not repurpose container that weren’t originally used for food. Basic question to ask yourself when selecting a container is would you drink water out of it, or give the water to a child to drink. If not, pass, because your plants will be drinking the water, and you’re eating the plants? Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should, you know. Anything else is just a gamble and a risk.

That being said, new and unused HDPE and LPDE buckets, the kind you find at the hardware store, are generally fine. Same with those large buckets that bakeries get their ingredients in. And other similar products.

Watch out for any deterioration and replace when you see it. Deterioration typically happens with buckets outdoors where the sun bakes them and after a while, like a couple of years, it will start to deteriorate and that plastic dust gets in your solution and on your plants. Make sure you smooth out any holes you make and give it all a good rinse and wipe down before using. Hope this helps. Good luck and happy Hydroponicing.