Bagged pot commixture for container are n’t “ malicious gossip meretricious . “ Here ’s how to prep used soil to acquire again next season .
Can you reprocess potting stain after your flowers fade , temperatures drop , and you empty your containers and put them forth for the winter ? It ’s tantalising to keep and recycle what you have since replacing potting soil can be pricy , particularly when you have a lot of potted plants . But thislightweight mix of compost , peat , perlite , and other materialsdoesn’t last forever .
Plants use up the nutrients in it as they grow , and the admixture can become squeeze and filled with origin . Sometimes pests , disease , andweeds can take up residence , ready to pop up back up when you replant in the mixture . However , you could amend these return and get another use out of your potting grime with a little extra work .
Credit: Guido Mieth/Getty Images
Can You Reuse Potting Soil? Here’s How
It ’s generally fine to reusehigh - quality potting soilif whatever you were growing in it was healthy . But can you reuse potting soil that ’s been home to blighter ? Ifyou comment pestsor diseases on your industrial plant , it ’s best to sterilize the intermixture to avert infecting next year ’s plants . First , remove ancestor , chuck , leaves , and other detritus from the previous potting dirt . Then , decide on the best method for banishing microbes and insects .
Solarize the Soil
One proficiency for sterilizing soil is called solarise . It involves redact former potting soil in lidded , five - gallon bucket ( available at The Home Depot ) or black charge card bags tightly tied shut and leaving them in the sun for 4 - 6 week . The rut builds up inside the bucketful or pocket just enough to vote out bugs and pathogens .
care for in the summertime when high temperature and intense sunlight radiation are most effective .
Sterilize in the Oven
You also can sterilize old potting dirt in your oven . send the soil evenly no more than 4 inch mystifying in an oven - safe cooking pan , enshroud with transparency , and bake it at 180 ° to 200 ° degree Fahrenheit for 30 minutes ( the dirt will produce an earthy smell ) . It ’s also important to check the soil temperature with a candy or meat thermometer ( available at Williams Sonoma ) to check that it stays below 200 ° F . When it ’s done , remove the ground from the oven and keep it cover until it cools .
Oven temperature higher than 200 ° F produces toxins .
Microwave the Microbes
Microwaving is another option . Put old , moistened potting grime in quart - sizing , microwavable container . Cover them with microwavable lids that you may poke ventilation holes in or bequeath snap to allow steam to escape . Heat at full top executive for about 90 seconds per two pounds of soil . Remove the container , cover the vent holes with tape , and lease the territory chill entirely before using it .
Refresh the Potting Soil
Once your old potting soil has been sterilized , you ’ll need to replenish its nutrient . you may merge adequate part of new potting soil with the sometime and add a dose of wearisome - loss plant food shot ( useable at The Home Depot ) according to package directions . Or , you’re able to mix in one part compost to three or four parts of your old potting filth . Besides addingnutrients that plant involve , brisk potting grunge and compost will help keep the mix from compacting .
If you ’re store your refreshed potting soil untilit ’s fourth dimension to plant again , keep it in shroud buckets or clean trash cans ( useable at Walmart ) or tub with lids ( available at Target ) .
How Can You Reuse Potting Soil You’ve Sterilized?
recycle your clean potting filth incontainers for vegetables , flowers , houseplant , or whatever you ’d care to acquire . If you ’re not up for sterilizing and refreshing old potting dirt , you could still put it to use instead of give it out . It can be dumped forthwith out of your container and into established beds and borders . you’re able to use it inraised bedsor wherever your railyard has holes or eroded area . It can also bemixed into compost piles . The honest-to-goodness potting dirt you recycle can help you save money for what all gardeners need : more plants .
