Living sustainably and being frugal here and there is considered desirable - even when gardening. What about potting soil? Does it have to be thrown away after the first use or can it be used again later?
Can you reuse potting soil?
Growing soil does not have to end up in the trash, butcan be reused. It is suitable, for example, for further sowing or for filling the garden bed.
Why does it make sense to reuse potting soil?
Growing soil or sowing soil is still suitable even after it has been usedfor growing additional plants. Both their nature and their nutritional composition have not changed much. It is still loose and poor in nutrients. The plants to be grown, such as seedlings and cuttings, hardly need any nutrients in the first few weeks and therefore do well in the growing soil that has already been used.
What are the pitfalls of reusing potting soil?
Growing soil that has already been used isno longer germ-free Fungal pathogens, bacteria, pests, foreign seeds, etc. could have found their way into it over time. If the potting soil is used again, the young plants could be attacked by fungi and soon die.
When purchasing new potting soil, it is usually ensured that it is sterile.
How can you make germ-contaminated potting soil germ-free?
You can sterilize growing soil that is contaminated with germs. To do this, the slightly moistened potting soil is filled into a flat container such as a baking dish. Place this container in the oven or microwave. The potting soil should be sterilized in the oven at 200 °C for around 30 minutes. In the microwave, 10 minutes on the highest setting is enough. Heating the potting soil kills germs, fungi, pests, etc.
Should the potting soil be fertilized before reuse?
If the potting soil has already been used very often, it isnot absolutely necessary, but beneficial if it is fertilized a little. However, a biological fertilizer such as compost or coffee grounds should be used. However, be economical, because too many nutrients do more harm than good to the cultivation.
Tip
Add potting soil to the compost
Even if you don't want to reuse the potting soil directly, but rather add it to the compost, you should keep in mind that there could be pathogens in it. Therefore, only add the soil from he althy plants to the compost.
