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Add to FavoritesReuse potting soil? I say yes!
Let us ponder, if only for a moment, on this question. Is reusing potting soil from last year a good idea? Now don't jump to conclusions just yet. Let's really think about this one. Well, I've had plenty of time. How about you?
It makes perfectly good sense to me to reuse last years potting soil. In fact, with a few modifications you could quite possibly make it even better then when you took that soil out of the bag.
Let's start with a the most basic argument first. People are going to say that the plants that were in the soil utilized much of the nutrients last year and the only way to recover those nutrients are to have new soil or purchase fertilizers and fertilize the soil. The truth is you don't have to do either of these things.
Yes, plants may take out certain nutrients from the soil, but different plants take out different amounts of nutrients, just as they add a specific set of nutrients in the soil when they in turn die off. This was how farmers maintained their crops in the "good old days" before the advent of mass produced fertilizer. So that when farmers "rotated" crops, after each season the soil will be better suited for the next crop. Say a farmer has three fields.
One field will contain corn, the other potatoes and the final field, oh lets just say, field peas. After a growing season, the farmer will rotate these crops one field, so that, in effect potatoes will be back in their original field every third year. Since we are discussing "potting soil" rather than fields, it is understood that it is a very manageable amount and that we can easily add some garden compost and mix it in by hand or, with at most, a hoe or shovel. Garden compost is readily available and you can even save the expense of purchasing it with some basic food bit recycling during the year. Garden composting will add all of the "lost nutrients" back into the soil as well as add many new ones. In this case fertilizer would not be needed as the nutrients are added back "naturally" which is always better than by adding fertilizer.
Remember, by reducing, reusing and recycling everything possible we are making our planet a healthier one for our children and loved ones in the future. Even something as small as reusing potting soil from last season can help tip the scale and save you money for better use in the upcoming season. Perhaps for some yummy tomato seeds to plant in your newly revitalized soil.
Learn more about this author, Robert Wiley.
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Bad Idea
Reusing potting soil seems to be a reasonable thing to do. In reality, you may be on a road to disaster with next years plantings.
During the course of the growing season, plants may develop diseases and these can contaminate the soil. That is the reason that farmers rotate crops from one area to another. Another reason is that certain plants remove particular nutrients from the soil and others add needed elements to the soil. For example, planting legumes (such as peas) will add nitrogen to the soil.
Plants in pots seem to be more affected by using the same soil more than plants placed directly in the garden soil. Because of this, each season, it is a good idea to dump the potting medium and replace it withe fresh potting soil. The old soil can be added to compost heaps to add bulk to the compost and later it can be used in the garden. It can also be used to top-dress spots in the lawn that need attention or re-seeding.
If you must re-use potting soil, consider dumping it into a metal container and heating it in the oven. This will kill organisms and provide a more inert, suitable medium for the new growing season. If you plan to use it for starting seedlings, this will help prevent "damp-off". Nothing is more discouraging than to plant seeds and have a healthy looking crop to germinate and then "damp-off" occurs and they all die rapidly. Damp-off is a condition that causes the main stem of the seedling to shrivel and the stalk falls over and the seedling dies.
With the emphasis on being "green" it would seem that re-using the potting soil would be a good idea, but it might end up being false economy. When you can re-cycle it for another use, it is not wasted.
Compare using contaminated soil with transfusing diseased blood into a human patient. You would never want that to occur. Our plants deserve the opportunity to flourish in a healthy medium and achieve their full potential.
If you choose to "cook" your planting medium in the oven and re-use it, be aware that the previously used medium will need some amendments. Many people today are using potting soil that already has slow release fertilizer in it. After a season, the soil will need to be fertilized with the proper fertilizer for the plants that you wish to grow. Their are generic fertilizers, but for the best performance for your plants, research their requirements and select a fertilizer that provides those required nutrients.
Your "cooked" soil may also need some other additives such as peat moss, sand or other elements to reach the proper consistency for the plant species that you are growing.
These requirements are different for various species. The only way to learn the needs of your plants is to read and research. A lot of good material is available from your county agent. A lot of free literature is available. The internet is a good source of information and you can do specialize searches for your specific needs. Your local library will have books on plants and soil types and the nursery where you purchase your plants is a good place to seek advice.
Always re-cycle and get the greatest benefit from your planting mediums, but think twice before potting in the same medium for a new season without taking some preventative steps to avoid disease.
Follow the guidelines for your favorite species and you will have a healthy and beautiful garden.
Learn more about this author, L. Woodrow Ross.
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