What To Do With Used Potting Soil

Jill enjoys cooking, abstract painting, stewardship, & learning almost gardening through the MD Native Plant Order.

Fertilizer will keep plants looking good throughout the growing season, even if they're planted in old potting mix. — Fertilizer will keep plants looking skillful throughout the growing season, fifty-fifty if they're planted in old potting mix.

Jill Spencer

How to Recycle Potting Soil

That unwieldy cart of potting soil seems like enough when you're at the garden eye. (In fact, it often seems like more than enough when you're at the annals.) But once yous start filling pots, information technology's often frustratingly inadequate. "Did I really use an entire bag for one container?" you think. Then it'south back to the store and the checkout line—and back to shelling out more than money on gardening supplies.

This year, it doesn't accept to be that way. You tin can lower the cost of filling seasonal containers past reusing last year's potting soil. Merely you need to exist sure to practise it right, or you may put your plants at risk. In this article, you will larn how to safely recycle last year's potting soil.

Ways to Reuse Potting Soil

The easiest mode to reuse old potting mix? Only remove old plants from their containers, fluff upwards the soil and replant. If you've reused the aforementioned soil for several years or it'south developed a white surface crust, you may accept to cut it with l percentage new potting soil and/or apply fertilizer. (See "How to Reduce Risks" beneath.)

Of course, you don't have to reuse potting soil solely in your flowerpots. You tin can too do good from using them in the following spots.

Where to Reuse Potting Soil

Flowerpots
Flower beds
Vegetable gardens
Holes in your yard
Compost piles
Compost holes

Adding old potting soil to your vegetable garden is one way to reuse it. — Adding former potting soil to your vegetable garden is one manner to reuse it.

Jill Spencer

The Risks of Soil Recycling

There are ii main reasons reusing potting soil tin can put plants at risk.

Used soil sometimes contains pathogens—viruses, fungi, leaner, nematodes and other organisms that carry disease. These pathogens can cause container plants to sicken and die.
Used soil may also be deficient in the minerals that plants crave. This, besides, can cause plants to become diseased and die.

you-can-recycle-potting-soil — The Dirt Farmer

Reducing the Risks

How tin can you reuse potting soil without killing your plants? Attempt these uncomplicated strategies.

i. Never reuse soil from a pot in which a diseased plant has grown.

The establish may be dead and gone, simply the pathogens and other problems in the soil remain, making it likely that the next occupant will as well sicken and die.

2. Pasteurize old potting soil before using it.

Soil that remains in pots exposed to the elements ofttimes harbors weed seeds, pathogens and/or insects, none of which are desirable in a growing medium. To kill off these harmful elements, bake the soil in the sun. First, empty the used soil into blackness plastic bags. Then place the numberless in a sunny location.

The same pasteurization procedure that occurs during regular composting will occur inside the bags as temperatures inside the mix rise, rendering the pathogens, weed seeds and other unwelcome elements in the soil harmless.

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Questions & Answers

Question: What exactly is pee tea?

Reply: Pee tea is diluted man urine that is used every bit fertilizer.

Question: Are coffee grounds good for plants?

Reply: Coffee grounds can be used as a fertilizer for acrid-loving plants like azaleas. They are also a good add-on to your compost pile. I would not, however, pile up lots of coffee grounds on top of the soil unless you want maggots, which you might if you lot take chickens.

Question: How long practice I demand to broil sometime soil in plastic bags in the sun for?

Answer: Solarize the soil during the hottest time of year for iv to vi weeks.

Question: How long does it have to impale harmful elements when blistering soil outside in the sun?

Answer: Broil the soil in plastic numberless four to six weeks outside during the hottest time of your year.

Question: Before I read this commodity, I broiled used potting soil at 425 degrees F. Can I nevertheless use information technology?

Answer: Yes, you tin can. (Wow, at that temp, I bet the process really stunk! lol)

Question: What if my basil died, got grayness fuzz, and wilted, but my parsley in the aforementioned pot is fine and survived the winter in zone 5? Is it okay to reuse the soil?

Answer: Basil is susceptible to downy mildew when the weather condition is hot and humid, and it sounds similar your basil was infected with information technology. If you removed the infected basil and scraped up the top soil where it grew, you may accept also removed the spores that cause downy mildew. If you didn't get all of it, the mildew will reappear when the weather turns. I would broil the soil before reusing information technology.

Question: I'k using Foxfarm Happy Frog, can I add super soil amendments to the soil and use it again?

Answer: So long as the soil hasn't been contaminated past a diseased plant, y'all tin can add amendments or cut the old soil with new soil and reuse.

Question: Is it okay to use soil from a petunia establish to plant herbs?

Answer: The soil should be fine from an edible attribute; however, it may not be the best for your purposes as petunias and some herbs, such as tarragon, rosemary, and lavender, have unlike soil and drainage requirements than petunias exercise.

Question: Tin I put used potting soil around mature trees?

Answer: Yeah, y'all can. You could spread composted matter, too.

Question: Do you lot fix the used potting garden soil by Schultz in the fall or early on spring?

Answer: I am non familiar with used potting soil by Schultz. Possibly the visitor could respond your question.

Question: Can you reuse soil to constitute vegetables in a container?

Respond: Yes, you can reuse soil for a container vegetable garden. As with reusing soil for any establish, amend the soil as needed (see article) and don't use soil that has been habitation to a diseased plant. Likewise, select vegetables that grow well in pots, like lettuce and Swiss chard, and more often than not avoid vegetables that have long taproots.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on August 31, 2020:

Hello, Terri. Soon I'm going to be faced with that aforementioned event. Yes, you lot can movement and reuse your soil so long as it was not habitation to diseased plants. Also, yous may want to skim off and discard or compost the first inch or two of soil in the bed every bit they probably comprise weed seeds, spores, and other things you might not want to take with you. Good luck to you! Jill

Terri on August 30, 2020:

Tin I bag my raised bed soil and carry it with me when I move? I used Black Kow....hate to lose all of it.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on March 15, 2020:

Hi, Lucas. The bloom is a chrysanthemum. All-time, Jill

Lucas on March 15, 2020:

Hello Jill, just wondering what the yellowish white blossom in the pot with the gnome is chosen?

Jill Spencer (author) from U.s.a. on March 06, 2020:

How-do-you-do, Lamar. Thanks for commenting. You tin store sterilized soil for afterward employ rather than put information technology to immediate use. Nosotros put ours in cans in our shed. Also, some people improve their soil by adding compost and potting soil in the autumn. (That's when I do new flowerbeds and direct sow.) Also some people sow fall crops, create autumn planters, and utilise sometime soil to make full in low spots or holes in their yards. The latter, of course, tin be done anytime. All-time, Jill

Lamar on March 06, 2020:

How tin you lot place your potting soil in plastic bags in the sun to kill pathogens equally the hottest time of twelvemonth is June, July, Aug,. Also late then to plant as planting is April (zone 7)

Jill Spencer (author) from Us on January 17, 2020:

Howdy, Marking. Perhaps yous should write a hub almost that.

Mark Brauer on Jan 17, 2020:

Delight don't advise people to use Plastic Bags for Solarization! Instead a Hot House would exist a much better pick!

Jill Spencer (writer) from United States on November 01, 2019:

Thanks for posting comments, Mary and April!

April on November 01, 2019:

Awesome! Thank Y'all!

Mary Noriega on Oct 05, 2019:

I have used left over potting soil for years. My plants are healthy and growing.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on July xx, 2019:

Thanks for the information, Karl. Capeesh it. Unfortunately, your link is not working for me, merely I tin can probably find the commodity past shortening it. Thanks over again. Jill

Rocklyn on June 03, 2019:

I accept a resin whiskey barrel that had h2o sitting in information technology. I drilled holes, the dirt no longer stinks. Tin it be re-used to abound vegies or flowers?

Jill Spencer (writer) from U.s.a. on May 21, 2019:

Hello Vivian! If you lot live in a warm climate and the soil in your plastic handbag has been in the sunday and gotten hot over the winter, the soil should be pasteurized and ready to use. If not, place the bag in the sun now and leave it for a week or two. The point of the black bag is to get the temperature inside the bag up in order to kill harmful pathogens in the soil.

Vivian on May 21, 2019:

I have pots of soil in a black plastic pocketbook all winter. can I use it.

Jill Spencer (author) from Us on April 29, 2019:

How-do-you-do Mary Ann, I accept used ladybugs to control aphids but never white wing. Thanks for sharing your expertise. All-time, Jill

Mary Ann Garcia on April 28, 2019:

Ladybugs Love Whitefly. I bought a container of ladybugs and released 1/3 of them every calendar week, keeping them in the fridge. I have had no problem with Whitefly since.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on Apr 23, 2019:

To each her own, Ann! All-time to you. J

Yard Sharp, i manner to control whiteflies is to rake upwards fallen leaves and destroy them then spray the underside of the leaves with insecticidal lather or oil. That may become them downward to a level where natural predators will keep them at a low level. Good luck to you! Jill

Ann Favell on April 06, 2019:

No pee tea cheers. Disgusting!! With so many alternatives, admittedly not. Hope no one gives me annihilation edible that they accept used that on. Brute manure is nasty enough. Human's is worse.

One thousand precipitous on April 05, 2019:

How can I eliminate white fly, this is my third yr fighting

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on February 24, 2019:

I've prepped several new bloom beds since summer, adding compost every bit I dug the trenches. It'southward rained here a lot too, and the temperature has gone up and down; notwithstanding, I've gotten only two small weeds. In other words, just because cypher'south sprouting nevertheless doesn't hateful the soil is bad. When your area has had enough caste days to trigger seeds to germinate, yous should see growth.

Dee Espo on February 24, 2019:

I bought 4 cubic yards of used cannabis bagged soil. I rototilled this into my front end thousand soil. It has rained like crazy. I deliberately have planted aught and nothing has sprouted. Nothing is going in but yard plants. Did I kill my futurity plants with tainted soil earlier they even got planted?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on March 30, 2018:

That shouldn't exist a problem, Steven, if the lycopersicon esculentum found only died from exposure to the common cold. However, if information technology bit the dust due to a virus or some sort of infestation, you should non apply the soil. Best to you! Jill

steven hayes on March 29, 2018:

Thank you for the helpful article! I hope to recycle my soil from last yr. I take only 1 question, I left a lycopersicon esculentum plant in a v gallon pot all winter. Is that soil all the same healthy to use? Thank you!

Audrey Hunt from Pahrump NV on March 16, 2018:

Thank you, Jill, for this very helpful article on reusing potting soil. And so glad to learn about pasteurizing sometime potting soil. Baking the soil in the lord's day couldn't be easier. I practice a lot of gardening, and so these handy hints will sure assist me.

Jill Spencer (writer) from United States on March xvi, 2018:

Hullo Jim. Washing with warm sudsy h2o should do the trick unless plants died in the containers from diseases, and so . . . I don't know. My impulse would be to recycle them rather than reuse them, but your extension agent could give you lot better communication. Endeavour Enquire an Skilful online at https://ask.extension.org/ask. The advice is free. All-time, Jill

Jim on March 15, 2018:

What about reusing the five gallon buckets I planted in final twelvemonth - should I sterilize them some how?

Jill Spencer (author) from United states of america on March 12, 2018:

Yes! See the grey box mid-article. It contains directions. Best, Jill

5 on March 12, 2018:

tin i bake soil in the oven?

Audrey Hunt from Pahrump NV on February 26, 2018:

I beloved gardening and I dearest this helpful post. I'll be using your tips this leap. Cheers.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on December 02, 2017:

No, Dolores, you lot can pasteurize the soil in the oven at 200 degrees for half an hour to kill harmful pathogens and insect eggs without losing the richness of the soil.

Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on Dec 02, 2017:

I demand to replant some of my container plants this Spring and was wondering about simply this topic. I hate the thought of ownership dirt, it only seems giddy. When I was younger I used to brand a mix that included outside dirt that I'd put in the oven on a depression temperature for 20 minutes or and so. Then I wondered if I'd melt out nutrients. Would information technology?

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on Nov 25, 2017:

Hi Rose. The compostable material needs air in order to decompose, then . . . no, I don't call back so.

Taj, Thanks so much for stopping past!

Taj Raza on November 22, 2017:

Thank you then much for providing such a useful information virtually Used Soil.

Rose on September 22, 2017:

Can i make a compost bin out of a 5gal bucket with out putting holes in it i have no style of putting holes in the saucepan

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on June 26, 2017:

That must be one huge moth! They tin can get large.

Jill Spencer (author) from United states of america on June 26, 2017:

Thank you, Peg. I similar to pass on any I learn, and nigh of information technology is for newbies. In that location's so much to know! Every time I look into whatsoever subject, information technology quickly becomes complicated, and gardening is no exception. I just discovered, for instance, that the ugly hummingbird I've been seeing at our feeders is actually a moth!

Peggy Wood from Houston, Texas on June 25, 2017:

This is an excellent article for people to read who are new to gardening. I never discard potting soil and always reuse it in manners you mentioned.

Virginia Allain from Central Florida on June 04, 2017:

Very helpful info. I'm a thrifty gardener and reuse my container soil over and over. Now I'll do some treatment of it in a blackness plastic purse equally y'all propose. Skillful to know this technique.

rudyhiebert on Feb 19, 2017:

When Spring finally arrives, my soil enhancer preference will be the liquid organic concentrate that is fish extract and sea kelp based instead of with chemicals.

Jill Spencer (writer) from United States on September xxx, 2015:

Thanks for stopping past, Kappygirl. I've been working on my photography and am glad you noticed. (:

Kappygirl on September 30, 2015:

This is a great hub with useful data. I ofttimes re-utilize soil but didn't know about pasteurizing it. I'll definitely have to practice that in the hereafter. By the mode, you lot've got really nice pictures besides!

Jill Spencer (writer) from United States on September 30, 2015:

Cheers, Roberta. Appreciate information technology.

RTalloni on September 30, 2015:

Congrats on your Hub of the Day award for this very useful info. Getting the almost out of potting soil is a skillful affair!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on September thirty, 2015:

Hello, Kirsten. The weather condition shifting hither too, and my summer flowers are fading abroad. Thanks for stopping by!

MarleneB, baking soil in the oven is a picayune smelly, simply well worth it! Glad you commented. All the best, Jill

Marlene Bertrand from U.s. on September xxx, 2015:

Fantabulous tips! I absolutely dear the idea of placing the soil in the oven. That is truly a clever solution to killing off harmful stuff in the soil. By the style, congratulations on receiving the Hub of the Day award.

Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on September thirty, 2015:

Jill, great tips. I might have to practise that next year for my summer plants---two of them have bit the grit, one'southward left for some other week or so. Congrats on HOTD!

Jill Spencer (author) from The states on September 30, 2015:

How-do-you-do Donna. Aye, you want to be safe when reusing soil. I'm about to replace our tired summer flowers in pots for autumn ones. Will have to cheque out some of your hubs for ideas for an autumn door ornamentation. Our door looks best with a swag. I put up Indian corn, but it looks a little sad all by itself at that place. (: Thank you for dropping by and commenting. --Jill

Donna Herron from The states on September xxx, 2015:

Great data, Jill! I never knew that I couldn't merely reuse my potting soil and so I'yard grateful for your suggestions on how to safely recycle information technology. Pinning to my gardening board. Thanks and congratulations on your HOTD!

Jill Spencer (author) from Usa on September thirty, 2015:

Thanks, Patricia, for sharing the article, and for your kind comments. I'thousand delighted that the article brought upward adept memories for you.

Thank you, too, Rebecca. I'm surprised but happy this is a HOTD.

Rebecca Mealey from Northeastern Georgia, Usa on September 30, 2015:

Cute hub, Jill. And very useful. Congratulations!

Patricia Scott from Due north Central Florida on September thirty, 2015:

Hi Jill

this is so helpful...my Momma taught me then much most soil and found care and much of what you say here she did.

This has been a swell refresher article for me to read because she has been gone from the planet for many years and I had forgotten some of what she said...so I am delighted to read this.

Congrats on HOTD

Angels are on the style to y'all this forenoon ps pinned shared One thousand+ and tweeted

Jill Spencer (writer) from U.s. on May xx, 2014:

Hi sgbrown! Thanks for commenting. Y'all sound like a real soil recycler! I do the same thing you do, plus throw old soil into the composter--and I bet y'all do that, likewise. Great to hear from y'all! All the all-time, Jill.

Sheila Brown from Southern Oklahoma on May 19, 2014:

Great information! I e'er reuse my quondam potting soil. I get a big bucket or pot and only start dumping the old soil inside every bit I clean out my pots for reuse. Equally I demand mix for my new plants, I unremarkably use 50/l and add a little fertilizer. When I am planting in the ground, I will mix the old soil with the dirt I dig out and plant with that. Very skillful advice here, I've been doing the same matter for years and it works great! Up and useful!

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on February 27, 2013:

How-do-you-do Mike! Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate your comments & promise the ideas are useful to you lot this bound. Take care, Jill

Mike Robbers from London on February 26, 2013:

Prissy hub! Some very useful tips! Thank you for sharing! Voted upwards & useful!

Jill Spencer (author) from United states of america on Nov 20, 2012:

@ Letitialicious -- I'yard not sure nigh the found, but you could save the soil past blistering information technology in the oven a pot-full at a fourth dimension to kill the pathogens in it, including fungal spores. You lot could also dump information technology into black plastic garbage numberless and let it oestrus up on your deck or patio over the winter. Take care, Jill

Letitialicious from Paris via San Diego on November xx, 2012:

I live in the metropolis and recently inherited (literally) some pots with water logged soil, which I allowed to dry out, but I've planted one plant so far and information technology looks pretty droopy, several months downward the line. Remember there's any manner I can save information technology/and or the soil?

Jill Spencer (author) from The states on Nov 15, 2012:

@ aviannovice-- Howdy Deb! Nice to hear from yous. What a cool, unique retentivity. A woodstove. (: I reuse soil all the time, too, mostly when I change container plants exterior with the seasons. Have care, Jill

Deb Hirt from Stillwater, OK on Nov fifteen, 2012:

I reused last yr'southward soil and plan to exercise it again this year. My father used to broil soil in the over of the woodstove before he planted seedlings at a low temperature. It works, all right. An excellent piece, awesome and Upwards!

Jill Spencer (author) from Usa on October 12, 2012:

Buying dirt--it really does seem ridiculous, Mary--like driving to the track in gild to walk, which I've also done. (: Thanks for commenting. Sounds like you're an onetime hand at reusing one-time potting soil! Have intendance, Jill

Mary Hyatt from Florida on October 12, 2012:

My Mother would "turn over in her grave" if she knew I bought dirt! When I was growing upwardly, nosotros just went into the wood and got our potting soil. I live in S. Fl. where the soil is simply sand, so I do a lot of container gardening. When a found dies, I pull it out, and reuse the same soil for cuttings or another plant. I would never throw out potting soil, information technology's too expensive. Our Home Depot sells torn bags of soil inexpensive.

I voted this Hub UP, etc.

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on October 12, 2012:

Hello Suzie HQ! Enjoyed your hub on unusual containers for plants & intend to read the one about complimentary containers. I'd dear to have my hub linked to yours. Cheers for commenting! Capeesh it. --Jill

Suzanne Ridgeway from Dublin, Ireland on October 12, 2012:

Hi Jill,

What a great commodity and ideas on recycling soil! Loved the info and would similar to link it in with ane or two hubs of mine on recycled container gardening. Cheers for sharing and VU, Interesting, Useful and shared!!

Ben Zoltak from Lake Mills, Jefferson County, Wisconsin USA on October 01, 2012:

Slap-up commodity, I recall I'thousand getting the idea. It sounds like, no matter what soil and compost from outdoors need to be processed or pasteurized as you say. I have three blackness walnut tress on my holding too I was wondering if I should avert composting their leaves?

thanks!!!!

Ben

Jill Spencer (author) from United States on May 01, 2012:

Thanks for reading and commenting, Don. It's nice to meet you!

DON BALDERAS on May 01, 2012:

This is enriching and Earth-friendly. Thanks for these ideas.

Jill Spencer (writer) from United States on March 22, 2012:

Hey Q--Good to hear from yous! Cheers for commenting. J

quester.ltd on March 21, 2012:

As always, y'all are total of expert information - await reading your Hubs and refreshing old ideas...:)

Jill Spencer (writer) from United States on March 12, 2012:

Hey, Maren! Thank you. Information technology is much less messy & stinky! Thanks for stopping by! Jill

Maren Elizabeth Morgan from Pennsylvania on March 12, 2012:

I like your idea of blistering in the sun rather thanmy cooking oven.

Jill Spencer (author) from The states on March 09, 2012:

Yep--sometimes you tin't see what's killing your plants and must look at the "signs" of the trouble, such as wilting, curled leaves, chocolate-brown spots, etc. Glad you stopped past, Eileen! DF

Eileen Hughes from Northam Western Australia on March 08, 2012:

Very helpful article. I had not thought nigh the nasties in the soil

Jill Spencer (author) from United states of america on March 05, 2012:

Awesome, chefsref! Hope the "black bag" handling works well for y'all. Take care, DF

Lee Raynor from Citra Florida on March 05, 2012:

Hey Dirt Farmer

I learned a new fob here today. The black plastic handbag play tricks will come in handy. I have a lot of pots total of old soil that have been sitting for years

Jill Spencer (author) from United states on March 05, 2012:

It'southward actually absurd how and then many people are composting these days. Thanks for commenting, Shelly.

Shelly McRae from Phoenix, Arizona on March 05, 2012:

Proficient advice, Dirt Farmer. I almost ever put terminal year'due south container soil in the compost, though I've occasionally mixed it with new. Thank you for sharing.

Jill Spencer (author) from Us on March 04, 2012:

Thanks for commenting, Robie! If you lot're placing the soil in bags at the finish of summertime, exit them there until spring. Take care, DF

Robie Benve from Ohio on March 04, 2012:

Splendid communication on reusing potting soil! I sure dislike (for the sake of a kind word) the cost tag on those soil bags. Thank you for sharing.

Q: I never tried "baking in the sun" in the black purse. How long should I live information technology at that place to get rid of the unwanted guests?