Reusing potting soil for seeds (flower, manure, containers, insects)

[ocean2026]

HI I have plenty of containers with potting soil with vermiculite from plants that did not make it or were transplanted.

The pots have sat a few years.

Is this soil reusable mixed with some new soil or has it lost its nutrients?

[cowtown2snowdog]

What kind of plants will you be planting? How big of pots?

If the plants did not make it due to disease/sickness, it may be in the soil so if you plant similar plants they will probably croak.

I reuse soil. I start plants, transplant to the ground, and reuse the starter pots/soil. They are only in the pots short term.

[no kudzu]

I do not reuse potting soil. I used to but i have found handling all that dried up soil is bad for my allergies. I do however use old soil to either fill in low area in the yard or use it on the very bottom on large containers- if I don't use packing peanuts to keep the pots from being too heavy.

This old soil is probably full of seeds so I especially wouldn't reuse it for starting flower or vegetable seeds.

[beachmel]

I most certainly do reuse the soil I've paid for. If you have a propane burner and an old metal pan that you can use to heat it, to sterilize it, there's no problem with reusing it. I've never had a problem with it. I used to have an old electric Faberware bbq that I used for that purpose, but large metal pan, filled with moistened re-purposed soil, baked in the oven at 300 deg until hot, will do the trick as well. Your gas grill will work as well. Anything you can use to get it hot to the touch, then cool until luke warm, will work great. Heating the soil like that, and then planting the seedlings in it, can greatly help speed up the germination as well. I've been doing it for over 30 years and have never had trouble with funguses, insects, or weed seeds.

[Latina7]

I have also been using my old soil for years to plant my containers. I just add sand, manure, potting soil, garden or regular soil and mix it. I also add bone meal, alfalfa, blood meal, fish meal, cottonseed, kelp meal, and guano, in small amounts. All these are soil additives that help replenish the soil.

[beachmel]

Originally Posted by Latina7

I have also been using my old soil for years to plant my containers. I just add sand, manure, potting soil, garden or regular soil and mix it. I also add bone meal, alfalfa, blood meal, fish meal, cottonseed, kelp meal, and guano, in small amounts. All these are soil additives that help replenish the soil.

Absolutely! Throwing some perlite into it, if it's trying to compact, will loosen it right up as well...keep it loose and allow your roots to really go crazy!

[bustaduke]

WOW some of these post are just so idiotic they are unbelievable