I have several clay pots and plastic containers that I planted tomatoes, peppers, and balloon flowers in last year. Is it ok to remove the root balls and reuse the soil? The soil is the "organic mix" I purchased from Soil Builders, Inc. plus amendments I added. I didn’t know whether or not there might be some chance of contamination from something hiding in the old soil. No diseases were noted on the plants last year.
Can container soil be reused?
I reuse mine, I mix it half and half with new soil.
Josephine.
You can reuse it but you are right about disease, it can be spread from the old soil.
I have recycled all my past soils and I mix in Compost, and seaweed, mycorrhizal fungi and turn it every few days. Then use it in small amounts over all that I plant.
If I have a diseased plant I will toss the soil in a unplanted bed, but I usually reuse most soil mixing with new. Usually potted plants that die here are from failure to water!
This message was edited Mar 2, 2011 6:44 PM
Mix it into your garden bed as well.