For ever so long, when I repotted plants in a bigger pot, unused pot, etc., I simply dumped "old/used" potting soil in the flower beds and worked it in the next time I added amendments. It struck me this year though, especially since I'm now on a fixed retirement income, that the used potting soil was probably good to use again since while the original materials may have broken down somewhat, the remaining balance was still the same as when it came out of the bag, i.e.: organic matter, bits of perlite, and so on. I tend to buy name brands because I got really tired of picking out rocks, sticks, bits of plastic, etc. out of the cheap brands although on occasion, I've started with a bag of the cheap stuff and added my own amendments to make it better.
So... is there any reason NOT to reuse potting soil that you can think of? To be sure, reuse would include disposing of any amount great or small that might be infected with fungus, poisons, weed seeds, or other not so good tidbits that have snuck in while being used the first time...
This summer, I've been recycling my potting soil (adding and mixing in more fresh where needed for volume and have seen no ill effects in the potted plants where I've used it but wondered about others experiences.
Thanks for viewing my question..
Steve
Reuse potting soil?
I too have reused potting soil, but usually when I do, I put it in the bottom of the pot and add fresh at the top around the new plants. Since many annuals don't root very deep it seems to work just fine. If you are doing things that stay in the pot for a long time, I probably would opt for new. I put any soil that I am dumping into my compost pile.
Composting is my favorite pass time.
I reuse it all the time, maybe with a little compost added.
I also reuse the potting soil. I usually dump the pots and mix the old with new potting soil and vermiculite.
If I re use it I sterilize it first I mostly make my own potting mix so it just gets added to what ever I am mixing for at the time
Thanks for your responses.
Steve