Survey says! Do you sterilize your potting mix?

I want to repot some plants tonight, but I don't have any potting mix sterilized and ready to go, so I'm considering being lazy. I always sterilize my mix, but lately have read that some people don't, so I wanted to ask all of you what you do.

I use MiracleGro potting mix, perlite, and vermiculite and make my own recipe of it. I moisten it well, cover loosely, then microwave it for 9 minutes. What, if anything, do you do, and do you have or have you had any problems with pests, mold, fungus, etc?

Thanks all!

I'm using my husband's computer and he doesn't have any Gessie pictures (gasp! LOL), but here's a lovely photo I found in one of his folders. LOL

what a gorgeous tree!!! Rain, if you are using that regular Miracle grow that doesn't say AV mix, I would put it in the microwave for sure. If it is the AV mix then I wouldn't worry..........I have used that with perlite many times without the microwave.

Thanks, Gail! He took that picture at Cheekwood Botanical Garden in Nashville. Wish it was in my yard... LOL

It's the regular MiracleGro potting mix. The AV mix is too expensive for me, and I still mix stuff with it, so it's just cheaper and easier for me to get the huge 64 quart bag. I had about decided to sterilize it anyway. LOL It's simply not in me to skip such an important step.

I do, however, still want to hear everyone's opinions and habits about what they do with their mix. I think it's good to hear what others use and do sometimes, just to refresh our perspectives. ^_^

I have switched (but it will be a slow process of changing) to Volkmann's wicking mix and it is expensive. Our friends in the violet club use it and have for 20 years and they get more blooms and successes than I have ever seen. Will let you know how much difference there is........

Please do let us know! If it's that expensive, then I know I'd never switch to it exclusively, but if it's that good, I'd be willing to get some to use with just a few select plants. It doesn't seem so bad to use expensive stuff if it's for just a few plants, but when you're dealing with several hundred plants, anything is expensive! LOL

WE got together as a club and ordered 40 bags of 41 quarts each and he sold it for so much less and put it on a truck for 100.00. It wouldn't have mattered whether we ordered 10 big bags or 100 big bags, the shipping by truck would be 100.00 but we also got to buy it at wholesale as a club. With shipping it came to 18.00 a big bag.

Amy..great question! I used to always sterlize my own mix all the time..now I do it the lazy way ..lol..I get my regular and wicking potting mix from Volkmann Bros.It says its supposed to be pre sterilized..So far so good..I haven't even noticed any pesky gnats I sometimes would get buzzing around.... I repotted everything in it over the last few months they seem to like it really well.....which reminds me I need to order more..used the last of it over the weekend...

edited to add..looks like we were both posting at the same time gail^_^

This message was edited Apr 22, 2008 6:12 PM

Gail thats a great deal..I paid around $26 per 41 qt bag and that wasn't including shipping!

Hmm... if all you superb growers are using it, it must really be something! Is there anything special in it that makes it so good?

LOL Amy..Gail is the SUPERB grower..not me by a longshot.........I only Wish !!

Here is the info I copied from volkmanns site about their mix

This soil contains peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and dolomite lime, to which the following trace elements (Iron, manganese, copper, zinc, molybdenum and boron) have been added. Made from all sterile material. Not necessary to sterilize. It is the same soil mix we used for growing plants in our commercial greenhouses.

This soil has proper nutrients, structure, water and air holding capacity - contains no oxygen or nitrogen robbing material. Proper pH.

You'll find this hard to believe but I had put my first batch ever of soil into the microwave to sterilize it and then came in here to check out DG! Too funny!!

All summer long I would mix up big batches and then leave it in the rubbermaid container out on the back deck where it gets direct sun half the day. I would peel back that lid and the stuff would just be steaming so I figured nature was sterilizing it for me. ^_^

Then this winter I left it out in the freezing cold weather and figured frozen was as good as steaming. I'd bring the tub in for the day to get it thawed / warmed up before use. And I'd add warm water to dampen it up.

Then I got lazy with the last batch and just mixed some up and used it! Fortunately it was just a small batch and I didn't do very many things as everything I potted that day ended up with this fuzzy green stuff on top of it that was as thick as grass!

Thus a batch in the microwave as I type. Not hot enough or cold enough outside right now for nature to do my work for me!

~Brenda

Volkmann's wicking mix is sooo light and fluffy I have had to go to a bigger size of string. The ladies use number 48 from Academy . (even if it is a 2" pot or a 6" pot)

Nancy, shipping is very expensive and he told me actually lost money on shipping several bags, but when we could order as many as 40 bags and put it on a truck it saved him a lot of money (and us, too). The ladies in the club has been ordering individually and paying what you did.

You are right Gail...It costs me nearly $10 shipping for 2 (41qt) bags...pricey for sure..thankfully I don't need to order it that often..or I probably wouldn't be able to......

Gail, I opened my big bag for the first time today and the soil is very nice! I know I will love it as I repot from now on. Thanks.

Isn't it light and fluffy compared to anything else. I haven't had a chance to use it very much but will in the future. I am even propagating 3 trays of strep leaves in it to see what happens. Marjorie told me she uses it for every thing she grows or starts.

Yes, seems to have lots of peat moss along with other nice things. It is very nice.