How to Rejuvenate Potting Soil
After you have allowed your plant to grow in its potting soil for a year or two, you may want to rejuvenate the soil. This will add back nutrients that have been depleted over the years. This is a great way to recycle the soil you already have. Of course, if any of the plants that you were growing were infected with insects or any type of disease, you will have to get rid of the potting soil to avoid contaminating any new plants.
Put on a pair of garden gloves and remove any plants from your potting soil.
Lay a tarp outside and dump the contents of your flower pots in the middle of the tarp. Run your hands through the old potting soil and remove any plant roots, pieces of plant or stones. Crush up any soil clumps.
- After you have allowed your plant to grow in its potting soil for a year or two, you may want to rejuvenate the soil.
- Lay a tarp outside and dump the contents of your flower pots in the middle of the tarp.
Weigh or eyeball how much old potting soil you have. Figure out what half of that is and add that much compost to the pile. You will end up with a ratio of 2:1 (old potting soil to compost). The compost will add new nutrients to your old soil.
Add 25 percent of either peat moss or perlite to your old soil. This will keep your old potting soil draining well.
Use a shovel to mix the ingredients together. Once they are combined, you can begin refilling your flower pots.
- Weigh or eyeball how much old potting soil you have.
- You will end up with a ratio of 2:1 (old potting soil to compost).
Rejuvenate Potting Soil
Place the potting soil on a large tarp, and use a garden rake to break up any clumps. Remove any rocks, root pieces or other debris that is present in the soil. Scoop the soil into a large bucket with holes in the bottom. Do this twice, and then spread the soil back out onto the tarp and allow it to dry. For an alternative that makes a bit less soil, mix perlite and screened compost into the depleted soil, adding 1/4 pound of each for each pound of depleted potting soil. Mix in a light dusting of lime and gypsum and 1 tablespoon of slow-release fertilizer for every gallon of soil you have. Allow it to cure in the bin for two weeks before using.
- Place the potting soil on a large tarp, and use a garden rake to break up any clumps.
Tip
Don't use homemade compost unless you are sure the pile got hot enough to kill any microorganisms.
Warning
Do not add topsoil to your potting soil.
Related Articles
References
Tips
- Don't use homemade compost unless you are sure the pile got hot enough to kill any microorganisms.
Warnings
- Do not add topsoil to your potting soil.
Writer Bio
Alicia Bodine has been a professional writer for 13 years. She has produced thousands of articles for online publications such as Demand Studios, GoBankingRates and WiseGeek. Bodine is passionate about gardening, travel, education and finance. She has received awards for being a top content producer.
