Reused Soil War!

[just.wing.it]

OK well, I don't actually want to start a soil war.....again...
But I am curious about reusing inorganic substrate....
I know some of you do it...

There's really no good reason not to, it's more economical....

My question is really about how you "treat" your used particles...

Do you rinse with water and air dry?

Do you use any chemicals to clean it?

How bout putting it spread out on a cookie sheet and baking it in the oven to kill anything bad that could be in there? Time and temp?

Anything I might have missed?

 

[BrianBay9]

Black plastic bag in full sun for a month.

 

[just.wing.it]

Black plastic bag in full sun for a month.

That's it huh....interesting, thanks!

 

[GrimLore]

My question is really about how you "treat" your used particles...

I use quite a lot of PermaTil as a drainage layer in all pots. The organics and plant roots grow into it so I usually dump it into a bucket when repotting when the bucket gets full I rinse it of using a cheap DG plastic strainer and spread it out on trays, pans, plastic bags - whatever is handy to dry in the sun. If there is any junk in it I only pick out the largest. Pour it in a clean bucket for reuse.
If you worry fungal problems just spray it down with Clorox Cleanup when drying, easy.

For the record Walter Pall just dumps all into a outdoor bin - any and all types of inorganics. He mixes it with a shovel for reuse, nothing fancy needed really.

Grimmy

 

[just.wing.it]

I use quite a lot of PermaTil as a drainage layer in all pots. The organics and plant roots grow into it so I usually dump it into a bucket when repotting when the bucket gets full I rinse it of using a cheap DG plastic strainer and spread it out on trays, pans, plastic bags - whatever is handy to dry in the sun. If there is any junk in it I only pick out the largest. Pour it in a clean bucket for reuse.
If you worry fungal problems just spray it down with Clorox Cleanup when drying, easy.

Grimmy

I was wondering about bleach and bleach-like things...
Cool, thanks G!

 

[GrimLore]

I was wondering about bleach and bleach-like things...
Cool, thanks G!

Re-read my post I edited it - I don't but you could, most don't - the sun is your friend

Grimmy

 

[just.wing.it]

Re-read my post I edited it - I don't but you could, most don't - the sun is your friend

Grimmy

Yeah, I would refrain from using bleach or any chemicals, if possible.
Still like the thought though...
I do also like the idea of putting it in the oven...

 

[GrimLore]

I do also like the idea of putting it in the oven...

Not me. It could only be on low setting and require a ton of energy/time to dry without the benefit of Sun - Sun does a lot of good.

Grimmy

 

[just.wing.it]

Not me. It could only be on low setting and require a ton of energy/time to dry without the benefit of Sun - Sun does a lot of good.

Grimmy

UV rays....good point.

 

[Dav4]

If the soil came from a healthy tree, it get's dumped into a trash can, to be sifted and used as needed in the future, usually for stock in grow pots and boxes. I'll routinely re-use the same soil with the same tree during a re-pot... just gets sifted or washed right there.

 

[Anthony]

10 plants chosen.
Stage before wilting, soil is dryish.
Big tub.
10 plants root pruned.
Rested in their pots.

Out come the sieves.
Second one removes most of the organic.

Add fresh organic.
Re-mix and repot.

Have yet to have a problem ----- 38 years+

Sieve is able to hold back 5 mm inorganic.
Nothing wasted------- no purchasing.

We buy a bag or two of 5 mm for adding to the commercial
peatmoss/perlite mix for cuttings.
Cheapo, sanitario we.
Good Day
Anthony

When we upgrade to a larger pot, we just make a little more mix.
Here's to LUSH!!

 

[Gene Deci]

OK well, I don't actually want to start a soil war.....again...
But I am curious about reusing inorganic substrate....
I know some of you do it...

There's really no good reason not to, it's more economical....

My question is really about how you "treat" your used particles...

Do you rinse with water and air dry?

Do you use any chemicals to clean it?

How bout putting it spread out on a cookie sheet and baking it in the oven to kill anything bad that could be in there? Time and temp?

Anything I might have missed?

I have been reusing my soil for years. I spread it out and let it dry in the sun but only so it will sift easier. After I sift it I usually have about half left which I put in a garbage can for later use. Never had any problems.

 

[Soldano666]

Do it. It gets pricey having stuff shipped to the east coast. Especially if you have a lot of trees in pots. A bunch of mine went in the ground over the past few weeks to grow out some. Now I have soil to collect more in the spring.

 

[Rambles]

The only substrate I don't recycle is if the tree it held died of mysterious causes. At that point tree and soil go in the dumpster and pot gets bleached.

(that has not happened a lot, mind you. I generally know how I screwed up when a tree dies)

 

[my nellie]

On the condition that the soil comes from healthy trees or dead ones which I know for sure they didn't die from pathological cause, then yes I reuse the soil after sieving it.

... ...I do also like the idea of putting it in the oven...

I have used the oven to sterilize used soil.
It's not that much of energy expense because the temperature is low.
If you search on the net you will find specific directions.
Mostly I do like Anthony and/or Khai does

... ...Out come the sieves.
Second one removes most of the organic.
Add fresh organic.
Re-mix and repot.

 

[just.wing.it]

The only substrate I don't recycle is if the tree it held died of mysterious causes. At that point tree and soil go in the dumpster and pot gets bleached.

(that has not happened a lot, mind you. I generally know how I screwed up when a tree dies)

Yes totally...

 

[crust]

I reuse. used soil goes in mortar trays or garbage cans for drying then is resifted and stored.

 

[Bonsai Nut]

Inorganic is fine to reuse...

It's the tired old organic material you need to get rid of.

 

[wireme]

I reuse too, lots of organics also get reused as well as inorganic. If it stays on the screen it gets reused. It becomes a nice mix of everything you ever use over time. I repot over a blanket on the ground to catch the stuff. Once it's dry it goes into a Rubbermaid and gets sifted when needed. Often gets sifted and reused before it's put away right off the blanket. I have hot water pasteurized substrate a number of times before reuse. That was due to the presence of root aphids. Pasteurization doesn't kill all microbes but should do insects and eggs in. Maybe I would have sterilized in the oven instead but I'm always pasturizing mushroom substrate so pretty much every day I've got a barrel of hot water already. Bagged and dunked at 70 c for 1hr.