Saving Potting Soil? - Ask Extension
Hello!
I’ve used quite a bit of potting mix in my vegetable and flower containers this year (Pro-Mix brand). Now that I’m in the midst of fa...
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Saving Potting Soil? #887801
Asked October 12, 2024, 2:43 PM EDT
Hello!
I’ve used quite a bit of potting mix in my vegetable and flower containers this year (Pro-Mix brand). Now that I’m in the midst of fall clean-up, what are best practices for saving this soil for next year? Let it dry out and remove as many roots as possible? Can I use a large plastic tote to store the soil and keep it outside?
Thank you!
Charles County Maryland
Expert Response
You can consider re-using potting mix as long as you didn't have any disease pathogens that hurt your plants this year.
If any of your plants, particularly your edible garden crops had diseases, leave that soil out.
You can pull up your plants and shake off as much soil as you can.
Before using again you will probably want to refresh it by fluffing it up and adding some new mix as well, particularly if there was any fertilizer within the mix that you used.
Keeping it dry in a sealed container is fine.
https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2023/reusing_potting_soil.html
Christine
If any of your plants, particularly your edible garden crops had diseases, leave that soil out.
You can pull up your plants and shake off as much soil as you can.
Before using again you will probably want to refresh it by fluffing it up and adding some new mix as well, particularly if there was any fertilizer within the mix that you used.
Keeping it dry in a sealed container is fine.
https://extension.okstate.edu/articles/2023/reusing_potting_soil.html
Christine
