Re-using potting soil from year to year...?

Question

I have several pots in which I've previously planted. Can I re-use the potting soil or would I be better off buying more?

Answer 1

I have done that in the past. Thought it would save me money. But been taught another lesson. That to grow healthy plants you must take the old soil out and put new soil in. I am seeing it on my outdoor flower box. So for better results use new soil. What I usually do with the old soil, is I dump it onto my veggie bed . And when fall comes, I take my tiller to it and digg it in that way.
I would recommend using new topsoil.

Answer 2

I use potting soil for 2 years, typically, unless I have a disease problem with a particular container.. but then, I buy high quality soil and in the spring, I spade up and re-mix the soil and add a controlled release fertilizer to it (osmocote).

Plants use up the nutritive value of potting soil, so it's important to fertilizer in containers. Further, your water can change the pH value of the soil, if you don't keep an eye on it. If in doubt, buy new soil.

remember.. (as with anything).. garbage in.. garbage out. the better your soil, the better your results.

Good luck.

(Sorry.. had to add after seeing the first answer.. DON'T USE TOPSOIL for container planting! It is not potting soil and is the garbage I mentioned before.)

Answer 3

You're better off buying new soil. The nutrients have either been used by the plants, or leached out with watering. I usually add the old soil to my garden, or mix it in with my compost heap, and then eventually it gets added to the garden.

Good luck.

Answer 4

Yes, I have used the same potting soil for years with excellent results. I dump the old potting soil out onto a sheet of plastic, mix in some bagged "sterile" steer manure to provide nitrogen, and then repot the plants or use to start new plants. You can use plain old commercial fertilizer if you wish instead of steer manure. If you do buy a bag of steer manure be sure to get "sterilized" as the grass seeds will all be dead. Plain old steer manure is full of grass seeds that passed through the cow and will germinate in the pot.

Answer 5

Buy new as the soil nutrients was used in the last growing season.