How to Revitalize Old Potting Soil (Containers & GreenStalk)

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  • Опубліковано 23 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 116

  • @ScottHead
    @ScottHead 3 роки тому +8

    Good stuff. This topic is very good for UA-cam, did great for me, your take on the issue is nice to see. Good info for sure.

  • @randomharts
    @randomharts 3 роки тому +13

    Just had an “oh my” moment when I realized how long my poor ivy in my living room has been in its pot (15 years at least)😳!!! Not sure why I’ve never thought about it, because I change the soil in my garden pots every other year. I should be doing something to help the soil for my indoor plants too 🌿

  • @villagesteader3552
    @villagesteader3552 3 роки тому +9

    I used all of my container soil in my 4x4 raised beds as they needed more soil this spring. I also added a bag of mushroom compost and lightly mixed in the top portion. So far 2 of the beds are planted. Potatoes in one and tomatoes in the other. So far they are looking super!
    Hoping I didn’t do anything to awful!
    Next year I will do the renourishment and won’t have to spend an arm and a leg to replace it all!😜

  • @monicam.8006
    @monicam.8006 3 роки тому +13

    I know you don't want to hear this because you don't like compost tea, but I was an indoor container gardener for many years. You mentioned wetting the soil before improving it. Use compost tea to wet the soil, and you will not need as much fertilizer. Additionally, if you have dirt (100% dead soil), throw it in your compost bin. It'll be revitalized in about 3 or 4 months. Definitely a peach tree.

  • @stephenmoberg8807
    @stephenmoberg8807 3 роки тому +6

    Ty for the always great info . I pile my container soil in a corner and revitalize it by using the old soil at 50 percent , and peat moss and compost the other 50 percent and then add the soil amendments as I go.

  • @kschleich1950
    @kschleich1950 2 роки тому +2

    As a new gardener I learn so much from you. Glad to know I can incorporate my last year’s soil with some new amended soil.

  • @PamMetford
    @PamMetford Рік тому

    We use a cement mixer to remix the soil from our potato bags! We add new compost and peat moss and put the extra into flower or veggie beds. Hard work but it's been very successful so far!

  • @Jeff_PNW
    @Jeff_PNW 3 роки тому +6

    Great content as always @Gardener Scott. 👍
    +1 for dumping your old potting soil into the garden. I also put it into my compost bins as it tends to bring more worms & bugs to break down the other stuff I throw in there.

  • @tfisher67
    @tfisher67 Рік тому +2

    I watched this video at the perfect time! I learned a lot and also confirmed that I did some things right, like refreshing my greenstalk. Now, I feel confident moving forward on my potted annuals. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge.

  • @Oktopia
    @Oktopia Рік тому +2

    This year I used my own homemade compost together with old potting mix in the bottom of all of my beds and pots. And I top it off with something new. Hopefully next year I'll have an even greater amount of homemade compost and can buy less. This year I also have bokashi to add to the mix. A few days ago I bought a used hot composter to get even more out of the short season here in Norway. I think my plants will be pretty happy about all of this effort in the end.

    • @vaf
      @vaf 6 місяців тому +1

      So, how did your idea turn out?

    • @Oktopia
      @Oktopia 6 місяців тому

      @@vaf I emptied my hot compost bin a couple of days ago and distributed the contents into a few of my beds. It was solid black rich compost and I'm SO happy! Time will tell if my plants will be happy with the fresh compost. At least now I know the compost bin works! :D

    • @vaf
      @vaf 6 місяців тому

      @Oktopia that's good to hear. I'm working on my compost, and it's been looking good, thanks to the texas heat. Got a lot of soldier flies in it one day, and the next all were suddenly dead, so I'm not sure what I added that may have caused this. I only throw vegetable scraps, cardboard pieces, and some leaves. I'm still gonna use it in my greenstalk, though.

  • @dustyflats3832
    @dustyflats3832 8 місяців тому +1

    My FIL was frugal. He would empty pots in a compost area. The worms and a few scraps did the rest.

  • @janismoore4554
    @janismoore4554 3 роки тому +3

    I have been doing exactly as you described. Glad to see I am doing something right.

  • @karlvigado7246
    @karlvigado7246 3 роки тому +2

    Hey Scott! Love your videos! One way to keep your back safe is dont hold heavy objects and over stretch it away from center of your body when lifting or placing it down. Dont mean to sound annoying , just caught my eye when you mentioned your back.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      Thanks, Karl. That's how I injured my back in the first place many years ago. It's easy to over extend.

  • @conniedavidson1807
    @conniedavidson1807 3 роки тому +2

    Great timing for this video. I have several old pots with dirt that I was going to dump. Now I will reuse.

  • @richardcain713
    @richardcain713 3 роки тому +1

    This video is what I needed to repurpose my container and raised bed soil....thank you

  • @heidiclark6612
    @heidiclark6612 3 роки тому +2

    Great information! I never have enough planting soil so yes I do reuse my soil.

  • @JennySimon206
    @JennySimon206 Рік тому +1

    You should do a compost sifter DIY for that old potting soil. I live my the ocean. You can layer oil soil with seaweed and turn it into compost. I love it. I use giant bull Kelp for Hugelkulture too. They're like logs. Then they have long fronds. I found a bunch of specimens on the beach of different kinds of seaweed. I took a bunch of pictures. I'm gonna make seaweed tea with it and use it for my biochar I haven't inoculated yet. Maybe I'll bubble the seaweed tea too... Hmm.. I wonder. I have a recipe somewhere for the inoculant. Living Webb farms.
    So yeah, I decided to do my one season leaves and seaweed cold compost with my super old potting mix or I use it in the bottom of my pots if I do mini Hugelkulture in there. The smaller skinnier ends of the kelp, old blackberry brambles and twigs. Bark nuggets.
    I've also seen someone load the old up potting mix with blood fish and bone.

  • @dannyhughes4889
    @dannyhughes4889 3 роки тому

    I religiously empty Pots completely as in a number of occasions I have discovered that sometimes commercial drainage holes have been omitted, are too small for the job or have been plugged either by a pebble or hard compacted dirt.
    I also give the Pots a good wash out so as to start the new plants in as safe an environment as possible.

  • @npast1
    @npast1 2 роки тому

    Nice video, thank you. I shred leaves in fall and let them sit in piles for a year so they turn into the leaf mold. I use leaf mold instead of peat moss, its free and I think is even better. I grow tomatoes in containers, and it is not good to reuse the same soil for tomatoes next year because of potential disease issues, so I dump used tomato soil in a pile on the ground and let it sit for a couple years, but every year in late fall I mix in some leaf mold and cow manure into the soil pile, and let the worms break it down over the year. Two years later, the soil is ready for tomatoes again. So I have multiple piles of soil in the corners of my garden, cycling through them depending on what I need. I also add plenty of rabbit manure (for heavy feeder plants) and compost when I refill the grow bags.

  • @kmiller6002
    @kmiller6002 3 роки тому +1

    I'm going to be doing that this week... Thank You Gardener Scott

  • @maggiemanzke7926
    @maggiemanzke7926 3 роки тому +2

    Perfectly timed video, Scott. Thanks! I need to pot up houseplants and some seedlings for outside containers (chives and mint).

  • @randomness8819
    @randomness8819 2 роки тому

    Thank you sir. This is super valuable. Im just starting and I've spent an arm and leg. Im going to follow your tios n hope i get sone results that make the cost worthwhile then, I shall make my own soil n compost! Plz pray 4 me

  • @Familygarden88
    @Familygarden88 6 місяців тому +1

    Thanks for sharing, very informative

  • @rufia75
    @rufia75 3 роки тому

    I like adding a mix of bonemeal, bloodmeal, and worm castings to revitalize old potting mix. Oh, and a bit of sulphate of potash

  • @keetetteturner3147
    @keetetteturner3147 3 роки тому +1

    I found the Green Stalk vertical planter on a Black Friday/ Cyber Monday sale. They should be here later this week or early next week. I'm really excited to have it for spring.

  • @Gkrissy
    @Gkrissy 3 роки тому +1

    All of your videos are right on time with things I am doing or planning to do☺️. I am about to do the same by reusing my carrot container potting soil into my 20 gallon grow bags. Your chives look great I’ve failed to sprout chives, I think it must be the seeds I have.

  • @NashvilleMonkey1000
    @NashvilleMonkey1000 3 роки тому

    Since we have areas of silt and areas of heavy clay, we're always mixing soil somewhere. Most often we end up with a version of soil cement, or something that turns into dry cake with a seedling in it. Coco coir makes it a fiber-reinforced soil cement, so we try to get moss to grow on the surface to keep it protected from the direct sun while getting the seedlings started. We have some new strawberry seedlings started and they take all summer to grow, but are the perfect plant in the window over the summer.

  • @sandy-rr1by
    @sandy-rr1by 3 роки тому +1

    i sift all my old soil thru a piece of hardware cloth bent across a bucket, nothing fancy. this gets the roots and junk out. then i blend it with the new or other replinished soil to reuse.

  • @NashvilleMonkey1000
    @NashvilleMonkey1000 3 роки тому +1

    Gardener Scott, do a mineral test on your leaf gutter dirt and compare it to the mineral content of rockdust, the results are very interesting~

  • @Rainman97x
    @Rainman97x 3 роки тому +2

    I'm in my second year of creating no till beds. I make them by building large compost piles and spreading them out after they cool, but before they fully degrade. I grow potatoes or squash in them as the compost finishes off. Then in the fall, when my container grown peppers and tomatoes freeze, I add that used mix in with the compost to make a deep bed of tilthy, healthy, moisture retaining and air breathing material full of life.

  • @sandraoconnor5700
    @sandraoconnor5700 2 роки тому +1

    So very helpful, thanks so much for your videos!!

  • @jordanmarieorganics
    @jordanmarieorganics Рік тому +1

    This video is very helpful. Thank you.

  • @brianbraleyr561
    @brianbraleyr561 11 місяців тому +1

    Great information. Thank you!!

  • @patc1309
    @patc1309 3 роки тому +5

    What perfect timing!!! Was just asking myself if I can maybe save a few dollars and reuse my potting soil. Thanks for the tips!

    • @lynnstanton7018
      @lynnstanton7018 3 роки тому

      I just started doin this yr plants are doin grt

    • @AndYourLittleDog
      @AndYourLittleDog 3 роки тому +1

      Same!!! I’m embarrassed to say, I’ve been dumping my spent potting mix into the garden and buying new.

    • @lynnstanton7018
      @lynnstanton7018 3 роки тому

      @@AndYourLittleDog wow expensive. I used peat mosd black cow manure and vermicilite

  • @adampetherick6266
    @adampetherick6266 3 роки тому

    Oh my God I'm glad I subscribed couple years ago full of knowledge

  • @wesgriffin5631
    @wesgriffin5631 3 роки тому +1

    Awesome. Great info. Just saved me $ and time.

  • @Userstep85
    @Userstep85 3 роки тому +1

    Very informative Thank you very much Sir.

  • @ejfishes7610
    @ejfishes7610 3 роки тому +1

    Excellent content, thank you for sharing!

  • @jenniferperry6551
    @jenniferperry6551 3 роки тому

    Yes, this is off topic but could I have any tips on the potato beetle please. Currently in just picking them off and looking for their eggs.

  • @jenmv3483
    @jenmv3483 3 місяці тому

    Along with this revitalizing, when your plants die, do the take the whole plant out roots and all? Or snip at the base and leave roots for soil?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 місяці тому +1

      It depends on the plant. I often snip plants with small roots that can decompose easily in the soil, but remove large, woody roots.

  • @muletowndumpsters
    @muletowndumpsters Рік тому

    I have the 10" style. But the white bugs have devoured my yield and I don't know how to stop them. I don't have the ability to pluck them off each day.

  • @jefffarris1288
    @jefffarris1288 3 роки тому +1

    Another question: what are your recommendations for big pots that either have perennials (herbs, strawberries) or self-seeded annuals that you do not want to dump out and disturb? I would think a rich top dressing would suffice. Thoughts?

    • @tinaclick5952
      @tinaclick5952 3 роки тому

      I was thinking the same thing!

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +2

      Top dressing and organic mulch are my primary ways to help perennials.

  • @joannsawyer4675
    @joannsawyer4675 7 місяців тому

    I started so seeds indoor toput in my flowers beds Joann from Circleville ohio

  • @donjohnson4635
    @donjohnson4635 7 місяців тому

    Question on worm castings. I purchased a bag a couple of years ago and it was semi moist and arrived in a heavy plastic bag. It has since dried out. Would it still be useable for amending soil? Thanks.

  • @jefffarris1288
    @jefffarris1288 3 роки тому

    Scott, I am curious what your thoughts are about if one adds for example, Black Kow manure, or mushroom compost, or even homemade compost to the mix. Do you think those will contain enough microbial life to break down the organic fertilizers?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      Those natural amendments are likely to add microbes, but it may not be enough until the whole blend is alive with a lot of microbial activity.

  • @franksinatra1070
    @franksinatra1070 3 роки тому

    Thanks Scott. Do you avoid plastic pots for veggies? I heard it may not be good so I just transplanted a pepper and rosemary plant from plastic into ceramic.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +1

      I don't. I reuse nursery pots and do most of my seedlings in plastic. I've never had a problem.

  • @Botanum
    @Botanum 3 роки тому

    What about potential pests that were in the soil the previous year?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      If you know you have pests, disrupting the soil by mixing it can expose and disrupt the eggs.

  • @dm4952
    @dm4952 3 роки тому

    I have a raised 4'x4'x12" planter box and when watering, the water runs right through. How can I rehydrate the soil without removing it completely? I have flowers/veggies currently growing in it. thank you in advance!

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      Adding compost and light mulch to the top can help. As you replace plants you can work it into the soil.

  • @sallynielsen3483
    @sallynielsen3483 3 роки тому

    If you dont have your own compost to add to make your soil mixture what store bought product would you use?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      Yes, but like other sore-bought materials it will probably be sterile with few active bacteria.

  • @eb6195
    @eb6195 3 роки тому

    How would you do it for perennials in containers?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      You can dig them up and transplant after adding new soil or top dress like I did with the chives.

  • @chuffedleupagus
    @chuffedleupagus 3 роки тому +1

    Do you ever use biochar in your mix?

    • @feltingme
      @feltingme 3 роки тому

      I had the same thought. Biochar would help nutrients not to get washed out from watering or rain.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +2

      Usually not in potting mix. Biochar works best in poor soil and when energized by bacteria. I used a potting mix with unactivated biochar years ago and had some of the worst results I ever had growing seedlings.

    • @feltingme
      @feltingme 3 роки тому

      @@GardenerScott Yes, that's why it should always be activated. Have you tried growing seedlings with activated one?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +2

      I haven't used activated biochar in potting mix but have grown many plants from seed in beds with activated biochar and had great results.

  • @jeannamcgregor9967
    @jeannamcgregor9967 2 роки тому

    Scott, I'm curious: it seems like pulling out old roots from used potting soil is removing useful organic matter that could be feeding the microscopic soil life. I put compost & worm farm residents in my pots. As long as the roots can't regrow and will break down, isn't that a good thing? Thanks.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  2 роки тому +1

      The issue is the size and amount of roots in the soil. The ones I pulled filled the space and would have interfered with new plants. For small plants and roots, they can remain as useful matter.

  • @craigdennarde
    @craigdennarde 3 місяці тому

    how to do you revitalize soil in a pot/container if you have strawberries in it? How do you know your soil does not have harmful insects in your container when its been sitting with soil in it for quit a few months? I grow tomatoes in mine then nothing is in the soil (except weeds that grew in it) till time to plant tomatoes. How much soil do you take out of a pot when you are reamending the soil for tomatoes? On the pots you did you were planting plants with shallow roots, but tomatoes have deep and shallow roots. I have grow bags two 20 gallon one fifteen gallon and you said to empty the soil out after growing season into a raised bed but I don't have one . Could i leave it in the bag and not dump it out or do you have to dump it out?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 місяці тому

      Adding compost to the container each year is a start. Strawberries only last two to three years before they need to be replaced, so plan to re-blend the soil when you put in new plants. I add new organic matter to bring the soil level up to where it started. You can leave soil in a bag.

  • @lindadavidson2237
    @lindadavidson2237 3 роки тому

    Thanks for the information. Is there ever a time you would not want to reuse soil?

    • @Gkrissy
      @Gkrissy 3 роки тому +1

      Oh yea, disease plants like if you had cabbage moths on your plants.

    • @lindadavidson2237
      @lindadavidson2237 3 роки тому +1

      @@Gkrissy Thanks!

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +2

      If the soil is contaminated with hazardous chemicals or known to have disease I wouldn't reuse it.

    • @lindadavidson2237
      @lindadavidson2237 3 роки тому

      @@GardenerScott Thanks!

  • @3662mick
    @3662mick 3 роки тому

    What do you do if you are growing strawberries in greenstalk?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      You can add a little more soil to the top but not much more. Strawberries typically only produce well for 2-3 years so the whole tier can be redone on that timeline.

  • @Octoschizare
    @Octoschizare 3 роки тому

    With tomatoes in pots there seems to be a large volume of fine roots in the soil when it's all done. I've been trying to cycle it into a dirt pile and compost bin hoping that the roots break down and then by having that soil skip this year maybe the roots will be broken down more for the next year, with fruit/vegetable waste compost and new components mixed in as you've done here. Do you know how long roots take to break down? It seems like one year isn't enough and my potting soil gets far too rooty to re-use.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      Roots take longer to break down than other plant parts. Some roots left behind is okay and can help aerate the soil.

    • @Octoschizare
      @Octoschizare 3 роки тому

      Good to know, thanks!

  • @franktoyou
    @franktoyou 3 роки тому

    Is there any way to buy Greenstalk vertical garden system in Canada?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      I don't think so but you can contact the company to ask.

    • @franktoyou
      @franktoyou 3 роки тому

      @@GardenerScott we have similar products that ship to Canada but they are all small sized in comparison. I will try contacting them but they explicitly say on their web site that they don’t ship to Canada.

  • @mygulay1018
    @mygulay1018 3 роки тому +1

    Sir good day. I am wondering, what will happen to the beneficial microbes if you mix with inorganic or synthetic fertilizers to your soil? Will the beneficial microbes be killed or vanished? What will be a good ratio if you mx the synthetic with organic fertilizers for better soil medium?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +1

      It depends on the fertilizer, but some synthetic chemicals can disrupt or kill the bacteria. The ratio depends on what nutrients need to be added.

    • @mygulay1018
      @mygulay1018 3 роки тому +1

      @@GardenerScott Thank you so much Sir. I keep following your videos. Keep up the good work. We do appreciate your hardwork & efforts to educate us.

  • @kspdt
    @kspdt 3 роки тому

    Can your recipe be used in permanent raised beds? In long term pots/plants? Or do those need some actual dirt too? Thanks.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      It can, but for permanent beds I recommend the addition of minerals. Some native soil is often enough.

    • @kspdt
      @kspdt 3 роки тому

      @@GardenerScott Thank you, sir!

  • @dwightdaniels8322
    @dwightdaniels8322 2 роки тому

    When you are revitalizing your soil in pots why not just leave the old stems and roots in to decompose while the new crop grows?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  2 роки тому

      That can be done, but the roots take longer to decompose and can take up space in a pot and interfere with new plants. They also can take nitrogen from the soil to decompose and deprive the new plants of that nutrient.

  • @SuperEvilC
    @SuperEvilC 3 роки тому

  • @lauraw79
    @lauraw79 3 роки тому

    Why do you PREFER VERMICULITE over PEARLITE?

    • @scrapbookwithbecky5074
      @scrapbookwithbecky5074 3 роки тому

      What I have heard is Vermiculite holds water which is good for containers. Pearlite is for air ration for the roots and allows air pockets for the roots.

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +1

      Vermiculate does retain some water while improving drainage.

    • @lauraw79
      @lauraw79 3 роки тому

      @@GardenerScott I grow in containers only which is better for my homemade recipe? Vermiculite or pearlite? I have been using peat moss pearlite and compost per a video I watched of yours. But would it be better to switch to vermiculite for my container mix?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      You may like vermiculite better for permanent container soil.

  • @lumpiamama
    @lumpiamama 3 роки тому

    Hello, what about the pot that the plant died due to a cat pee on it. Can I still put the soil in the garden bed, or just replenish it after taking the dead roots?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому

      Try diluting the soil with a lot of water first, then add it to other beds or replenish it.

  • @stephenluna7932
    @stephenluna7932 3 роки тому

    Did you change the mix from your soil video (the seed starting/up-potting one) or is this different for planting/growing in?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  3 роки тому +1

      It's basically the same but slightly different. Because containers need to have all of the nutrients that plants need, the mix varies from the ones I use when the plant will be transplanted into the garden.

  • @CAMDEC1217
    @CAMDEC1217 2 роки тому

    Hi Scott, what ratio of new to old soil do you recommend? Maybe 1/2?

    • @GardenerScott
      @GardenerScott  2 роки тому

      Hi, Carol. It usually ends up being about 1/3, but it depends on how much of the previous soil breaks down or is lost when cleaning up plants.

  • @EnesaCizmic
    @EnesaCizmic Рік тому

    Prevedite 😮

  • @soniahofmann4969
    @soniahofmann4969 2 роки тому +2

    Please stop using Peat the bogs are disappearing in this country

    • @dustyflats3832
      @dustyflats3832 8 місяців тому

      You might find an article interesting. It’s online at Grower talks and titled ‘Is Peat Sustainable?’.
      Not sure what country you are referring to, but CN appears to not have an issue according to Premier who is one of the largest suppliers of peat moss.