Reuse Soil?

[Ideka]

Before I ask my questions, I wanted to say that I keep my potted plants on my porch for now, it gets great sun and is close to my hose. Well, my part of Florida had some serious rain last night, and the strength of the rain knocked my basil to the ground (I put them too close to the edge, my mistake). It absolutely waterlogged the pots that didn’t fall as well, I mean absolutely drenched them, it looked like I went playing in the mud when I picked them off the ground, .

That leads me to my question, can I reuse the soil?

If I dried the soil, would that deplete it’s nutrients?

Say if I were to grow a full, healthy plant and then transplant it into a bigger plot, would I be able to reuse the leftover soil?



Side note, one of the basil pots survived, and it even sprouted a little.

 

[Ideka]

Meant to post this with the first message

 

[Meadowlark]

That leads me to my question, can I reuse the soil?

Yes. Think about it in Nature...if every heavy rain ruined soil, there would be nothing growing. I have raised veggies in the same soil for nearly 1/2 century...soil that has seen hurricanes, torrential rains, snow, etc.

Having said that, nutrients, especially in potted soil can be diluted/washed out over time. Those need to be replaced.

If I dried the soil, would that deplete it’s nutrients?

No, not unless the drying involves heat over about 125 deg F.

Say if I were to grow a full, healthy plant and then transplant it into a bigger plot, would I be able to reuse the leftover soil?

Absolutely...but again nutrients may have to be amended depending on what has been depleted.

...Side note, one of the basil pots survived, and it even sprouted a little.

Plants are remarkably "equipped" with an ability to respond to weather events. Incredibly so in many cases. The old saying has merit here..."what doesn't kill them, makes them stronger" I often find that to be the case with plants I grow.

Plants grown outside in the soil have a much stronger survivability factor. They are acclimated to winds, rain, sun, and temperature swings every day...that often would kill an indoor plant.

I have on numerous occasions and will again see a corn planting with plants 4-5 feet tall completely flattened and apparently drowned by just one of our typical thunderstorms only to recover completely in a matter of days stronger than before.

They find a way.

 

[Sluggy]

You could always put in some grit or perlite in the soil to help drainage and place the pots slightly off the ground using trendy feet from garden centres or anything home made. I also put a small amount off tomato liquid fertiliser in my watering can when watering my herbs. If I transplant my herbs into bigger pots I use a new compost mixture and throw the old stuff onto my flower beds.

 

[big rockpile]

Do you have drainage holes in your pots?

My plants are outside now doing fine.

If anything they would like fresh dryer soil. Fertilize it and go on.

big rockpile

 

[Ideka]

Having said that, nutrients, especially in potted soil can be diluted/washed out over time. Those need to be replaced.

I know I'll have some questions in the future about amendments, I can hardly tell when the soil is wet, now I'm gonna have to gauge potassium lol.

No, not unless the drying involves heat over about 125 deg F.

Absolutely not, for the time being.........

I have on numerous occasions and will again see a corn planting with plants 4-5 feet tall completely flattened and apparently drowned by just one of our typical thunderstorms only to recover completely in a matter of days stronger than before.

They find a way.

I guess I shouldn't worry too much, my newbie brain is telling me to micro manage everything, but there are trees in my yard older than my grandfather, and nobody managed those beasts.

 

[Ideka]

I also put a small amount off tomato liquid fertiliser in my watering can when watering my herbs. If I transplant my herbs into bigger pots I use a new compost mixture and throw the old stuff onto my flower beds.

I like that! I'm a big fan of "using every part of the buffalo" as they say. Waste not want not!

 

[Ideka]

Do you have drainage holes in your pots?

My plants are outside now doing fine.

If anything they would like fresh dryer soil. Fertilize it and go on.

big rockpile

I do, and fair enough. I think I might be helicopter parenting these things too hard.

 

[Sluggy]

Potassium is in tomato liquid feed just follow the ratio instructions on the bottle. The mixture works wonders on a lot of plants.

 

[Ideka]

Why do you have to gauge potassium or is the question tongue in cheek?

Tongue and cheek, my mistake. I actually have no idea if gardeners "gauge" anything. The lingo is something I'll have to pick up on.

 

[big rockpile]

I still think I would pot them in much dryer soil and fertilize with Fish Emulsion.

It would give them some Nitrogen.

big rockpile

 

[Sluggy]

Like most hobbies some people take things very seriously and gauge every thing but gardening to me is to enjoy nature and just go with the flow. Unlike sailing there is no lingo to pick up. My best purchase was a cheap plastic chair to sit on to admire different aspects of my garden, to rest between jobs, and to sit on while using a long handled hoe and have a refreshment. Then leave it out on all weathers.

 

[Sluggy]

I still think I would pot them in much dryer soil and fertilize with Fish Emulsion.

It would give them some Nitrogen.

big rockpile

What is Fish Emulsion Please? Never heard of it

 

[cpp gardener]

It is ground up fish innards and bones that are fermented and partially decomposed. You mix it with water to fertilize plants. Very popular with organic gardeners.