skip to main content

The Kitchen Table

Potting soil and spontaneous combustion...

12 years ago

I just wanted to let you guys know what happened to my cousin. She has a privacy fence and her neighbor on the other side of the fence had a bag of potting soil leaning up against the fence and it caught on fire by spontaneous combustion. It burned part of the fence before her little dog alerted her to it by barking. Luckily it got put out before it did much damage or reached her home. I ask my husband if he had ever heard of anything like this happening.. said he hadn't and it shouldn't by just sitting, but if the potting soil got wet by a sprinkler or watering flowers etc..it would cause heat build up with the fertilizer's mixed in and spontaneously combust, especially in the extreme heat we are experiencing. So be careful guys.. this is one thing that has never crossed my mind that could happen.. just wanted to give you a heads up..

Featured Answer

pegw3

8 years ago

I found this comment while doing research. My sister's car caught fire and is a total loss. She had Miraclegrow potting soil in the trunk. That version has fertilizer in it. No notice about this on the bag or at the store where it was purchased. Houses have burned down, so company has to be aware of problem.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

ravencajun Zone 8b TX
12 years ago
yes we had that happen to a big compost pile we had in the back of our property when we lived in Ok. It builds up heat inside from the decay process and in heat like this it can combust. That is why landfills combust too.
minnie_tx
12 years ago
Thanks great info already shared it !!!
Related Discussions
Spontaneous death! What happened here?
Q
Comments (13)
"Sudden Oak Death" is actually a different fungus (phytophthera) from Oak Root Rot Fungus (armillaria). I am afflicted with armillaria in my front garden. In 1998 I planted 70 roses in that 25' x 60' area, and in 2002, the first one inexplicably died. After a few nearby roses died shortly thereafter, I had my county extension agent come out for a diagnosis, and he confirmed armillaria. Ground zero for the dying roses was the spot where we had an 80' pine removed and ground out the previous year. The roses continued to die in an outward pattern from this spot over the next few years. We have multiple theories about why this fungus is so active in this area, which I won't go into here. Anyway, armillaria fungus is endemic in many areas of Calif. I have since replaced all of the in-ground roses in that area with 15 gallon potted ones sitting on stepping stones. I was sad to lose my in-ground roses in that particular garden, but as a trade-off, I now have 180 roses in an area that I used to have 70. Gotta love that smaller footprint in some ways. It's pretty spectacular. The ancillary in-ground plantings are variable in their susceptibility to the fungus. Many things resist it quite well, although I lost some of my hydrangeas to it. It's been a very long 5 year journey of research and dealing with it. I could write much more on my experience with it. Hope this helps.
...See More
Found! Spontaneous baby Clematis!
Q
Comments (11)
Jenn, your plant looks great! I might suggest moving it to a location with just a bit more sun though. Jenn, sorry I hadn't meant for your post to become all about pots, lol. I've copied the following from another website, as I'm unsure as to if one is allowed place links to other garden websites? "Direct sun on black plastic pots can harm your roots. If you pull a plant out of a pot that has been sitting in the sun for a long period of time you can see the difference in roots from the direct sun side of the pot and backside of the pot. I am speaking from experience in the nursery/landscape industry...I wouldn't recommend pulling your girls out to check. Really the only way to see a negative effect on the plant would be if you're using #5 or smaller containers, bigger containers have too much soil to make any difference." I agree with this statement, though I've had plants sustain substantial root damage even when using very large black plastic pots. This probably isn't such a big deal with annuals or things like tomatoes, though I'd tend to be cautious with expensive ornamentals. The following link is regarding trees, though would likely apply to most any ornamental being container grown. Here is a link that might be useful: Root Heat in Containers
...See More
Beware of the flower pot.
Q
Comments (1)
LOL, Minibim! Great post!
...See More
fine china -- spontaneous breakage?
Q
Comments (30)
Several pieces (more than 10) of my 40 year old, turquoise Florentine Wedgewood china also have those spontaneous cracks. The top of my soup tureen has the same crack as the one in the picture on above and a 17 " serving platter. It's really frustrating because I have older fine bone china dinnerware sets and they are perfectly fine. My husband says there was a flaw in the pieces. I've never heard of having to soak the china or having to open the doors of a china cabinet. If that were the case, then Wedgewood should have told me to do that when I bought it. I went to the Wedgewood factory took a tour, bought the dinnerware and had it shipped home to the states. I contacted Wedgewood and they said it was not their problem.
...See More
jannie
12 years ago
My otting soil is stored in my house in a cool,dry,dark place. I also have an active compost pile outside. If I dump grass clippings in it, it can actually produce steam.
phyllis__mn
12 years ago
We lost a barn, containing hay, to spontaneous combustion.
iowagirl2006
12 years ago
I bet the potting soil had a large amount of organic matter in it - like a compost pile. It is amazing how hot they can get!

We have also had a barn catch fire from hay that had gotten wet. You have to be very careful with the moisture content of hay - it can get very hot and catch fire.

We feed our cattle silage. The whole plant is chopped into chunks about 1" big. It is then blown into an upright silo or packed down with tractors in a bunker silo. You can stick your hand into silage that was cut just the day before and practically burn your hand! The corn "ensiles" and is then preserved and ready to feed. Amazing!
country_bumpkin_al
12 years ago
Goah, that's scary! Since I have a HUGE bag of potting soil sitting on my porch..any suggestions how to prevent this from happening?
iowagirl2006
12 years ago
Keep it dry
country_bumpkin_al
12 years ago
Thanks! Guess mine is dry since it's on an enclosed porch! Whew!
schoolhouse_gw
12 years ago
I never heard of potting soil catching on fire, but I had several bags of leaves the neighbor kids had raked up for me and bagged. When I finally got around to untying the bags to empty them, steam and heat came out! They had been put in there damp.
Jodi_SoCal
12 years ago
Oh my, I remember when I was a kid, I went to visit a family friend who lived out in the country in Monroe, Washington. She and I snuck out one night and came upon a neighbor's barn stacked to the roof with bales of hay. I wanted to spend the night there, sleeping on top of the hay. At least I thought it would be fun until she told me how they could spontaneously combust. At that point, the guest room in their little log cabin down the road sounded like a fine idea. :-)

Jodi-

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Pseudognaphalium Obtusifolium, or Rabbit Tobacco

By Curtis Adams

This late-blooming native annual, also known as sweet everlasting, adds spontaneity to landscapes in the eastern United States

GARDENING GUIDES New Ways to Think About All That Mulch in the Garden

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Before you go making a mountain out of a mulch hill, learn the facts about what your plants and soil really want

HOUSEKEEPING How and Why You Should Clean Your Garden Tools

By Bonnie McCarthy

Avoid rust and extend the life and effectiveness of your blades and spades with these expert tips

GARDENING GUIDES 10 Ideas for an Exuberantly Abundant Landscape

By Debra Prinzing

Let passion and largesse overflow for a garden that provides a rich experience along with a beautiful scene

GREEN BUILDING Why You Might Want to Build a House of Straw

By Mariana Pickering (Emu Building Science)

Straw bales are cheap, easy to find and DIY-friendly. Get the basics on building with this renewable, ecofriendly material

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: Turquoise Tile and a Dining Nook for 16

By Vanessa Brunner

Entertaining is a piece of cake in this remodeled beauty with an extra-large stove and seating for a crowd

CONTAINER GARDENS Freshen Up the Bath With Lush and Healthy Plants

By Laura Gaskill

Learn how to choose and care for plants that will do well in your space

KITCHEN DESIGN A Cook’s 6 Tips for Buying Kitchen Appliances

By Christine Tusher

An avid home chef answers tricky questions about choosing the right oven, stovetop, vent hood and more

GARDENING GUIDES Maximize Harvests With Square-Foot Gardening

By Abundant City

This efficient edible-gardening technique can help people who are short on space

PORCHES A Peek at 2 Prettily Dressed Fall Porches

By Julie Ranee Photography

Pumpkins, fall flowers and flea market finds help two Ohio porches get into the seasonal spirit

Sponsored

More Discussions

Wild salmon in the NE?

53

Let's start a chain reaction game -- Part 4

342

Another Sriracha shortage looming?

53

A humbling experience.

24

Best price website for groceries, like Gas Buddy?

12