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Container Gardening

rejuvenating potting soil mix?

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

After a commercial potting mix has been in a container for a few years it starts looking like all that's left is a lot of old peat (peat moss?). Can this peat be rejuvenated and re-used, or does it lose it's life force also and become worthless? I usually use SuperSoil, but I'd guess the same happens to all mixes.

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Comments (5)

jbclem
Original Author
8 years ago
I'm aware that many here don't think much of using large percentages of peat moss in container planting, and I'm moving away from that myself. But I'm converting some 15 gallon containers to wicking pots and trying to figure out how to use/reuse the old potting mix that I'm removing from them. Does peat moss lose it's ability to hold water after a few years, or does it retain it indefinitely? Does it have any other useful qualities that don't deteriorate with time? That's what I'd like to fnd out...
dale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years ago
You can screen the old potting mix thru window screen to remove the fines. Mix fresh mix, plus any inorganic materials desired( Pumice, Perlite, Sand, etc) to make up the volume needed. If there were no disease problems in previous crop, it should be OK. It is a good idea to plant different plants, than grew the previous year in the containers. (Crop Rotation)
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dale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years ago
The SuperSoil sold now is not the same as the original mix (Rod McLellan Co.). The original mix was based on the UC Mix (Fir Bark, Redwood, Sphagnum Peatmoss, and Sand). The newer mix (made by Scotts) is low quality, uses cheaper composted wood, Manure,and compost. It breaks down very fast. I wont recommend Supersoil anymore, It is very decomposed sitting in the bags at the stores.
jbclem
Original Author
8 years ago
I agree that SuperSoil isn't what it used to be. It's even different from a few years ago, seems to have a light colored material (ground up pallets?) mixed in. But they at least keep the price low, and I don't know if there are any alternatives that are better. I'm moving towards creating my own mix and have wanted to duplicate the original SuperSoil. I just found a thread you wrote recently with the mix and others. I'll be looking at that closely. Here's the link for anyone else who's interested:

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/3503359/compilation-of-university-soilless-mixes?n=7

Redwood compost is one that I haven't noticed around here, Los Angeles area. Perhaps because I distrust the word "compost" on commercial packages. Where do you find it?

John
dale92539 Riverside Co SoCal
8 years ago
Redwood Compost is really just aged shavings. It is used as a filler to replace a portion of the peatmoss used in mixes. It has less water retention. Ground Fir or Pine Bark is used also ( Listed as Forest Compost on the Bag). The 5 parts Pine Bark: 1 part Peat: 1 to 2 parts Perlite or Pumice Mix seems to be popular on the site.

The Supersoil brand was sold to the Scotts company, they changed the mix formula, but kept the name. Redwood Shavings can be found at some of the local nurseries. In Orange County good sources are OC Farm Supply in Orange and Laguna Hills Nursery in Tustin.

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