I'm looking for advice on how to refresh last year's potting soil for my plants. I've got several large pots, and buying all new potting soil would cost me a couple hundred dollars. Right now, I usually just mix in some shake and feed fertilizer and top it with a little new soil, but I've noticed that my plants aren't thriving like they used to. I'm curious if adding things like compost or peat moss could help. What are some good options to improve drainage and retention so I don't have to water every day?
3 Answers
I usually just mix in some fresh potting soil with the old stuff. I mean, changing it all out seems unnecessary to me! But then again, I've noticed my plants don’t do as well each year either, which might be a sign that I should pay more attention to the soil health.
I've found that adding compost is amazing for nutrition! Also, coir bits are fantastic at retaining water, which means less watering for you. Definitely worth trying out!
Try leaving your soil in the sun for a few days to help kill off any pests or bad microbes. Then mix in some slow-release fertilizer and a bit of lime or Epsom salt. It’s also good to add some compost to boost the nutrients. If you mix it all up well, it should be good to use again!
Yeah, maybe we just need to refresh it more than we think!