I've been wondering about the practice of putting new soil from the store into the oven for sterilization. I've read a lot about it potentially killing off various organisms, and it has worked well for me, but I'm curious about the effect on the soil's nutrients. If I heat it up to around 180°C (356°F), could I be destroying essential nutrients necessary for plant growth? I haven't found any clear answers, so I would really appreciate your insights! Thanks! <3
1 Answer
Using pasteurized soil is definitely a good move! Personally, I prefer to use scalding water for pasteurization instead of baking. I regularly feed my houseplants, so I'm not too worried about losing nutrients during that process. If you're concerned, just make sure to replenish with some nutrients later on!
So would heating it to about 100°C (212°F) be enough? Will that work?