Last year, I created my first balcony garden, focusing on native plants along with some herbs and veggies. It went quite well for my first try, but now I have a few containers of used soil left over from last year's plants as winter sets in.
One container had native flowers that ended up being too small, and I want to transfer that soil (which still has some seeds) into a larger pot where I previously grew a squash plant. I've already cut up the remains of the squash plant and mixed it with some other dead plant material from my other containers.
So, would it be okay to just add the old soil from the native flowers into the bigger container? Are there any specific things I need to keep in mind? The squash plant had no major issues besides being sensitive to humidity and eventually dying off. I have plenty of fresh soil left, but I'd love to reuse as much as I can since native flowers seem to thrive in various conditions and soils.
2 Answers
It's actually fine to reuse soil from native wildflowers since they do well in poorer soil conditions. Just keep in mind that old potting soil can lose nutrients over time, so you might want to add some fertilizer to give your new plants a boost. Also, make sure to monitor for any salt build-up; a good flush can help with that. Overall, as long as the soil seems healthy, you should be okay to mix it in!
I’m usually all for reusing soil, but in your case, I’d be a bit cautious. Old soil can sometimes harbor diseases or nutrient deficiencies, which could have contributed to the squash plant dying. If nothing was wrong with that container, you might be fine, but be wary of adding too much organic matter like the squash bits. They can rot and lead to mold, which isn’t great for new plants. It might be worth adding a fresh batch just to be safe if you feel attached to your new plants!
Good call! I'll keep an eye on it and maybe add some fresh soil as a buffer.
But what about the dead plant bits? I’m a bit concerned about mold or rot setting in.