How To Tell If The Potting Soil In A Bag Has Gone Bad?
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The potting soil in a bag should be kept in a sealed bag and container in a cold, dry location. However, if the soil had already been exposed to moisture, it was likely to have rotted. Know the symptoms of your potting soil is bad!
Bad Smell
If you open the potting soil in a bag and notice a foul odor, that signifies the soil cannot be used as-is. Because the dirt was moist and contained in a sealed bag, anaerobic bacteria would have begun to operate on it. As a result, you’ll have a foul odor. Simply spreading the soil out on a tarp in a sunny spot will restore normal conditions. The bacteria and odor will be removed by the air, light, and heat. To return this soil back to its original state, keep it on the tarp for 1-2 weeks.
Pests
If you’ve left your potting soil in a wet, dark spot, it could be infested with bugs. The fungus gnat is the most prevalent pest, and it can enter the bag through a little hole. Fungus gnats lay their eggs in the potting soil, which hatch and feed on organic matter. The gnats have no negative effects on the soil or mature plants. However, any seedlings you try to plant in such potting soil will perish. You can put the potting soil on a tarp and position it somewhere with plenty of air, heat, and sunlight. If you want to get rid of the fungus gnats faster, you can use a fungicide.
Mold
Mold will grow on the potting soil in a bag if it is kept in a cold, dark, and wet environment. White patches on the potting soil, which could be Mycelium, can be seen when you open the package. By exposing the potting soil to heat and light, mold can be easily removed. So spread the potting soil out on a tarp and position it somewhere that receives plenty of sunlight. If you leave this tarp out for 2-3 days, the mold will vanish from the soil.
How To Reuse Old Potting Soil In A Bag
It’s possible that you purchased more potting soil than you require. Perhaps it was available at a reduced price. And now you’ve got a bunch of potting soil bags in your basement that have been lying there for years. The good news is that potting soil has no expiration date. The organic components are the only ones that work. The soil’s texture also changes. This means that with a little effort, you can reuse potting soil.
Revitalize As Potting Soil
You can repurpose the potting soil in a bag for plant use if you want to. However, you will need to replace the missing organic elements. The simplest way to achieve this is to combine 50 percent new potting soil with 50 percent old potting soil from the bag. When purchasing new potting soil, this will help you save money. The alternative option is to use organic compost and slow-release fertilizer to replace the missing organic elements.
Add To Compost Pile
If you simply want to get rid of the old soil, add it to your compost pile. The potting soil will serve as a good foundation.
Use As Filler Material
You may need to place filler material at the bottom of huge containers if you’re growing plants in them. Because you won’t have to buy new potting soil, this filler material will save you money. You can reuse outdated potting soil in a bag as a filler material for the container’s foundation. This old potting soil has a tight structure that prevents fresh potting soil from passing through easily. This is the optimum environment for filler material.
Cover Holes In The Yard
You can use the old potting soil to fill in any holes in your yard that animals may have made. This could come from rabbits, moles, voles, or rats, among other species.
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