Revitalizing Potting Soil

After the last frost of the season, I place my houseplants outdoors and before the first frost in the autumn, I bring them back indoors where it is nice and warm. At the end of the long, cold winter months, potted houseplants need more than just water, fertilizer and plant food. In the spring when I first place my plants back outside to enjoy the warm summer sun and fresh air, I revitalize the soil that helps give them nutrients to grow strong and healthy.

Several techniques can be used to revitalize potting soil. Some even suggest letting the soil cure for two or more weeks before using it again. Although this is an excellent practice, and I highly recommend it, I cannot wait that long as I usually do not have enough extra soil on hand to use to re-pot my plants. I have found a simpler way to revitalize potting soil that can be done in a day.

In the spring, after my plants have becomes acclimated to the outdoor weather, about one week, I pick a nice warm sunny day to revitalize my potting soil. I first spread potting soil on the ground in my garden, if it is not too muddy, making a mound large enough to hold my plants for a short time. I then remove all my plants from their pots and rinse the roots thoroughly under running water. I plant the plants in the potting soil mound and leave them their while I work on the pots and soil. I empty the potting soil from the pots into a five-gallon bucket(s). I then scour the pots with warm soapy water, rinse with cold water and set in the sun to dry.

If I have room in the bucket, I add an equal amount of fresh compost, making sure it is free of any large pieces of debris such as twigs or leaves. If the buck is too small, I do this on a large piece of plastic or a tarp spread out on my lawn. I add a little lime and gypsum and a small amount of slow-release organic fertilizer to the soil and mix thoroughly.

I re-pot the plants in the clean pots and the revitalized potting soil. I water each one thoroughly and put them in a sunny spot on my deck or porch. Some plants may appear to droop at first, but after the shock of fresh, clean dirt wears off, they will bounce back healthier than ever.

Sources: Personal Experience, The Complete Compost Gardening Guide, by Barbara Pleasant and Deborah L. Martin