Can I recycle potting medium?

[caroline]

Hi guys!

Is recycling of potting medium bad?

[Tony]

If it's an inorganic medium like primeagra or lava rock, then it can be sterilized and reused. Organic media like bark, sphagnum, etc must be discarded. The main reason for repotting a plant in an organic medium is that it has broken down, and it will cause root rot if you use broken down media. You also risk spreading disease if you transfer used media from one plant to another.

[caroline]

Hi Tony,

Thanks for the tips about recycling potting medium but how do I sterilise the used potting medium (leca)?

[Marco]

I boil my primagra for about 15 minutes and run it through a strainer.

[Ross]

Why not Physan 20? Isn't that basically like re-useing a clay pot?

[Ross]

Originally Posted by caroline

Is recycling of potting medium bad?

There are some who think that mixing a small amount of the old fir bark in with the new might be good if you subscribe to the school of thought there are microbes necessary for orchid health. I just clean MOST (but not all) of the fir bark mix off the roots and repot. Seems to work for me.

[caroline]

My potting medium don't used to break down after one year. They are still quite big pieces. How often should the plants be repotted?

[justatypn]

In most cases you do not need to repot a chid but every 2 yrs or so. If needed sooner would be due to needing to reestablish a chid because of over-watering, medium decay which would restrict the air/water flow.

Have you made a change in your medium, if your noticing a quicker break-down?

[Oscarman]

In the case of leca/prime agra, I plan on washing it well and then baking it in a hot oven (400° F) until bone dry and good and hot.

All my organic media gets recycled into my garden!

[daemondamian]

Originally Posted by Oscarman

In the case of leca/prime agra, I plan on washing it well and then baking it in a hot oven (400° F) until bone dry and good and hot.

All my organic media gets recycled into my garden!

Yep it makes good mulch!