topic Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL? in Home

CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Tinkrbl44 — Fri, 02 Sep 2022 23:57:42 GMT

I recently opened a bag of potting soil purchased a while back and added some kitty wheat grass seeds. The seeds usually take about 5 days to grow, but this time I saw flies and bugs around the top of the soil.

Is this okay? I doubt it's the seeds, because I've been growing them for ages and this has never happened before.

We had some mysterious fruit flies in the kitchen recently and there is NO food out on the counters.

I'd appreciate any feedback or suggestions you can make ... not sure what to do with "buggy" soil.

TIA

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

RedTop — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:04:03 GMT

Many years ago, I sterilized the potting soil for my African violets. Just bake it in an aluminum pan in a 200 degree oven for about 40 minutes.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:12:42 GMT

@RedTop

What???? You mean I can't microwave it?

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

RedTop — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:19:05 GMT

@Tinkrbl44

Earlier this summer a gnat flew into the microwave just as my husband was shutting the door to heat his big mug of tea.

My husband watched the gnat sit on the side wall of the microwave for the entire 2 minutes his tea heated. When he opened the door to get his tea, the gnat flew out.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

fthunt — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:37:16 GMT

@RedTop Same with me last month......fly flew in refrigerator -thought I'd chilled him to death...nope......flew out. DARN

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Desi — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:37:48 GMT

Well in theory it sounds fine, however.... I did it once, can't recall if I though I saw some mold or insects. Did it in a toaster oven, and it made the kitchen wreak! So if you do it, be prepared, keep windows open etc. I would just pitch it and buy new soil knowing how it went.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

judianne — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 00:41:34 GMT

Those bugs come from cheaper potting soil , though l had a lot from a bag of Miracle Grow . It's an awful mess ,especially if you have used it to plant indoor plants , you are stuck with them . They will go away if you let the soil get pretty dry between watering . You can also set out those little fly traps , l hated doing that and didn't solve the problem . You can also buy a spray for the topsoil that will get rid of them .l never tried sterilization so don't know if that works . I just started keeping my soil out in my garden shed , and only use really good stuff for house plants .l use the cheap stuff for outside planters .

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

RoughDraft — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 01:37:31 GMT

@RedTop wrote:
@Tinkrbl44
Earlier this summer a gnat flew into the microwave just as my husband was shutting the door to heat his big mug of tea.

My husband watched the gnat sit on the side wall of the microwave for the entire 2 minutes his tea heated. When he opened the door to get his tea, the gnat flew out.

@RedTop Ah yes, but was the gnat sterile after that?

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Robertak — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 01:44:57 GMT

Yes! This just happened to me, I potted some plants in my window and the bugs appeared. So now I microwave it, and let it cool. So far so good!

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Tinkrbl44 — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 01:57:28 GMT

@Robertak wrote:
Yes! This just happened to me, I potted some plants in my window and the bugs appeared. So now I microwave it, and let it cool. So far so good!

@Robertak

Oh, good ..... How long?

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Imaoldhippie — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 12:14:07 GMT

No option, use it outside away from the house.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

781Florist — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 12:57:06 GMT

Not sterilizing soil or planting anything, but I am glad to know that someone else has little fruit-fly like bugs appearing out of nowhere without any food being left out.

I think they must come in from the Air Conditioning vent or something. I just bought a plug in thing called Evo that traps flying bugs soundlessly (but it has a blue light I don't care for) and it seems to have worked. At least I have learned that I can't microwave them and that I need to bake soil in the oven if I see bugs in it.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

gardenman — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 13:18:45 GMT

@Desi wrote:
Well in theory it sounds fine, however.... I did it once, can't recall if I though I saw some mold or insects. Did it in a toaster oven, and it made the kitchen wreak! So if you do it, be prepared, keep windows open etc. I would just pitch it and buy new soil knowing how it went.

Yeah, the smell is not good. Jim Crockett, the original host of PBS's "The Victory Garden" recommended sterilizing soil on a barbecue outside. Fire up the grill, put the pot of soil on the grill, cover, and let cook.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

kindred cats — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 17:49:48 GMT

Ask Martha Stewart....she knows everything!

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Desi — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 22:46:50 GMT

Wish i had known that, lol!

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Trailrun23 — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 00:55:44 GMT

if your houseplants have soil that gets and stays too damp, you will always have gnats or other bugs...I sprinkle a few Mosquito Bits on top of the soil and have not had any problems since doing that. It is non-toxic.

Check your garbage disposal if you don't leave food out but still see fruit flies. I run some bleach or lysol through it periodically to prevent them being attracted to a bit of fruit or peel that may have been stuck under a blade.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

sabatini — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 17:19:56 GMT

@Trailrun23 wrote:
...I sprinkle a few Mosquito Bits on top of the soil and have not had any problems since doing that. It is non-toxic.

@Trailrun23, I only learned of Mosquito Bits a few months ago.

I've had two separate battles with fungus gnats, & BOTH battles began when repotting indoor plants with new potting soil...not cheap brands.

The first time, what finally got rid of them was when I added a layer of fine sand to the top of the soil.

I wasn't a fan of the way it looked, however, & it was eventually absorbed into the soil.

With the 2nd bout of fungus gnats, (repotting with Miracle Grow), a coworker told me about Mosquito bits, so I gave them a try.

I bought the MBs at Ace Hardware, then as per instructions, made a 'tea' of them, and watered my plants with it.

Game changer.

FINALLY, no more fungus gnats!!

Since then, I've read so many complaints about fungus gnats being in nearly all potting soils.

I wonder why that is?

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Robertak — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 19:48:44 GMT

Probably around 2 mins, until its steaming hot.

Re: CAN YOU STERILIZE POTTING SOIL?

Lucky Charm — Wed, 07 Sep 2022 21:44:42 GMT

I had such and influx of flying pests, never had this problem before!

We moved this spring and I brought all my plants with me (hundreds of miles). They adapted well.

When I repotted them, that's when the problem started. I actually add bagged lawn soil to my potting soil mix (always have). I thought maybe because that bag had been opened and not properly closed maybe it gave some time for gnats/pests to *move in*.

So most plants got tossed, but I kept a few out on my back deck. I've had plants for decades and it would break my heart to lose them. Didn't know what I was going to do for winter because it gets cold here.

I will try the mosquito bits. And I will bring them in one at a time and keep in my bathroom to make sure all is clear before I put them back in my reading nook. It looks so bare in there!