Do you guys re-use the old soil after repot or throw it out?

[vp999]

Question: What do you do with the old akadama, pumice and lava rocks after you repot ? re-use it or do something else with it ? Thanks

 

[Cadillactaste]

I toss mine out.

 

[sorce]

Pumice and lava can last indefinitely.

I reckon if you can salvage Akadama you repotted too early.
You'll always save some I guess, but not enough to save for $ purposes.

If you're worried about "issues" you can sterilize it in the oven or boil it. Stinks.

I only do that with outside soil. Keep mine balanced enough to combat bad shit.

Sorce

 

[moke]

Screen it to desired size, and I reuse it.

 

[Stan Kengai]

As long as the plants coming out of the old soil are healthy, I reuse it. I think it's fine for plants in development. Old unsifted soil is very good for striking cuttings.

 

[penumbra]

I reuse it in outdoor beds, both ground and raised. Also in the mix for large flower pots.

 

[Paradox]

I reuse lava and pumice if it is still in good shape, and the tree that was in it was healthy. Akadama breaks down over time (it's supposed to) so most of that gets sifted out.

 

[Dav4]

Sift, add new components as needed, and re-use...

 

[vp999]

Thank you guys...I figured it could be use for colander planting and such.

 

[M. Frary]

Never reuse soil from a short needle pine with a long needle pine.
And never ever use soil from an elongating tree with any other at all.

 

[Potawatomi13]

Screen it to desired size, and I reuse it.

Agreed.

 

[Toraidento]

So what about composting? If you compost, and screen to get rid of old organic matter. I seen MKBonsai on YouTube reuse after composting. Does doing this help?

 

[Anthony]

Compost -

make it, sift it, keep it just moist and age it.

When repotting - sift the soil, keep the inorganic and dump
the old compost, Say on the lawn.
Add new compost to old inorganic, go again.
Good Day
Anthony

 

[BuckeyeOne]

Never reuse soil from a short needle pine with a long needle pine.
And never ever use soil from an elongating tree with any other at all.

Why?

 

[GGB]

I'll re-use my lava, if my trees were pro-level or going to a show I'd probably just use old lava as back fill for my ground grown trees. But since I don't have to worry about stuff like that. Recycling it is.
Obviously sick trees soil should be sterilized/tossed/or used in a situation where it won't effect that new tree. i.e pine needlecast soil for JM

 

[penumbra]

Never reuse soil from a short needle pine with a long needle pine.
And never ever use soil from an elongating tree with any other at all.

I know that there is logic to this but could you save me the google search and say why this is so.

 

[Joe Dupre']

I know that there is logic to this but could you save me the google search and say why this is so.

I'm thinking.....tongue-in-cheek........??

 

[leatherback]

I reuse. Do not have akadam anyway. I let it dry, sift, if I think of it, I bake it in the sun. Ready for another season.

 

[River's Edge]

Question: What do you do with the old akadama, pumice and lava rocks after you repot ? re-use it or do something else with it ? Thanks

It has multiple uses:
Grow Beds for developing trees.
Addition to compost bed for flower garden and landscape beds.
Dig in to compacted areas of soil for vegetable garden.
I often reuse small amounts to transfer microbial material when repotting, particularily if i am bare rooting material or working with newly collected trees. ( avoid reuse if disease or infestation is suspected)

 

[vp999]

Thank you guys ! A lot of helpful ideas.