Is it EVER a good idea to reuse potting soil? I've seen people whose plants have died or they just repotted and keep the old soil. I know to reuse it if you're repotting a plant; just didn't know if it's okay to keep it and use it mixed with new soil to pot other plants.

If you bake your used potting soil in the oven it will sterilize it for you. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place used soil mix into a turkey sized baking bag & place on a large cookie sheet, laying the bag sideways and tucking the open end under. Poke several holes in the top, then place a meat thermometer in the center. Set oven from preheat to bake, place cookie sheet with soil into oven. When the internal temp reaches 180 degrees, leave in oven for another 30 minutes. This will bake most organisms that can cause seed germination failure & dampening off, as well as killing any seeds that might be left over in the used soil.Though nutrients can be lost. The use of baking bags can curtail the unpleasant odor of baking soil. Remember, the seedlings really don't need any nutrients in the soil until they establish true leaves, since nutrients are supplied by the cotyledons (first leaves)until then. If you are not using the sterilized soil for seedlings, but rather established plants, just use a proper fertilizer to re-nutrient the soil, and compost works wonders too:) Hope this helps, Chrissy

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z5b

i add my "used" soil to the compost bin, to the raised beds outside (the ones i am just starting) and to plants that i know are healthy and hardy. i use fresh potting soil for everything else. usually, if i have a plant die, it is because i forgot to water it on its schedule, so my "used" soil is really to dry to do anything with!