Home made indoor garden soil...how do you make it?

1. 82

   Ben Zoltakposted 11 years ago

   Home made indoor garden soil...how do you make it?
   
   I've heard it's not a good idea to take soil from outside and bring it in the house, but most of the indoor soil in my area comes with petroleum made fertilizers, I would like to make my own organic, with our kitchen compost and soil from outside, maybe with some fireplace ash too...but I don't want to bring in any of the outdoor pests. Does anyone know how to do this? Should I wait until it's drops below freezing then try to stir up a mix?

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2. 72

   Barbara Kayposted 11 years ago

   I've heard you need to bake it in the oven and it will kill all of the weed seeds and any insects or eggs that are in it.

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   1. 89

      Patty Inglish, MSposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I heard the same thing - bake at 200 degrees F for an hour. You can check with a garden center and see if they know if that mtie is correct. Sounds short.

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   2. 82

      Ben Zoltakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I tried heating some years ago, I remember how tedious it seemed, and expensive...but that was way back when I was on a ramen diet haha. Now maybe it's doable, thanks!
      
      Ben

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3. 59

   Dr. Haddoxposted 11 years ago

   It is still early enough in the year (early fall) to get this job done with the help of the sun. Find yourself a really sunny location (where you can put your soil in a washtub or other contain) and it "bake," for lack of better words, for a week or so. Mixing your compost and the sun, outside, for a week or so, at least will kill any organisms in the soil. The heat from the sun, the ultra-violent radiation, and time will kill off any harmful organisms.
   Personally, I use soils from the farm, and from the organic sites on my farm, inside the house and outside, without worry about anything, or sharing the concerns that you have about organisms.
   Good luck.
   Regards,
   Dr. Haddox

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   1. 82

      Ben Zoltakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Interesting. I've thought about just bringing in soil, one time years ago, I did that and somehow brought in some of those spider mite things and they killed a bunch of my plants. Still, I like the idea of baking it in the sun, covered or uncovered?

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4. 89

   The Dirt Farmerposted 11 years ago

   Hi everybody!
   
   Here's a hub with different recipes for making potting mix suitable for indoor container gardening, starting seeds, propagating cuttings, growing herbs, etc. : http://thedirtfarmer.hubpages.com/hub/Soil-Mix-Recipes
   
   This one includes how to sterilize soil in the oven: http://thedirtfarmer.hubpages.com/hub/Y … tting-Soil
   
   --Jill

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   1. 82

      Ben Zoltakposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Very nice thanks Jill!

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