The Best Way to Add Nutrients to Old Potting Soil

Potted plants can brighten the appearance of the home inside and out with lush growth and vibrant colors, but over time the very plants you enjoy will drain the potting soil of any nutrients. When left untreated, plants left in depleted potting soil will soon start to suffer and may die off. Luckily, you can add nutrients to old potting soil using a way that is the most straightforward, affordable and simple to do without handling toxic chemicals or fertilizers.

Tarp or large plastic bin

Potted plants

Garden gloves

Compost and/or well-rotted manure

Peat moss

Shovel or hand trowel

Spread out a tarp or bring a large plastic bin next to your potted plants. Remove your potted plants from their containers while holding them over the tarp or bin. Set the plants aside and dump any remaining soil from the pot onto the tarp or into the bin.

Sift through the soil while wearing gloves and pull out roots, rocks or other debris from the soil. Break apart any compacted clumps of potting soil as you find them.

Estimate the amount of potting soil on the tarp or in the bin. Add approximately half that amount of soil in compost, well-rotted manure or a mixture of the two. Spread approximately half of the amount you used of compost in peat moss over the soil.

Mix the potting soil, compost and peat together well, using the shovel or hand trowel. Pour the mixture back into your pots and replant your plants as they were. As you water and care for the plants over time, the nutrients of the compost will slowly release for the roots to absorb them.

Start a compost bin in your own yard for recycling kitchen scraps and plant debris to keep costs of revitalizing potting soil low.

Add nutrients to your potting soil every one to two years to keep your plants healthy.