Can you reuse soil with root rot? We recommend sterilizing the soil before reusing the soil. This will ensure there were no diseases or fungus that were growing in the soil while the roots were rotting. Once the soil is sterilized, mix with new potting soil 50/50.
If disease was a problem last year, using the same potting soil can be a recipe for disaster. Viruses, bacteria and fungi will live on in the potting medium long after the plants have withered away. While it may be possible to destroy these lurking pathogens, it's not worth the risk.
Mushroom root rot fungi affect a wide range of orchards, forests, and shade trees and shrubs. Woody areas, or recently cleared land, harbor these fungi. These fungi can survive in the infected root or wood in the soil for decades.
If your plant succumbs to root rot, you can reuse the soil in a new plant, however, you'll have to take a few important steps first, such as sanitizing it (which we describe below).
But for the curious, here's how you do it: Add soil to a baking pan (3 to 4 inches deep), cover with foil, and bake at 200 degrees F for 30 minutes or when the soil temperature reaches 180 degrees. Anything higher than that can produce toxins. Let cool. Keep covered to remain sterile.
In most cases, the answer is no. The fungi, bacteria, viruses, and nematodes that cause disease in plants are very different from those that cause disease in humans and other animals.
Hydrogen peroxide can help to control fungal growth and fungal infection, such as root rot, by preventing the growth of fungi. It can also help kill fungus and bacteria on plant roots.
Do you water a plant after repotting for root rot? No. If your plant is suffering from root rot, you'll want to refrain from watering your plant for about 1 week after repotting.
As long as used potting soil still looks fairly fluffy and doesn't emit a rotten odor, gardeners should be able to use it again with good results. However, if the plants formerly grown in the potting soil struggled with disease or insect problems, it's probably best to discard the mix and start fresh next season.
Adding high-quality organic compost can help improve the quality of old potting soil. Fertilizers are also an excellent way to revive old potting soil and can provide much needed nutrients.
Many gardeners simply mix used potting soil with new material, using about half of each, with a few handfuls of organic fertilizer added to boost plant nutrition. Or, you can place the old potting soil in the bottoms of very large containers, and fill the upper parts with a fresh mix.
Another product that'll help prevent the spread of root rot is non-flavoured cinnamon. After having removed the dead roots, sprinkle a thin layer onto the healthy tissue before placing into a bed of new compost.
Don't just pour straight hydrogen peroxide on the roots. Instead, create a mixture of one part 3% hydrogen peroxide and two parts water, and put it in a watering can or spray bottle. You can either use it while the plant is still in the pot, or after taking it out of the pot.
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.
It also breaks down into the soil and releases extra oxygen that helps the plant grow new, healthy roots. Before you use hydrogen peroxide on your plants, you'll need to dilute it. Mix one part of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide with two parts water in a watering can or spray bottle.
Under aerobic soil metabolism conditions, hydrogen peroxide degrades with a half-life of ca. 1.4 hours in diluted test solutions. This half-life value was extrapolated to ca. 7 hours for concentrated test solutions.
Baking soda has a pH of around nine, and its alkalinity will act as poison for fungi. It will eliminate it from the roots by alkalizing the soil and preventing it from developing.
Dealing with Root Rot
Prepare plants for replanting by cleaning the roots gently under running water and removing all brown, mushy roots with a sharp pair of scissors. Cut the healthy root just above the damaged area. Work quickly to replant within a few hours.
Quick facts. Fusarium crown and root rot may result in stunted seedlings, rotting roots, stem discoloration, wilting and death. Hosts include tomato, pepper, eggplant, and a number of common weeds. The fungus can spread by root-to-root contact, the air, or surfaces such as equipment, other plants, and workers.
If you catch the disease early enough, it is possible to rehabilitate your plant. You will need to take the appropriate steps to treat the root rot to give your plant a second chance. Unfortunately, if the root rot is left for too long and there are no remaining healthy roots, your plant can't recover.
However, if the plants that grew in the soil before were healthy, it is generally OK to reuse the potting soil. One way to be sure that soil is clean is to sterilize the soil. There are a couple of ways to sterilize the soil. One is to solarize the soil in the sun, and the other is to heat up in an oven or microwave.
Boiling water or steam
Steam is a great way to efficiently sterilize your soil. It can be done with or without a pressure cooker.