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reusing compost

11 replies

NotAnEMERGENCY · 26/04/2016 17:35

I know shop-bought compost is only supposed to provide plants with nutrients for up to 6 weeks but if I use it for seeds and the seeds haven't germinated, does that mean I can use the same compost for planting other seeds/plants? Or will the fact that I've been watering the compost for a while mean the nutrients filter out?

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shovetheholly · 26/04/2016 18:56

I think the water will have washed the nutrients out.

You can reuse it as spent compost on the garden - while it doesn't have much nutritional value, it will be good for the soil.

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NotAnEMERGENCY · 26/04/2016 19:27

Thanks, Shove!

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WriteforFun1 · 03/05/2016 19:10

funny, I was going to ask the same question

I have some balcony plant fails and thought that i could reuse the compost but I guess not. Because I don't have an actual garden I will have to throw the compost away which is sort of a pity. is it totally pointless trying to reuse it, perhaps use a little bit with new compost when I get some new plant plugs?

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shovetheholly · 04/05/2016 14:25

Hmmmmm... you could do a kind of micro-composting, on a really small scale. A wormery would be ideal. Then you could mix the spent compost with the worm compost.

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JapanNextYear · 04/05/2016 15:18

I'll quite often reuse compost in tups, and mix a bit of fresh compost in and some feed or chicken pellets. It's so expensive replacing it all. I don't if there's signs of disease or pests (vine weevils - yuk).

Then I tip it out as soil conditioner on the allotment.

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slavojzizekstshirt · 04/05/2016 16:34

Really really? Maybe I am just being profligate with mine then!!

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Kr1stina · 04/05/2016 17:36

Did someone mention composting ?

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Boxoffrogs123 · 04/05/2016 19:35

I often throw my used seed compost in the mix for my large tubs , or throw it into my beds.

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Lighteningirll · 04/05/2016 20:34

I reuse it in tubs and in the veg patch but not for seedlings. I feed all my tubs with my magic home made fertiliser so use anything in them including my compost all compost and new compost.

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shovetheholly · 05/05/2016 09:26

kristina - I have been so restrained on this thread and have not even mentioned BOKASHI once.