Is potting soil sterile or devoid of bugs, eggs, etc?

10 years ago

I'd like to use something besides seed starting mix for some potted herbs at the office.

I brought a plant in the office that had been in the ground and within weeks the smallish insects became a problem.

I think a typical potting soil has been cooked or something to eliminate these little bugs, hasn't it? What do you guys use for an indoor plant that won't introduce bugs?

Thanks

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Comment (1)

balloonflower
10 years ago
Ideally, a potting soil should be sterile, but in reality is very susceptible to getting bugs, especially fungus gnats, while being stored. I don't know any way to avoid this. I have seen hints on cooking/bbqing your soil yourself to sterilize, but never needed too. For fungus gnats, I use little sticky traps, and keep control of my watering to not overwater.
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Is potting soil sterile or devoid of bugs, eggs, etc?

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balloonflower

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