Can you reuse microgreen soil?

Using soil for microgreens can present serious plant health risks, even if the idea seems economically viable. The fragile seedlings used will deplete almost all the nutrients so quickly in their growth cycle. In my experience, reused soil always resulted in an inferior second crop. Any pathogens present in the first batch could also be carried over to subsequent production.

Nutrient depletion also renders recirculated soil useless for microgreens. These plants have a very short growing period and aggressively absorb minerals during their growth. Tests indicate that nitrogen depletion reaches unusable levels after one harvest. In my comparison tests, I determined that second plantings were producing 50 percent less yield.

In preventing disease transmission, avoid the reuse of soil. Fungal spores can survive surface cleaning and infect new, healthy seedlings. I lost three consecutive batches of seedlings to damping-off disease when I first started gardening. Proper sterilization of soil may require specialized equipment that is not typically found in the household.

Adopt sustainable alternatives in lieu of reusing soil. Compost your used medium for outdoor tomatoes or flowers. Consider using soil-less coconut coir if you're interested in cleaner, more sustainable microgreen farming. All three methods enable you to maintain a clean process while minimizing waste more sustainably.

Prioritize plant health over minimal cost savings. Fresh soil guarantees vigorous growth each cycle. Your consistent harvests justify the small investment. Healthy microgreens always begin with an uncontaminated growing medium.

Read the full article: How to Grow Microgreens Indoors at Home