Baking your Soil

[DE.Db33t]

So in order to get rid of all of the dirty bacteria and pests in soil I heard it was wise to bake it in the oven. Is this so? If so at what temperature and how long?

[the image reaper]

just enough to destroy bug eggs, etc ... prob. 350 for a half-hour ... ??? ... will possibly stink up your oven though ... :jointsmile:

[TheMetal1]

Yeah... like he said ^ :jointsmile:

I never remember the temperature that I set it to, but I do suggest that you bake it for a bit... take it out... stir it up... then put it back in for about the same amount of time. Them little buggers will dig down into the center of the dirt pile to escape the intense heat. I've left it in there for 45 minutes, only to take it out and find a live colony in the center of the dirt mass. Stirring it up will distribute the heat and make it impossible for those little jerks to escape. Keep checking on it. I baked composted cow manure and humus a few times and the smell was never anything more than warm dirt. I've also seen people ask if it is safe to do if perlite is in the soil... and from reading, yes it is. Perlite is a volcanic mineral. It can handle the heat.

Good luck. Don't just take it out of the oven and pot it up either. I suggest packing a bowl and hovering over the baked dirt to make sure there aren't any survivors. I have OCD though... so yeah :stoned:

[DE.Db33t]

thanks a bundle