soil-media soil sterilizing?

[Minion s1]

would putting bags of soil, that may or may not be contaminated with something like grub worms, or spider mites, ect. into a freezer for a length of time, kill off the infestation(s)?

and would there be any down sides?

 

[AlabamaJack]

not trying to be a smart A** here but if you are getting contaminated soil, I would change suppliers...

I think the main answer is "it depends on how cold your freezer gets"...and I have no experience in that...

If you pour boiling water in a container with the old soil in it, it will sterilize it, but may kill some/all your beneficials in the soil too...

 

[Nova]

I would say no to the freezer. IMO it would be a waste of space that could be cooling beer.

AJ is right, either get clean mix or burn it (with water or fire). The soil loves the ash too.

 

[POTAWIE]

Freezing likely won't work, and don't freeze your beer either I used to solarize soil by putting it in thin layers between clear plastic sheets and let the sun sterilize it. Now I just make sure my "soil" used indoors is a good quality/sterilized product

 

[Minion s1]

any suggestions on a good soil i could switch to?

 

[millworkman]

First off, what are you using?

 

[Minion s1]

miracle grow cactus mix

 

[wordwiz]

Lots of people do not like Miracle Gro. I had to buy some - there was no other choice and a "white death" that was suppose to shut the city down for a couple of days was predicted. Found a nice size rock in it:

Mike

 

[Hinky]

Microwave it.

I generally don't sterilize new dirt, but if I reuse old stuff I microwave it for 2 minutes on high first. As others state you are also killing beneficials.

Nuking it really is the best easiest quickest cleanest way of killing everything in dirt.