- Steam compost for sterile potting soil
- How to steam compost
- Steaming compost in the oven
- Steam in the microwave
- Steam in the pressure cooker
- What temperatures must be reached when steaming?
Compost is rich in nutrients and therefore ideal as a growing soil. However, the soil from the composter often still contains fungal spores, bacteria and other pests that can be dangerous for the seeds and young plants. One way to sanitize the substrate is to steam the compost.
When heated, all bacteria and germs die
Steam compost for sterile potting soil
Seedlings and young plants need nutritious but germ-free soil to really thrive. You can of course use potting soil from the hardware store for this. You can also make the substrate yourself by steaming the compost.
The compost soil is heated to kill germs, bacteria, weed seeds and pests.
Steam only as much soil as you actually need. The heating also kills many useful microorganisms. For young plants, they are not as important as for the later plants that you want to fertilize with compost.
How to steam compost
There are three ways to steam compost:
- oven
- steamer
- microwave
Pour the soil into a fireproof container. If it is very dry, spray it with water and then cover it with aluminum foil. Use the microwave for steaming, do not use aluminum foil but special containers.
Steaming compost in the oven
Set the oven to the desired temperature and steam the compost for about ten minutes.
Steam in the microwave
The earth is heated at 600 watts for around ten minutes. The earth must steam.
Steam in the pressure cooker
Fill the pot with water according to the instructions and hang the pot with the soil. It is steamed at high pressure for about 15 minutes.
What temperatures must be reached when steaming?
The temperatures depend on what you want to use the soil for later. Most bacteria and germs are killed at around 70 degrees and a steaming time of ten minutes.
For tomato and tobacco plants you should steam the substrate at over 100 degrees. It must never get hotter than 200 degrees.
tips
The steamed earth gets very hot and retains heat for a long time. Allow them to cool well before handling and using them. Store unused substrate in a tightly sealed plastic bag.