COCO bag left outside

SamRD

Well-Known Member
I have a patio that where we put plants every summer and there's always a spider mite infestation including this year. I left a big open coco bag there during summer when the mites were rampant. Now it's -10C here in Canadian winter. Can I use the soil in the bag or could it be that some spider mites went dormant in the bag and it's a risk? I don't really care about the money I can pay another $20
 

Hotrod2

Well-Known Member
I have a patio that where we put plants every summer and there's always a spider mite infestation including this year. I left a big open coco bag there during summer when the mites were rampant. Now it's -10C here in Canadian winter. Can I use the soil in the bag or could it be that some spider mites went dormant in the bag and it's a risk? I don't really care about the money I can pay another $20
Spider mites can go dormant. I prefer air on the side of caution so I would replace it.
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
Ditto!

Save that bag for use outside but I wouldn't use it indoors. Fungus gnats also like to set up house in open bags of almost anything. I won't buy a bale of ProMix if there's even a tiny tear in the bag and I'd never buy stuff that has air holes already in them.

Dealing with mites myself but just a few small plants in a small tent so shouldn't be a big deal. 2nd spray on Xmas Eve. :)

:peace:
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
They won't survive boiling water, or being baked in the oven. I always do that to coco, no matter what, for a good piece of mind. Whether its been sitting around or new, but mostly if i'm using indoors. I use boiling water to expand my blocks, and let it pasteurize as it cools off. No chance of any kinds of dormant pests or eggs surviving that..

I've literally watch gnats fly from one stack of organic soil bags into all the other different stacks next to, it at my buddies grow shop he worked at. It's impossible to keep pests away when multiple loads of products are coming in on pallets from different trucks, from different facilities all over the country. I imagine its the same wherever you buy your stuff. They keep all the grow mediums in one big room somewhere.

I don't use coco that often anymore so its not too big of a chore when I do. If I need a little bit that's already to go, and been sitting around awhile, I might even toss it on a tray and bake in the oven, for a few smaller pots worth anyway.

I wouldn't worry as much if its staying outside. Sounds like you'll just get mites anyway.. They are overwintering everywhere outside and around your patio from the sounds of it.
 

Drop That Sound

Well-Known Member
I usually keep anything I don't use sealed up in a container or bucket. After its dried out. After I cook it, lol.

Oh yeah, and the guys at the grow shops could probably care less. They know you'll be back in a month, to buy more products to kill the bugs, haha. You'll be tracking more in on your shoes, and repeating the cycle. Its a win win for the shops and the bugs. lol
 
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