The Clever Way To Use Old Potting Soil To Attract Beautiful Butterflies To The Garden

Potting soil has a limited lifespan. After a year or two, the plants in the pot will have used up most, if not all, of the nutrients. Depending on the size of the pot, some or all of it will need to be replaced. Fortunately, there are lots of brilliant ways to use old potting soil instead of throwing it out, and one is to reuse it for plants that actually thrive in nutrient-depleted soil. The bonus is that many also produce nectar-rich flowers that will attract beautiful butterflies to your garden.

So it's a win-win situation. You cut down on waste and attract brightly colored insects that both pollinate, and increase the biodiversity of your yard. Like it or not, butterflies (and their caterpillars) are an important part of the food chain, eaten by birds, bats, lizards, and other animals. There are things you need to consider before reusing potting soil, so that you don't transfer fungus or diseases, but the lack of goodness isn't necessarily a problem if you choose the right plants. So let's look at some of those species of flowers that don't mind being dirt poor.

North American natives and wildflowers are among the most tolerant of plants. The appropriately named Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa) is a great example. It has tight groups of bright orange flowers and is happy to grow in well-drained, lean soil. Bee balm (Monarda didyma) is a bright red example. It's a favorite of hummingbirds as well as butterflies. It's edible too. Another native, common yarrow (Achillea millefolium), is a white-flowered herb.

If you're looking for something a little more showy, with larger blooms, try coneflowers (Echinacea purpurea) or daylilies (Hemerocallis spp.). An internet search will doubtless reward you with more choices. Many of these plants are hardy and require minimal care. They can be fine in pots, but will thrive planted directly in the garden. They typically enjoy full sun or partial shade. There are lots of ways to attract butterflies to your garden, but none are more eco-friendly than using old potting soil to grow the flowering plants they love. You are recycling waste and improving the environment. It's also good for your wallet, reducing what you need to spend on new potting soil.