Does potting soil have an experation date?

[banknchips]

So I bought a few bags to many of fox farms ocean forest soil last spring. They have been stored in my garage every since. Is it still useable? The soil never got wet or anything but its negative 5 degrees outside right now.

 

[hermdog]

Actually, the bottom back of the bags of Fox Farms I have there's a date on them, I don't have them on me right now, I think they say for highest microbe activity use before --.

One thing about the soil freezing, Typically there all these damn knat eggs in my fox farms, but the last few bags I bought were stored in the cold and frozen. No insect activity and the plants seem as healthy as usual.

 

[banknchips]

I kinda figured it was still good. It would be a shame waste it, at 20 bucks a bag.

 

[HerBnGorE(illa)]

Good question. I have a bag of soil I purchased last spring....used about half of it. Then tied the top of the bag and put it in my basement. Last week, I went to use it and the top was covered in some kind of fluffy mold or something....wasn't sure if it was still usable or not.

....I scraped the crap off the top and used what was underneath for my transplant.....sure hope it was ok. So far the plant doesn't seem to mind.

 

[vostok]

Keep it covered and warm if possible, to keep them microbes alive and running, the only issue I see is some soil makers use long lasting nute salts that may wear down after 6 months or so, but a good watering post use, should clear that up