Sterilising Compost

I read an article in a newspaper recently where it was suggested that store bought compost could be sterilised in small lots using a microwave oven. Is this possible and/or advisable, does it reduce the properties in the compost, and has any members tried it. I often find that the compost has a lot of tiny flies which are a pest.

Lawnraker

 

Hi Lawnraker

If you dont want to use the microwave you could pop in the deep freeze if its the fungus gnats you want to get rid off , most of the compost does say sterile but as on other post/threads about compost the quality over the past 3 years has been really bad I have never found it to effect the quality when microwaved .

 

Spruce, would either of these ideas kill the larvae too please?

 

Cooking ( I have done in the past two minutes on high in small plastic bags ) and freezing kills the eggs and the larvae , should work as I had a pot from the house and it froze in the greenhouse two years ago which was riddled with them come the spring not one fly

Spruce

 

Thanks Spruce I'll give it a go.

 

When I've needed to sterilise soil two minutes on high does the job nicely. Vine weevils 'pop' in a very satisfying manner.

 

My mouse loves a good vine weevil

 

Hi Jenny
please explain " "

Spruce