Revive Old Potting Soil For Grow Bags 

always great content,I always learn a lot from you guys.Keep going

For the cat, I have three suggestions. 1. Set up a litter box filled with pine pellets. They're compostable as long as you're not using them for plants you eat and it will give the cat a place to go. 2. Set up a motion controlled sprinkler so the cat gets a sprinkle unrelatd to you if they come near your bags. 3. Set up an Ssscat, a motion controlled air can that emits a loud blast of cold air if the cat comes where you don't want them.

Many ways to amend grow bags. I am lucky enough where I can make my own amendments, compost, leaf mold and homegrown vermicompost. Bagged potting mixes are hit and miss, from what I have seen you picked a good one. Many people use synthetic fertilizers in grow bags which is fine, plants cannot differentiate from organic or synthetic nutrients, the only problem using organic fertilizers in grow bags is you need the biology in the potting mix to break down the nutrients to make them plant available. This is how I go about it. Some of my grow bags are hooked up to a trellis system, so I can not dump them out. I dig 1/3rd to 1/2 of the potting mix out, lay it on a tarp and mix in aged hot compost, leaf mold, some native soil and a few cups of fresh vermicompost. As I return it to the grow bag I am incorporating the old with the new. When I start a new grow bag I put small logs, sticks and stuff from screened compost at the bottom to act as a sponge to hold some moisture in the bag. I make lactic acid bacteria serum (LAB), and water in the bag. LAB is a bacteria that competes with harmful bacteria and fungi, breaks down organic material via fermentation (does not create heat) and can even help aerate the soil, LAB is also terrific at keeping fungal problems from developing on cucumbers, gourds, melons and squash (foliar applications) Then I mulch, let everything sit for a week or so before I plant or sow seeds. When I plant into the bags I use a handful of vermicompost and water in the plants with a compost/vermicompost extract for a little extra boost of nutrient and biology. To help moderate the temperatures in the bags and to help retain some moisture, I wrap the south facing grow bags with mylar blankets, a real game changer last year during our drought conditions. The only fertilizers I use during the growing season are, top dressing with vermicompost, mulching with comfrey and foliar feeding of vermicompost/compost extract or tea. I use a lot of vermicompost in my garden, again to create that soil food web that feeds my plants. Even in an apartment you can raise worms very easily, a single bin is how I started, or a tower system. You got your bags off to a good start!!! Stay Well!!!!

Perlite promotes drainage. Vermiculite is what I believe you meant when you said it would be good to add for moisture retention.

I add potato peels- baked till crispy as I mostly grow potatoes in them (Uk), as that’s the nutrients they need in the right proportions. Plus top mulch with chopped straw or shredded leaves.

Green artificial grass rectangle door mat. Place many around grow bags. Cats hate texture. Also spray bottle of water to squirt cat away.

So excited for garden season! The next few videos on this channel are going to be fire so stay tuned!

Aside from many things you can do with the cat. Perhaps you can get a cat litter box like a cardboard box and buy some cat litter and put down in there for him to use rather than going into your space. That cat probably doesn't have a proper litter so you providing one might be deterrent from going into your plant