It’s sitting in millions of backyards – and it almost killed this grandfather

Tending to his garden one afternoon, retiree Stewart never expected a bag of potting mix would leave him fighting for his life in a 10-day coma.

The 76-year-old collapsed shortly after using Scotts Osmocote Premium Potting Mix, with doctors at Ballarat Base Hospital struggling for weeks to diagnose his condition.

Tests eventually revealed Stewart had inhaled airborne spores containing Nocardia Nova, a rare bacterial infection, alongside two fungal infections and pneumonia.

He spent three months in hospital and was left needing to relearn how to walk and talk.

Infectious disease experts warn that while rare, bacteria found in standard store-bought soil can trigger severe lung infections, particularly in the elderly or immunocompromised.

Health professionals strongly advise gardeners to wear a well-fitted P1 or P2 face mask when handling potting mix to avoid inhaling harmful dust.

Stewart and his wife Reita are now pushing for bold, unmissable safety warnings on commercial potting mix packaging to highlight the risks explicitly.

They argue that critical safety warnings are buried in fine print on the back of bags where most everyday consumers miss them.

Now on a year-long course of antibiotics to prevent a relapse, Stewart has an urgent message for fellow gardeners: put on a mask before touching soil.

Response from Grampians Health:

Grampians Health is unable to comment on individual patient cases.

However, we are proud of the expertise and dedication of our infectious diseases and intensive care teams in diagnosing and treating rare and serious infections.

While serious illnesses associated with organisms found in soil and potting mix are uncommon, these products can contain bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that occur naturally in the environment.

Some of these organisms can cause severe infections and may be challenging to diagnose and treat. Taking simple precautions can help reduce the risk of exposure.

These precautions are particularly important for people who are immunocompromised or have underlying health conditions.

Grampians Health supports ongoing public awareness of safe gardening practices to help people enjoy gardening while minimising potential health risks.

We encourage people to follow the safety advice provided on potting mix products, including wearing gloves and a suitable mask, avoiding the inhalation of dust, and washing their hands thoroughly after handling potting mix or soil.

Response from a Department of Health spokesperson:

“Soil, compost and potting mix can contain naturally occurring bacteria and other microorganisms.

“Serious infections are uncommon, but people should follow product safety instructions and take simple precautions, including wearing gloves and a mask, washing their hands and storing products correctly.”

Response from Scotts Australia:

Prior to being contacted by A Current Affair, Scotts was not aware of the alleged incident involving Mr Wright.

Since receiving your enquiry, Scotts has reviewed their Customer Care records and made enquiries with their retail partner.

As of today, 27 August 2026, they have no record of Mr Wright reporting this incident to Scotts or through the retail partner.

Given the seriousness of the circumstances described, we would welcome the opportunity to speak directly with Mr Wright so that we can better understand the circumstances and investigate the matter further.

We would appreciate it if you could put us in contact with him.

Scotts potting mixes and their packaging are developed in accordance with the applicable Australian Standard, AS 3743, and include clear safety information and instructions for use on pack.

This includes warnings regarding the naturally occurring micro-organisms found in potting mixes and guidance on appropriate protective measures when handling the product.

Scotts encourage all customers to read and follow the directions and safety information provided on pack when using potting mix products.