Reusing super soil?

[budLIFE60]

I havent tried this yet but i would like to start reusing my soil. My mix is 3 bags of fox farm (ocean forest, light warrior, planting mix) some happy frog peace of mind 5-8-4 and an additonal 8qt of perlite. Ive never had to amend this any further so far just been feeding water.
So im questioning if i will need to amend the soil im reusing or if i can practically just place a new plant right into the soil and go? Or maybe just mix what i would like to reuse with a new batch of soil i make up? would like to know someone else's thoughts before i give this a try. Thanks.

 

[green_machine_two9er]

I think people recommend re-amending with 1/2 amount of initial amendments. However. Not sure how the peace of mind works. How water soluble or how long the nutrients take to break down. I would really call that a super soil by any means either. .

 

[budLIFE60]

Ok thats helpful. I figured i would have to just mix it it with a new batch.

Why wouldnt you call it a super soil?

 

[green_machine_two9er]

Ok thats helpful. I figured i would have to just mix it it with a new batch.

Why wouldnt you call it a super soil?

Only because a lak of humus material Ewc. Compost. Ec. Also the majority of your nutrients are most likely coming from the fox farm bags. Those will run out over time. You may need to look at adding meals(kelp. Alphapha. Fish bone. Ec.) And some minerals. Like rock phosphates. Azomite greensand. Can you snap a photo of the ingredients in the peace of mind? But either way I'm sure you can recreate hat they do even better and cheaper over the long run.
Good call on te perlite. But I like to add more each recycle. Along with Ewc! Also you ever look into aact. Works very well! Especially for water only soil programs. Gotta get the micro herd working for ya.

 

[green_machine_two9er]

Check out my thread for my super soil and recipes for teas
http://rollitup.org/t/my-organic-method.867548/#post-11531790

 

[budLIFE60]

here are the ingredients in the soil I use. also known as "moonshine's mix" but with a little twist.

composted forest humus x2
sphagnum peat moss x3
earthworm castings x3
pacific northwest seagoing fish crab meal
shrimp meal
vermicultural compost (bedding material and livestock manure) x2
sandy loam x2
perlite x2
fossilized bat guano x2
granite dustx3
Norwegian kelp meal x2
dolomite lime and oyster shell for ph x3
humic acid from leonardite and mycorrhizal innoculents

then the additional cup of "peace of mind" adds feather meal, hydrolyzed fish, fish bone meal, sulfate of potash, magnesia, alfalfa meal, blood meal, bat guano, rock phosphate, kelp meal, and gypsum.
plus 12 species of Mycorrhizae and 6 species of beneficial bacteria.

ive used this soil recipe for over 2 years ive been growing now and wouldn't change it for anything.

 

[green_machine_two9er]

here are the ingredients in the soil I use. also known as "moonshine's mix" but with a little twist.

composted forest humus x2
sphagnum peat moss x3
earthworm castings x3
pacific northwest seagoing fish crab meal
shrimp meal
vermicultural compost (bedding material and livestock manure) x2
sandy loam x2
perlite x2
fossilized bat guano x2
granite dustx3
Norwegian kelp meal x2
dolomite lime and oyster shell for ph x3
humic acid from leonardite and mycorrhizal innoculents

then the additional cup of "peace of mind" adds feather meal, hydrolyzed fish, fish bone meal, sulfate of potash, magnesia, alfalfa meal, blood meal, bat guano, rock phosphate, kelp meal, and gypsum.
plus 12 species of Mycorrhizae and 6 species of beneficial bacteria.

ive used this soil recipe for over 2 years ive been growing now and wouldn't change it for anything.

You as all these things or is that what in the bags? Of ocean Forrest. And light warrior and potting mix? Also what does the x2 or x3 actually equal out to per gallon or cf? That may help.

 

[Darth Vapour]

what i think a person would really need to do is have soil tested after a grow ,,, pay the extra 20 bucks and they will tell you what you need to add figure it out to amount you got
that is really the only way
For instance how much iron boron sulfate has been used right here look old soil test look how low on micro's

 

[budLIFE60]

You as all these things or is that what in the bags? Of ocean Forrest. And light warrior and potting mix? Also what does the x2 or x3 actually equal out to per gallon or cf? That may help.

It says its whats in the bag, the 3 FF soils, peace of mind and perlite. I add no other amendmets to my soil mix. I believe its by gallon.

 

[budLIFE60]

what i think a person would really need to do is have soil tested after a grow ,,, pay the extra 20 bucks and they will tell you what you need to add figure it out to amount you got
that is really the only way
For instance how much iron boron sulfate has been used right here look old soil test look how low on micro's View attachment 3436992

I had not though of this, i guess thats the most precise way to do it. Thanks

 

[Darth Vapour]

well everyone tends to re amend on the macro side totally forgetting micro aspect as well look at my phos and calcium phos is over loaded cal is on verge of over loading now look at test after re amended and corrections still low but heading in right direction

 

[Dr. Who]

then the additional cup of "peace of mind" adds feather meal, hydrolyzed fish, fish bone meal, sulfate of potash, magnesia, alfalfa meal, blood meal, bat guano, rock phosphate, kelp meal, and gypsum.
plus 12 species of Mycorrhizae and 6 species of beneficial bacteria.

ive used this soil recipe for over 2 years ive been growing now and wouldn't change it for anything.

But you can get those things and add them yourself for less cost in the long run....

Dolomite is high in Mg and I don't like it....
Oyster and egg shell with Gypsum added besides - no dolomite in my SS.

Doc

 

[Darth Vapour]

Problem with Dolomite is like 2 to 1 ratio so its not good to use in reality , CaMg(CO3)2. It has about 50% calcium carbonate and 40% magnesium carbonate, giving approximately 22% calcium and at least 11% magnesium.

 

[keysareme]

All the response is on point. I would add that, yes, your super soil is just beginning its life. Add some trusted organic compost, earth worm castings, and if you do have it tested, you can mix in what's needed. Otherwise, yes, there is still life in your soil and if you keep building it will last for many grows.

 

[IIReignManII]

I didnt know if I should bump this old thread or make a new one, but I was wondering what kind of process needs to happen and how long I need to wait to reuse my soil. Its a coco/compost/castings/perlite base with all the proper amendments in 7 gallon bags...I'm not using any worms or cover crop or added crawlies other than mykos, bio-tone, and oregonism xl and whatever life came in the compost and castings, so I assume I cant leave the rootball in like a proper no-till? I'm assuming I should dump out the bag, chop down the root mass, re-amend it and rebag it? Should I just wait another 30 days from that point until I should consider it "ready" for a new plant?

 

[ShLUbY]

I didnt know if I should bump this old thread or make a new one, but I was wondering what kind of process needs to happen and how long I need to wait to reuse my soil. Its a coco/compost/castings/perlite base with all the proper amendments in 7 gallon bags...I'm not using any worms or cover crop or added crawlies other than mykos, bio-tone, and oregonism xl and whatever life came in the compost and castings, so I assume I cant leave the rootball in like a proper no-till? I'm assuming I should dump out the bag, chop down the root mass, re-amend it and rebag it? Should I just wait another 30 days from that point until I should consider it "ready" for a new plant?

I would recommend breaking the soil up and re-amending it. 7 gallons really isn't enough to sustain no-till. so my method for a recycle is to break up the soil (please don't scream! I know I hate doing it lol) and i put it all in my compost tumbler (IMO the best small scale soil mixing/composting device). Then I just amend as if it were a brand new mix and compost it for 4 weeks. I have gotten away from adding compost back to the mix because I'm coming to realize, there is no need to add additional organic matter. Adding back organic matter to recycles was common practice several years ago on here it seems... but there is no need. #1 there is soooooooooooo much carbon energy in a recycled organic soil, I can't even begin to imagine. #2 were constantly adding organic matter with amendments, plant roots, mulches, cover crops, microbial biomass from teas, etc. Sooooo many carbon inputs. #3 plants build themselves of inorganic carbon. they do not build themselves from carbon in the soil (I would guess less than 1%).

 

[IIReignManII]

I would recommend breaking the soil up and re-amending it. 7 gallons really isn't enough to sustain no-till. so my method for a recycle is to break up the soil (please don't scream! I know I hate doing it lol) and i put it all in my compost tumbler (IMO the best small scale soil mixing/composting device). Then I just amend as if it were a brand new mix and compost it for 4 weeks. I have gotten away from adding compost back to the mix because I'm coming to realize, there is no need to add additional organic matter. Adding back organic matter to recycles was common practice several years ago on here it seems... but there is no need. #1 there is soooooooooooo much carbon energy in a recycled organic soil, I can't even begin to imagine. #2 were constantly adding organic matter with amendments, plant roots, mulches, cover crops, microbial biomass from teas, etc. Sooooo many carbon inputs. #3 plants build themselves of inorganic carbon. they do not build themselves from carbon in the soil (I would guess less than 1%).

Much appreciated Shluby! Are you leaving the broken up root balls in there or do you discard any of the old root mass?

 

[ShLUbY]

Much appreciated Shluby! Are you leaving the broken up root balls in there or do you discard any of the old root mass?

leave the roots in for sure. lots of goodies in those roots still. around three weeks of composting the recycled mix, you will notice that old root mass becomes engulfed by microbes, and they will aggregate a mass of roots into a ball and it will be extremely black looking. if you break one open, you will see the old root mass being broken down. it's really cool. from that point, your soil is 1-2 weeks away from being stable for plant growth

 

[IIReignManII]

leave the roots in for sure. lots of goodies in those roots still. around three weeks of composting the recycled mix, you will notice that old root mass becomes engulfed by microbes, and they will aggregate a mass of roots into a ball and it will be extremely black looking. if you break one open, you will see the old root mass being broken down. it's really cool. from that point, your soil is 1-2 weeks away from being stable for plant growth

Awesome, I'm already thinking forward to my next batch. I'm getting really excited for it with how well my first run is going and the genetics I have to play with for the next round.

 

[ShLUbY]

Awesome, I'm already thinking forward to my next batch. I'm getting really excited for it with how well my first run is going and the genetics I have to play with for the next round.

that's a great mindset to have. you always have to be thinking ahead. have extra soil. don't run out of amendments. plan your grows out on a calendar (something i've committed to heavily this year). It's hard to fail with you have everything you need or in line.

what are you gonna grow next round? also, what are you growing this round? lol