Soil smells like dirty socks

NugHeuser

NugHeuser

Well-Known Member
I have a barrel of used ffof that I planned on reamending and it's definitely acuired a faily strong dirty sock like smell to it, is this okay? Foul smells are normally a bad sign, I'd hate for my plants to get root rot or something. It will really suck though if I can't reuse it because I have quite a bit. I appreciate any feed back. :peace:
 
stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
Barrel? As in sealed +/- a lid? That can creat anarobic conditions. Healthy soil should smell like, well, earth. Maybe spread it all out in warm area, dry it out well and besure it gets air movement. When it doesnt smell bad, amend it, and remember you killed all the good microbes so add them back. Thats what i would do anyway.
 
NugHeuser

NugHeuser

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
Barrel? As in sealed +/- a lid? That can creat anarobic conditions. Healthy soil should smell like, well, earth. Maybe spread it all out in warm area, dry it out well and besure it gets air movement. When it doesnt smell bad, amend it, and remember you killed all the good microbes so add them back. Thats what i would do anyway.
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Yeah it had the lid over it 44 gal garbage can I believe. And so your saying by letting the soil get anarobic that killed the good microbes or having to dry it out will kill the microbes? Only options on dumping it out to dry is on the cold concrete in the basement, and it's been about 60% rh down there because of my veg tent. I could put a fan blowing right over it. Its still been pretty chilly down there considering winter's over, upper 50s to lower 60s
 
stoned-monkey

stoned-monkey

Well-Known Member
NugHeuser said:
Yeah it had the lid over it 44 gal garbage can I believe. And so your saying by letting the soil get anarobic that killed the good microbes or having to dry it out will kill the microbes? Only options on dumping it out to dry is on the cold concrete in the basement, and it's been about 60% rh down there because of my veg tent. I could put a fan blowing right over it. Its still been pretty chilly down there considering winter's over, upper 50s to lower 60s
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Good microbes need o2, without it they die. Both good and bad guys need moisture. The basement doesnt sound ideal but i would still try. Even test this method out with a small bucket of soil. Getting o2 the that soil and letting it dry, doesnt nee to be bone dry but dry, it should kill the bad guys. Then mix up as you would have.
 
NugHeuser

NugHeuser

Well-Known Member
stoned-monkey said:
Good microbes need o2, without it they die. Both good and bad guys need moisture. The basement doesnt sound ideal but i would still try. Even test this method out with a small bucket of soil. Getting o2 the that soil and letting it dry, doesnt nee to be bone dry but dry, it should kill the bad guys. Then mix up as you would have.
Click to expand...
Well it's all dumped put and spread with two fans on it. Hopefully this goes quick, I plan on needing this soil on about 3 weeks
 
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