Cannaboi757
Member
What do you guys think about re-using your soil? Good idea or no? I was thinking about it, and it seems like it could be done, and i wouldnt spend all that money on soil, the current soil im using is FF Ocean Forest.
Thoughts on reusing soil?
- Thread starter Cannaboi757
- Start date
I'm an organic guy & I reuse soil all the time. Re amend, cook & go baby go!
Diabolical666
Well-Known Member
I have heaps of used dirt in my garden, I use if for my garden plants every year, works great. If you've had any insect problems I would sift threw and spray with an organic pesticide a couple times. Probably should do that anyways if its sitting outside to cook. Add some organic fertilizers into your mix to amend
Cannaboi757
Member
Thanks!
rohis
Well-Known Member
I've had great results reusing soil.
I add a small bag of 'fresh' soil to the old (probably just for my own comfort)
and treat with an enzyme(recently switched to growmore's bio cozyme) to break down any root merial that remains.
Adding some organic powder ferts/amendments and glacial rock dust or azomite to replace some micro elements is never a bad idea
My soil mix started life as 50% Ocean Forest, 25% happy frog, 25% perlite. I now compost it and add a little of this and that here and there. Works better than it ever did new.
I add a small bag of 'fresh' soil to the old (probably just for my own comfort)
and treat with an enzyme(recently switched to growmore's bio cozyme) to break down any root merial that remains.
Adding some organic powder ferts/amendments and glacial rock dust or azomite to replace some micro elements is never a bad idea
My soil mix started life as 50% Ocean Forest, 25% happy frog, 25% perlite. I now compost it and add a little of this and that here and there. Works better than it ever did new.
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BWG707
Well-Known Member
I think it depends on the amount of soil you need. If it's a smaller grow or you don't have to room or the time to composit I'd just buy new soil. Find a wherehouse type of gardening store. I can get FFOF for about $8 a bag. If I had the time and space I would rather mix my own though.
medical/420
Active Member
I re use my organic soil over and over, I add some good stuff each time. it gets better and better. Happy frog/ocean forest/promix. subcool super soil. I dont add any FERTALIZERS water only.
Do you do that as you re-pot, or do you have a holding bin where this breakdown occurs? (Do you have to let your old soil "compost" before using it?).
The only thing I would add is that you probably won't have the best results by going straight into the same exact soil. Other than that, I say go for it. I'm talking living organic soil by the way. I add compost and other very much living amendments to all my mixes anyway, my compost always has creepy crawlies living in it when I add it, same with my homegrown castings, and no negative infestations....ever so I don't really worry about that, but please don't take my situation as rule on that. I'd say preferably though the way to go is to compost your old soil for 6 mo. to a year then add it back in with freshy.
I like to cook my soil after adding the goodies for a minumum of 4-5 months with the lid closed in one of these. 64 gallon from Wallyworld.
I'm a big fan of the long cook, although, around here the town just brings you one of the 64 gallon containers when if you say someone stole your garbage can. Lol
Diabolical666
Well-Known Member
Id have to get a bakers dozen of these at least
But I did purchase this exact model for my winter backup water rez Nice price good product (for once , coming from Wallyworld).
Diabolical666
Well-Known Member
I am as well but our weather up here only stays warm for so long, and then it's "So long summer".
Haha that's nearly exactly how my back yard looks!, but I use them to store scrap wire. I Actually have a 4x8x4ish hovel style compost and that holds about 14 garbage cans haha. The thing is when you up your compost to a decent size it'll be cooking at freezing air temps. We spent nearly a month at below zero F and my compost never froze inside.
rohis
Well-Known Member
I prefer one or two 'enzyme treatments' throughout the course of the plants life cycle, then I add the old dirt to a compost bin (spare trash barrels work nice) with an enzyme treatment and some mycos. Yes you should then let it compost, or 'cook' in the holding barrel for at least 4 weeks. Some guys like to go months (especially when they add a slew of amendments and grass clippings and leaf matter to their compost)
The enzymes will catalyze food production for your micro life, and your microlife will go into overdrive. Similar to the way mycos catalyze food production for your plants.
rohis
Well-Known Member
Dr. Who is absolutely right.
I use Roots Organic and Nectar for the Gods nutrients, but I do have 3 or 4 synthetics that I run (soul synthetics peak, infinity, swell, and amino aid).
Those 4 particular synthetics don't give me any problems in my recycled compost, BUT they are derived from almost entirely natural sources. Plus I only use small amounts in moderation.
If you're feeding your plants an abundance of chemical ferts, then be careful trying to reuse it.. or if you're using a soil thats got synthetic time release fertilizers, DON'T re-use it.
I use Roots Organic and Nectar for the Gods nutrients, but I do have 3 or 4 synthetics that I run (soul synthetics peak, infinity, swell, and amino aid).
Those 4 particular synthetics don't give me any problems in my recycled compost, BUT they are derived from almost entirely natural sources. Plus I only use small amounts in moderation.
If you're feeding your plants an abundance of chemical ferts, then be careful trying to reuse it.. or if you're using a soil thats got synthetic time release fertilizers, DON'T re-use it.
Great point, I think I may have write it up there somewhere, but everything I said pertained to living organics