Grow Mediums Is it safe to re-use potting soil or not?

[NorthernLights_420]

I know it's best to start with fresh soil. But I'm using biobizz light mix soil. Am I able to reuse the soil for future weed grows or shud I save it til next year for a veggie garden outside? I'm not going to waste it so I'll recycle it into an outdoor garden if I shouldn't reuse it for growing weed.

 

[nizmoKush]

You reuse your soil you just have to re-amended first to introduce what you lost..

I'm using reused soil in grow (coco loco) I didn't amend it but I did introduced worms in my pots.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Ok so what are good things to add or re ammend the soil? Worms I'm guessing is an all natural way and what else? Like worm castings or what else to re ammend with?

 

[Proph]

It depends on your growing style. If you grow organic, it is highly recommended to re use your soil over and over again, as it gets better with each cycle of use.. If you use bottled nutrients and feed your plants every other watering, I would not advise reusing that soil without flushing it first or having it soil tested. When using bottled nutes, you don't know which of the bottled nutrients are still left in the soil, and at what levels. For example, a seedling planted in that reused soil could be sitting in soil that still has a nutrient level for late flower. Or there could be no sulfur or phosphorus left in the soil.. You have no way of knowing the nutrient levels. I know people that use bottled nutes and still reuse their soils anyway... but they flush it, and re-amend it with some sort of dry nutrient before reuse.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

It depends on your growing style. If you grow organic, it is highly recommended to re use your soil over and over again, as it gets better with each cycle of use.. If you use bottled nutrients and feed your plants every other watering, I would not advise reusing that soil without flushing it first or having it soil tested. When using bottled nutes, you don't know how much of the bottled nutrients are still left in the soil, and at what levels. For example, a seedling planted in that reused soil could be sitting in soil that still has a nutrient level for late flower. Or there could be no sulfur or phosphorus left in the soil.. You have no way of knowing the nutrient levels. I know people that use bottled nutes and still reuse their soils anyway... but they flush it, and re-amend it with some sort of dry nutrient before reuse.

I think that holds true of all soils used. Just because it is Organic does not mean you cannot use all of the available nutrients out of it. When I grew with organic soil I rotated it out of my vegetable garden. I could grow 1 plant in 5 gallons water only. Then the soil had to go back out to the garden for at least one year to get recharged with normal additions like compost etc. I ran out of soil I could recycle and my vegetable garden was suffering from it. It was about the same time my back got so bad I could not move a 5 gallon pot and I switched to hydro. My vegetable garden is a lot happier that I am not swiping the soil from it.

To answer your question look at the recipes for good soil and build it back up based on the type of inputs you want.Remember going this route takes time for the soil to "cook" in order for the nutrients to become available through the action of the soil microbes.

I would just flush it well and use a good nutrient line to grow plants. That way you are basically starting at zero and you can add balanced nutrients from the beginning - no guesswork as to what might be available to the plant in the soil.

 

[Proph]

I think that holds true of all soils used. Just because it is Organic does not mean you cannot use all of the available nutrients out of it. When I grew with organic soil I rotated it out of my vegetable garden. I could grow 1 plant in 5 gallons water only. Then the soil had to go back out to the garden for at least one year to get recharged with normal additions like compost etc. I ran out of soil I could recycle and my vegetable garden was suffering from it. It was about the same time my back got so bad I could not move a 5 gallon pot and I switched to hydro. My vegetable garden is a lot happier that I am not swiping the soil from it.

To answer your question look at the recipes for good soil and build it back up based on the type of inputs you want.Remember going this route takes time for the soil to "cook" in order for the nutrients to become available through the action of the soil microbes.

I would just flush it well and use a good nutrient line to grow plants. That way you are basically starting at zero and you can add balanced nutrients from the beginning - no guesswork as to what might be available to the plant in the soil.

That issue is resolved by amending the soil after use (in organics).. Ive had the same two 15 gal pots for a year now. Both filled with build a soil living soil. I top dress after harvest and replant. It's water only from there. I've never replaced or added any other soils/compost. It's called "no till".. Where the soil is never disturbed. I have yet to encounter a nutrient issue. I think you may be thinking of DIY soil mixes.. If so, I agree, they may need to cook a bit.. Or you have to add your own biology ... But living soils are alive and ready to go out of the bag.. Complete with microbes, fungi, predator mites ect.

So I guess you can say there are two ways of reusing soil.. There is the no till method (usually done 15-100 gallon pots) where you do not disturb the soil or its biology, and just chop and replant directly into the soil.. Then there is the standard act of dumping your used soil into buckets or tarps or something (usually done with 1-10 gallon pots) removing large root balls, and amending it or flushing it before reuse.

But again.. If they are feeding with a nutrient line every other watering, for say 75 days.. Then want to reuse that soil as is, I would not suggest reusing that soil for a new seedling. In organics, it's basically plain water with a compost tea once a month. Much less likely to have an excess in that scenario. Either way I think we are saying the same thing, lol.. That yes, you can reuse your soil (and save a grip of cash).. But there are variables to consider regarding to how to do it.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

It depends on your growing style. If you grow organic, it is highly recommended to re use your soil over and over again, as it gets better with each cycle of use.. If you use bottled nutrients and feed your plants every other watering, I would not advise reusing that soil without flushing it first or having it soil tested. When using bottled nutes, you don't know which of the bottled nutrients are still left in the soil, and at what levels. For example, a seedling planted in that reused soil could be sitting in soil that still has a nutrient level for late flower. Or there could be no sulfur or phosphorus left in the soil.. You have no way of knowing the nutrient levels. I know people that use bottled nutes and still reuse their soils anyway... but they flush it, and re-amend it with some sort of dry nutrient before reuse.

Using mega crop part a and b in biobizz light mix soil. Not growing organic.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Thanks for the replies. I'll just reuse in my garden outdoor for veggies n fruits and buy new soil. Sounds easier. Biobizz light mix dont cost much for a couple bags.

 

[NorthernLights_420]

And I wanna start growing more outdoors so I'll dump it in my garden

 

[AJrexxx]

I will reuse soil about 3 grows then I rotate it out to the beds outside. I could tell you 25 different amendments to use (at one point another I used them all), but honestly it can be done simply. Grab a bag of Dr. Earth flower girl, and some need seed meal (i use this as a top dress to re amended soil helps keep bugs at bay), worm castings and then your should be fine. You can always top dress as you go for a heavy feeder. when I trim and cut branches I throw those under the mulch and let them break down. I do not till or remix just top dress. As Proph said outside of a huge feeder every great once and awhile I never has deficiencies

I also have a few worms running around in the pots as well.

I could probably go longer than three to be honest. I use ten gallon bags and they start to look grimy it bothers me and I throw out the dirt wash the bags and repeat.

Before I had worm bins I would re amend with the same above and happy frog soil conditioner. EIther way seems to work and I do not see much difference.

I am not an expert but this has been working for me there was some trial and error in it, but it is worth it long run. I am still pulling over 3oz organic on quick autos and 6oz on some of the bigger ones. Plants are not nearly as big as my coco plants were but the taste is better. That being said a box of need seed meal 10$ Dr Earth 14$ Worm castings Free (make mine no idea what they cost). I can get three runs on four pots for 24 bucks.

Again just my two cents.