Can I re-use soil?

[edit1001]

I'm finishing my first grow that I grown in 'Sunshine Mix 4, professional growing mix'
I'm wondering if I remove the plant from the plant, can I re-use the remaining soil and add new to it, or should I discard all the old one?

Also, is there any suggestion for a better soil that I should be using that's available in Canada?

[NebulaHaze]

Some growers reuse old soil but I don't recommend it. In my opinion it just adds a bunch of variables into the mix. Used soil doesn't have the same nutrients and properties as new soil, which can complicate things! I believe in trying to keep it as simple as possible

Is there anything you didn't like about your current potting mix? Are you looking for soil, or more of a soilless mix like Sunshine Mix #4?

[edit1001]

I mixed the sunshine mix4 with regular soil to about 4 part mix 1 part soil so it retains water a bit better.
I thought it was fine, took a little while to figure out how to water properly, but I got used to it now so I don't necessarily want to change, just wondering what medium would be best to grow in? Better to stay with this or something different works better for the plants?

Thank you!!!

[Canuck147]

You can re-use it, but have to flush it some more. Whatever size pot its in, triple the amount of water. 2 gallon pot, use 6 gallons of water to flush.

[Flockshot]

Knowing what is in your mix when you start makes the grow repeatable if it works out really well, and helps your understanding of what went wrong if it doesn't.
Being new, I need all the information I can get about my grow in order to become a better grower, so I will be using new mix each time.

As for changing your mix, I have been using peat based (M3 and ProMix) and am changing to coco for my next grow. I have failed to properly manage my water in peat so I want something easier to control. With peat you don't get run-off and therefor it is more difficult to check PH and PPM in your root zone. I will be using coco/perlite as described in the GWE tutorial with Flora Trio next grow. So, if you are happy with you mix that's great, but if you are having problems perhaps a change will help you learn faster.

[Gordo41]

When ever i read a thread like this, i have to wonder why everyone isn't using coco coir and perlight instead of soil.
Its by far the best medium for growing pot in. I know there are some people that would argue the point,, but ive been growing for 10 years and have tried them all, but keep coming back to coco. I could list the benefits but there are great articles on here that would explain it much better.
check it out.

[NebulaHaze]

I think different methods end up suiting people differently. Soil has some cool taste/smell benefits, and since it contains nutrients so it can be a little more forgiving during the first few weeks. I love coco because of how easy it is to use and how fast plants grow, and I agree with you I think it's once of the best growing mediums, especially for beginners and anyone that wants something halfway between soil and hydro.

However, once I switched to full hydro I only rarely use anything else! It just takes so little time to maintain a reservoir since you don't have to water the plants or remove runoff, so you can get away with checking on plants only once or twice a week. But lots of growers hate hydro! I also think different methods work better in different climates. Something that works great for one person doesn't necessarily work great for someone else

[Gordo41]

I agree with you about the Hydro. Probably the best way to grow hands down, but as you say, what ever works in your situation works. But for me i like to move my plants outside into the sun everyday and put them in the tent at night for the rest of the light cycle. And Hydro wont let me do that. I think coco is the soilless equivalent of hydro. If you cant or dont need to move your plants, hydro is the way to go.

[NebulaHaze]

That makes sense and I completely agree! If I ever grow outdoors, it's probably going to be in coco

[edit1001]

I already planted my youngsters into 1 gallon containers in sunshine mix, so It's too late to switch now, but I will definitely do coco next time.
Thanks for all the advice!

[Gordo41]

I already planted my youngsters into 1 gallon containers in sunshine mix, so It's too late to switch now, but I will definitely do coco next time.
Thanks for all the advice!

Hi my friend, i dont know how much growing you have done but at the risk of stating the obvious, you are and should move then to a much bigger pot.
One gallen pots might be (not really) big enough for a very small auto stealth grow,, but not for a full size photo plant. You will do much better if you pot them in 3-5 gal pots, preferably made of fabric not plastic. So you can still use coco if you like when you move them to the bigger pots. The roots will thank you for it.

[edit1001]

Yes, this is my second grow.
I got clones in little puck soil, and plant them to a 1 gallon pot. I give them about three weeks and move them into a 5 gallon fabric pot.
So you think it would be ok if I mix the medias? They are in peat in the 1 gallon, and move that into the middle of the coco in the 5 gallon?

[Gordo41]

Great, im sure you could do as you said. I have done this in the past with no problems.
I use to transplant a lot but found it much easier and better for the plant to go right into the final size pot they will spend their life in right from the start.

[NebulaHaze]

Yes, this is my second grow.
I got clones in little puck soil, and plant them to a 1 gallon pot. I give them about three weeks and move them into a 5 gallon fabric pot.
So you think it would be ok if I mix the medias? They are in peat in the 1 gallon, and move that into the middle of the coco in the 5 gallon?

I'd do it like you said. I think it's easier to just make a hole and put the whole root ball into the new pot because it helps prevent transplant shock

[edit1001]

I'll give it a try and do half the plants the same way as before and the other half I'll put in coco in the large pot.
I'll let you know how it turns out around February
Thank you!