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Re-use soil

Z

Zira1

New member
I will be planting in the next two weeks. I grow in 5 gal pots outside on my Mirador. My question is: Can I re-use the soil that was used previously? I have four pots ready to set up. I will mix up the soil, add some perlite and clean it as best as possible. Do I need to do more? Do I need all new soil?
Tks
 
I always purchase new soil for every new grow, but it could be that I am wasting resources. I have wondered the same question, and feel that adding nutrients should resolve that. However in regular vegetable gardening rotating crops is usually advised. I may mix super soil this next grow season, and forget about the premix.
 
Tks for the info. I will purchase new soil tomorrow and spread the old soil on my regular garden. I get my soil from a couple (growers) who live in the next town over. I don't know what is mixed in it but it works well for me. Tks again.
 
I have used soil again only once and it dident workout well at all!
Go with new or amend the soil u havelol
 
You could always compost your old soil in a bin and rotate the soils for grows. Just add some amendments to it, get it moist (not soaked), and let it sit. The amendments will break down and be readily available for your plants come planting time.
just an idea, beats buying new stuff all the time

Oh yay, maybe add some EWC or compost too for the beneficial bacteria. Helps with the composting process
 
Potted said:
I have used soil again only once and it dident workout well at all!
Go with new or amend the soil u havelol
Click to expand...

Ya know I think you are right. For the meager savings it is not worth the risk. I will use my old soil to fill the holes the damn dog has dug around the yard.
 
I reused some soil (which already was a mix of two different bagged soils, adding to the problem) and it didn't go well at all. Now I dump old soil in the regular houseplants--our silly little unkillable foliage plant has become a monster--or out in the yard.
 
Dump it in a compost bin and use it in the vegetable garden. Given the effort and other associated costs with growing, why chance reusing soil?
 
written in 2003, new techniques are in use.
Soil is a renewable resource
Good quality is $40 for 1.5 cubic feet. multiply that by 2 or 3 grows a year times the size of your grow and you can see the wisdom.
 
I always reuse my soil.

But never reuse it for my cannabis.

Like many others stated...It goes out in the yard. I grow fruit trees and other edible herbs and vegetables, they love getting the hand me downs. Lol The used soil just gets added to what's existing or for any new planting my wife plans for the yard.
Lots of nutrients left but not enough to grow a nutrient hungry plant like MJ. My .02 cents
Cheers
 
I agree with Paracelsus, re-purpose the soil or work on a compost area. Soil is valuable and can easily be renewed at home.

But in this situation, you will need new soil. Get some new soil this time Zira1, and find some clever uses for the old stuff like house plants, or smoothing the lawn.

Its not ALWAYS so easy to say "oh just compost your old soil grow" because look at these root balls!! After I shake the dirt off the roots or get most of the roots away I am left with a meager pile of perlite and a few chunkier bits from the bucket. It's all compacted and full of root material which would take years to decompose properly.
So, even with bacteria, fungus and other composting methods, re-using your old soil is a long term solution. Won't do much for you in the short term but it's definitely something to consider after a few grows in store bought soil.

Im fortunate that for now, FFOF is only $12 for 1.5cubic feet.
Now that's DIRT CHEAP.
 

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no way I'd put a root ball in compost, I'm talking about the pot soil after the roots have been shook out. Minor debris and pulp add to the loam nd drainage and will eventually break down. Worm Farm your kitchen scraps and even your Lolly Pop trim Keep them worms happy. Fox Farm Ocean Forest is going for $1500 for 75 1.5 liter bags bulk or $40 a bag on Amazon.
 
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It appears, by my tally of votes, the practicality of reusing premix soil for cannabis is 7 against, and 2 for. And this is from real world experience. Sometimes being "green", and renewable just isn't practical. I know for certain my wife is not going to save the planet by turning down a plastic bag at the super market when the brunt of humanity is working in the opposite direction. I wish that this weren't true, but have accepted the harsh reality that we are in a downward spiral.
 
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