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Do you guys reuse your potting soil?

N

Naushon

New member
Question, do you guys reuse your potting soil or start fresh after each grow?

In my tent I use Happy Frog which I amend slightly. In the past I normally take this used soil, and transfer it outdoors to be used on my tomatoes. I have to say, the tomatoes have no problem with it, they thrive.

So can, or should you reuse good soil after just one grow? To my eye it's still dark, and seems viable. It's only slightly depleted of some nutrients which can be easily reintroduced. Or is it not worth the chance? This grow will be autos in 5 gallon soft pots.
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I have 2 large tubs with lids. One i use for indoor soil and the other is for outdoor pots. I never use outdoor for indoor ever. Yes i reuse indoor soil a couple times and add worm castings once i transplant into their final pot. I'll add additional stuff like perilite or vermiculite. I'll bang the rootwad soil against the inner tub loosen what i can. Outdoor pots go into my garden beds or i'll do the same with the tub.
 
I too reuse my soil and amend it each year, but I built mine to start with.
 

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Between grow, I pull the old root ball out and dump the soil in a big bag and wait for the next grow. Then use it just like new soil. I don't reuse soil if I had problems with pests. Since you don't feed seedlings for the first 3 weeks anyway, It works out for me.
 
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I reuse my soil as well. To amend before the next grow I use an amendment pack provided by the soil maker. It contains all the good stuff they use in the first place. Just mix it in and let it cook for a couple weeks.
You can of course mix the individual amendments, I just let the pros do that for me.
 
I plan on reusing my soil as well. After filling 2 earth boxes with all the fixings, I don't want to have to do that every single grow. The plan is after I finish my current grow, I pull the root ball. I take the amendments and minerals that I would put in a new soil and top dress it into the soil. Put some light soil where the old root ball was and plant the next started seedling. The microbes and worms will move the nutrients and make them available to the plants. Plus they'll send feeder roots up into the top soil and they'll take whatever they need from the rich pickings.
 
After a run I dump all the soil onto a tarp, remove the roots and add about half of what I have on the tarp with new soil and mix it in. Sometimes I'll add some perlite if it looks like it needs it.

I use to make my own supersoil but too much work as I don't grow outdoors much anymore. Recharging the soil with some fresh has worked out well for me. Easy to do and has proven to be just as effective as new soil.
 
I just add a top dressing of home made worm compost on top of used soil, I do not dump or anything, just let the critters take care of it. Decomposed plants have everything that your plants need, if you are in a big enough pot, I don't even fertilize anymore. My pots are about 15 gallons and I fit four of them end to end tight in a 3x3.
 
A few things plants don't have that plants need or love that comes to mind

Blood and bone
Lime and other rock dust (trace elements)
Ash (mind you probably was a plant at one point)

and lots more water over time to keep it going

and as mentioned a big enough pot, very important for soil to work properly. Mass is critical.
 
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