Soil Reuse advice needed

defec1

Well-Known Member
Hi, I'd like to reuse Fox Farm soil from last year's outdoor grow this season due to finances. I know that there are risks involved but I figured it's worth a shot and I'd learn something in the process. I found the below in "Vic's Super Soil Recipes & Notes" and understand it but unfortunately I didn't know to add the leaves etc at the end of last season and I ripped out the root balls. Does anyone have any idea on what can be added in their place or would the other ingredients cover most of it? I plain to fertilize during the grow with fish emotion, Earth Juice Bloom and molasses. Also how long ahead of time should I mix everything up? Is it easy to find Kelp Meal locally? Is a liter 4 1/4 cups? Is it worth adding Cannazym to this regiment? I appreciate any help/advice. Thanks.

Recycling Soil

Used soil – Reusing soil has a few downsides such as it makes it easier for diseases, viruses, and pathogens from entering your garden. Also peat based soils break down and become acidic. If you fertilize with chemicals you’ll end up with salt buildups that will slow growth. Unless you like to take chances, have a good eye, and a good horticultural understanding, you may be better off with staying with fresh new soils. That said;
I grow strictly organic and I’ve always reused my soil. I don’t sterilize the soil between plantings as my soil is full of microbes and predatory bugs that keep the bad bugs under control. After each crop, I chop up the soil and root balls with the leaves, stalks, etc and let compost for about 3 months. I then mix it up and add about 2 – 3 cups of lime for every 50 gallons composted soil. I also add about 1/2 cup epsom salts, 2 liters bone meal, 1 liter blood meal, 1 liter kelp meal, 1 tsp trace elements, and enough perlite to regain the porosity of the original soil. I used to add a bag of manure, but I was getting fertilizer burn and so have stopped now. As I’ve been fine tuning this, the plants just keep getting healthier and I haven’t had any real pest problems for quite a while.
 

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
I reuse all the time.

Think about it. All soil is reused. It came from somewhere.

The whole thing about disease and such is hog wash. With a good organic soil it gets better with time and as the soil food web gets stronger, so do the plants.

The recycled organic living soil thread is a good place to start.

https://www.rollitup.org/t/recycled-organic-living-soil-rols-and-no-till-thread

This is a great book to read.
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defec1

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727, would you also amend the older soil as outlined in the first post on top of worm castings and the pinch of Espoma Garden Tone if you were me or is it not neeed? BTW how do you apply those once the plant starts to grow? Thanks.
 

cindysid

Well-Known Member
I have been using the same soil for 7 cycles, and it has only gotten better. I add worm castings as whiteebb2727 says, and I also give mine a little rabbit manure (courtesy of my bunnies), I topdress as the plant grows if it seems to need anything.and I use fish emulsion, potassium silicate and potassium sulfate, , kelp, and molasses as needed.
 

mauricem00

Well-Known Member

defec1

Well-Known Member
I have been using the same soil for over 3 years. after cleaning the old roots out of the soil I just add an organic tomato food that contains bone meal and other organic goodies and beneficial critters about 3 weeks after sprouting I start normal feeding. outdoors plants grow in the same soil for years.many many years. we just need to add food once in a while

What ratio do you add to your soil? I think that I'd have to feed my plants after 3 weeks even if I replaced all the soil with fox farm etc but I could be wrong. Thanks.
 
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defec1

Well-Known Member
I have been using the same soil for 7 cycles, and it has only gotten better. I add worm castings as whiteebb2727 says, and I also give mine a little rabbit manure (courtesy of my bunnies), I topdress as the plant grows if it seems to need anything.and I use fish emulsion, potassium silicate and potassium sulfate, , kelp, and molasses as needed.

Nice. I'd like to accomplish the same thing just adding a bit of soil and perlite here/there.
 

Nugachino

Well-Known Member
My soil is on its second run through the canna mill. Plants look healthier this round. And I've barely had to add anything to keep them happy.

Mine is just a base organic potting mix. No added nutrients. A few bags of coir for extra medium. A whole bunch more bags of perlite. And simple amendments like dolomite, Epsom and blood & bone. Then I chucked in a box of 1000 worms and added kitchen scraps.
 

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
What ratio do you add to your soil? I think that I'd have to feed my plants after 3 weeks even if I replaced all the soil with fox farm etc but I could be wrong. Thanks.
follow the label directions on the organic food you use. each one is different. you could even use chicken manure. you are just trying to replace nutrients that were depleted by you last grow.if you are not concerned about staying organic you could even use MG quick start when you plant your new crop
 

defec1

Well-Known Member
follow the label directions on the organic food you use. each one is different. you could even use chicken manure. you are just trying to replace nutrients that were depleted by you last grow.if you are not concerned about staying organic you could even use MG quick start when you plant your new crop
Thanks. If they list what I'm growing on the label directions things sure have come a long ways:).
 

mauricem00

Well-Known Member
Thanks. If they list what I'm growing on the label directions things sure have come a long ways:).
cannabis has the same needs as tomatoes. when we talk to folks at garden centers or nurseries we are all growing tomatoes indoors :):):)
 

defec1

Well-Known Member
That's funny because my 70 year old neighbor always asks me how the tomatoes are doing when it's growing season.
 

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
whitebb2727, would you also amend the older soil as outlined in the first post on top of worm castings and the pinch of Espoma Garden Tone if you were me or is it not neeed? BTW how do you apply those once the plant starts to grow? Thanks.
I apply it to the top of soil and mix in lightly. The garden tone says to apply around the drip line. The edge of the leaves on the ground.

With a new batch you could add a little extra like a bit of lime, rock dust, kelp and various meals. Like neem or feather meal.

Generally I like to keep it simple.

I also have a compost pile. You can setup a mini composter in a five gallon bucket. I forget what its called.

Keep it super simple.

I screw up every time I get away from that.
 

defec1

Well-Known Member
Interesting. I figured that I had to add everything to the soil ahead of time, mix it in, dampen, mix again and wait a three or so weeks.
 
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