Using Last Season's Dirt...Please Help Settle a Disagreement

My wonderful husband and I disagree about using the FoxFarm soil from last season for the new sprouts I've started in the last few weeks.
He thinks that since I use a plethora of nutes, FF big bloom, grow big, and tiger bloom...along with some superthrive...that it's completely unnecessassary to buy new soil.
I think that I should at least compost the old soil for a season before I reuse it..ya get what you put into it...is what I seem to gather from reading all the tips here.

Mind you, he doesn't smoke or get high at all. His job tests randomly and frequently so he won't chance it until he retires. I smoke for medical reasons, plus I like pot. he has no problems with that, or the fact that I started to grow it last year for myself.

Back in the early 70's, he studied botany in college. Only a semester or so, but he remembers enough to make him think he's right, and I am over-doing it for pot plants.
What say you guys?
Thank you so much for the help,
Sharon

i re use all the time only thing i do is make sure all root systems are out of soil i add little peatmoss , and add little new soil and let her buck

you can reuse it just flush the soil till the run off is clear. should be no issue

i have to agree with you, compost it first if you need to reuse it. Tell him he is right and just to go buy new soil...lol

DrFever said:

i re use all the time only thing i do is make sure all root systems are out of soil i add little peatmoss , and add little new soil and let her buck

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It is good to leave everything but the root ball in place it provides good root development for the next. I would leech the soil well like dj said and add compost

Hehe, I reread my post and had to laugh at all the non-incidental details my stoned self rambled on about in my op. Sorry 'bout that.
I've read the posts to him so far, and he's grinning from ear to ear, lol.

He may win this point, but I think I am going to buy new soil anyway.
Thanks everyone! Keep the replies coming.

pffft, why would you ever reuse soil from previous grows? just throw it out and start fresh like nature does. oh wait...

toastycookies said:

pffft, why would you ever reuse soil from previous grows? just throw it out and start fresh like nature does. oh wait...

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Well, if you take into account the context of my op....you'd be able to figure out that I'm simply wondering if I will get more out of fresh soil, rather than the depleated soil of last year.

toastycookies said:

pffft, why would you ever reuse soil from previous grows? just throw it out and start fresh like nature does. oh wait...

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yea if your growing 10 - 15 but if your growing 800 plants and up would it not be more cost efficient to re use some of your soil you got left i dunno bout you but when my plants are done i dont have alot o soil left in my pot rather one fckin huge root ball but after shaking what ever off the ball and addin that extra soil in my my new batch with new peatmoss, shrimp compost , etc

people forget that most final flushes if done properly will get rid of any nutrients in the soil and what is left can only be good

but end result is high yields at bottom costs

I think he was being sarcastic.

I used the same soil for at least six grows adding only a little after each harvest. My yield has gone up not down, the soil is full of organic material and I add Quantum Growth at 4oz rate every week. Beneficial bacteria keeps my soil healthy which in turn keeps my girls happy. Why would I want to get rid of good soil, using the microbes their consuming the nutrients and feeding them back to the plant as needed preventing nutrient lock up in your soil. I have had a 100% survial rate with my clones since using the product as a dip. I do get free product from a distributor out of fl., but have had excellent results so I thought I'd pass on the info about the product. Someone said I ouht to do a disclamier since I do get it free. It is the only stable liquid photosynthenic bacteria on the market today. Why use a dry powder of spore former bacteria that technology is 30 years old. Get with the future of growing cutting your nutrients in half if not more and add a little nitrogen fixing bacteria. Indoorman

I would be worried about the risk of fungi and insects. If there was any kind of problem developing in soil during the last grow, it now gets another cycle to establish itself. With a fresh bag you make sure you get a clean start. I also like to sterilize the grow area floor and all the pots between grows. The lights will do a good job on the walls. It's just my way of thinking but considering the investment of time and risk, the cost of a new bag of FF seems minimal.

Indoorman is bang on, microbes are the key to reusing soil. I use mine twice then let it mellow in a big tote for a few months then reuse, and it gets better every time. No microherd, then throw it out.