Reusing soil?

[Elf777]

Do people reuse their soil indoors? My soil right now seems to be very "active", if a leaf drops I can see how the soil creates a white kind of fungus and starts decomposing the leaf. However I am getting less yield every time I reuse the soil. I use biobizz light mix and use biobizz nutes. Is it possible there might be salt buildup, or shall I just get new soil every grow?

 

[Creeperpark]

Super good question friend. I use new soil every time because I don't want to take a chance at lost productivity. The price of new soil vs the savings are too close to be of value to me. Its kind of like using used gas to cross the state. You can do it but it's not the same as using new gas having the security of the trip.

Some of the organic guys reuse their soil but only after re-amending with new amendments and allowing the mix to cook for an extended amount of time. Maybe a month or three months lying dormant allowing the microbes to repopulate the mix. In my opinion, that's too much trouble compared to just buying a new bag of potting mix.

 

[Elf777]

Super good question friend. I use new soil every time because I don't want to take a chance at lost productivity. The price of new soil vs the savings are too close to be of value to me. Its kind of like using used gas to cross the state. You can do it but it's not the same as using new gas having the security of the trip.

Some of the organic guys reuse their soil but only after re-amending with new amendments and allowing the mix to cook for an extended amount of time. Maybe a month or three months lying dormant allowing the microbes to repopulate the mix. In my opinion, that's too much trouble compared to just buying a new bag of potting mix.

I am leaning towards changing the soil too, I don't have a garden to let soil cook etc. I have been able to replicate this since I've been growing, Maybe it's because of this particular combo, but every time I start reusing my soil I get worse and worse results with each grow. I will start changing it more often ( I think 2 or maybe even 3 grows should be fine). Thanks a lot.

 

[Birmaan]

Hey

With chicken manure pellets, primary rock flour and very good initial soil works well, if there is still bone meal and blood meal does not hurt. But it also works without.

Keyword No Till

 

[trichrider]

in favor of reusing soil, it'd bust my nut to have to replace the soil in these beds. not used for cannabis, but...
i wouldn't want to have to replace this bed either.
some azomite, bone meal, alfalfa meal, kelp meal, mixed into the top few inches and watered in, it is ready to plant in again ...no need to wait for it to 'cook'. just need to replace the goodies that make weeds grow.

good luck is organic.

 

[goingrey]

I don't grow in soil indoors anymore but when I did, I did. I'd remove (most of) the roots and mix in some new soil. Not the correct way to do it according to current beliefs I know. Disturbs the bacteria or something like that. Seemed to work ok, though.

 

[Hammerhead]

BioBizz Nutrients are Organic. Won't cause salt buildup.. Here's a link on re amending used soil

How to Re-Amend Your Soil

Most growers love the idea of re-using their soil, but it can be a bit daunting for a variety of reasons. In this blog post, I'm going to review what the advantages and disadvantages are, as well as lay out a simple plan you can follow. Advantages: The advantages of re-using your soil are...

www.kisorganics.com

 

[Redrum92]

Do people reuse their soil indoors? My soil right now seems to be very "active", if a leaf drops I can see how the soil creates a white kind of fungus and starts decomposing the leaf. However I am getting less yield every time I reuse the soil. I use biobizz light mix and use biobizz nutes. Is it possible there might be salt buildup, or shall I just get new soil every grow?

If it's good soil, the plant isnt rootbound, the pH stays good, and you don't add in a ton of salty/non-soluble nutrients, you can reuse, sometimes without re-amending, at least once.

Reusing soil, especially more than once is an art, and honestly probably not worth the risk unless you want to get good at building your own soil like the organic/no-till guys

 

[troutman]

The way I reuse indoor soil is to save it for an outdoor grow.