Newbie question: Dirt storage.

[Pimpslapped]

Okay, something I haven't really seen addressed much in forums/guides. How/where/how long should your soil/mix be stored 'safely'?

Seems like a lot of extra dirt builds up, people seem to generally mix in large quantities. Say I'm going to be using about 2gal of soil for the first 2 months of my grow, adding in repotting and such. Just mix it up in a tub and let it sit around to be used as needed? Do you need to do anything special to keep it from degrading? Just curious.

I'm early in my first attempt at a grow, still figuring out things as I go. I've noticed I've got all these bags of dirt laying around. Need to get them stored away discreetly without screwing something basic up that I overlook due to lack of experience.

 

[BeAn]

Heres what i store my soil in, i have two..stacked on top of eachother...hope this helps. You dont need to do anything special...just mix it up, put the lid on...and let nature and micro-organisms do thier work, you can damp the soil to aid fermentation if you want.

Be safe dude!

 

[Pimpslapped]

Heres what i store my soil in, i have two..stacked on top of eachother...hoe this helps. You dont need to do anything special...just mix it up, put the lid on...and let nature and micro-organisms do thier work, you can damp the soil to aid fermentation if you want.

Be safe dude!

Do you have those sealed air tight, or no?

Sounds good, so it doesn't really matter if the dirt sits around for a month or two? That's about what I was hoping to hear. Measuring amounts to mix in for very small volumes would probably be a major pain.

Thanks for the info!

 

[BeAn]

Yeah, i slap um down air-tight...and you can leave it there for ages i think..i have, the soil in therenow is like 3months old and will be even older before i use it...

Oh yeah and, about the mix...if you use the additives sparingly, then you dont have to be exact....less is more.



Peace and flowers...

 

[Pimpslapped]

Yeah, I'm trying to do a less is more approach. This is my first grow, first soil mix, all that fun stuff. So I'm trying to keep it manageable. Had some problems with the straight potting soil I had, so just repotted into a mix of that with blood and bone meals, a little lime and a pinch of Epsom. Seeing how that goes before i play around too much more. I'd like to go semi-organic, using composts and such but availability is somewhat limited around here. No Fox Farms or anything that I can find. But between composted manure (Cow and/or chicken), mushroom compost and whatever other random additives I can scrounge up I think I can throw together something workable. Still doing some reading... but experience, as little as I'm getting, helps more for getting a 'feel' for things. Just hope I don't kill too many plants.

 

[Hal]

I store mine in a plastic container I got from Target, its not super air-tight, but fairly so. I am using the last part of a bag of Foxfarm Ocean Forest that I purchased over a year ago, and it is working superduper. I have a enough left to use on my next grow, and I have no worries about its viability.

 

[Lain]

I wish I had extra soil on hand! Once I've replenished the bails of soil, they're already gone lol

 

[screwdriver]

I use a 5 gallon bucket. I don't keep it air tight and occasionally stir and keep moist.

 

[badmf]

It won't de-grade but can pick up :guests"! I would compost if you are going to have some time before use, its better soil and great for the environment too.