The re-use of our soil

[grapeman]

I use Pro-Mix as a base and add the appropriate amounts of EWC, perlite, amendments etc. as my flower soil.

However, I have yet to re-condition my soil for re-use that is as good (at least in respect to my eye as to how the plants like the soil) that is good as a new mix.

I'm about ready to just resign myself to the fact that I need to make new soils a month or so before use and toss the old.

 

[vonforne]

I use Pro-Mix as a base and add the appropriate amounts of EWC, perlite, amendments etc. as my flower soil.

However, I have yet to re-condition my soil for re-use that is as good (at least in respect to my eye as to how the plants like the soil) that is good as a new mix.

I'm about ready to just resign myself to the fact that I need to make new soils a month or so before use and toss the old.

WHY?????

 

[jaykush]

I'm about ready to just resign myself to the fact that I need to make new soils a month or so before use and toss the old.

imo you would be better off ( as would most) with two soil batches. and rotate between them. so while one is being used, the other is "resting". where the organic matter you add, along with minerals and such are broken down into available forms and then locked up temporarily as humus or locked in the CEC or even the microbes themselves. by the time you get to using that soil its well balanced out ready for use. then amend the used soil and repeat the process.

over time your medium will become more like a real soil and function more like soil would.

 

[SuperSizeMe]

imo you would be better off ( as would most) with two soil batches. and rotate between them. so while one is being used, the other is "resting". where the organic matter you add, along with minerals and such are broken down into available forms and then locked up temporarily as humus or locked in the CEC or even the microbes themselves. by the time you get to using that soil its well balanced out ready for use. then amend the used soil and repeat the process.

over time your medium will become more like a real soil and function more like soil would.

I'm right there, 2 seperate batches.

My only real concern is break-down times and residual ammendments once a soil has been used, then re-ammended and 'knowing' you're adding only what's needed.

 

[guest2012y]

imo you would be better off ( as would most) with two soil batches. and rotate between them. so while one is being used, the other is "resting". where the organic matter you add, along with minerals and such are broken down into available forms and then locked up temporarily as humus or locked in the CEC or even the microbes themselves. by the time you get to using that soil its well balanced out ready for use. then amend the used soil and repeat the process.

over time your medium will become more like a real soil and function more like soil would.

This is probably the ideal way to go about the practice. It would be a more trouble free way for the newcomer to begin recycling soil.
Myself I do not do this anymore. I use one big batch of soil and re-amend every cycle. I don't have issues and my soil is still quite "alive". This may be because I'm experienced with managing things and can identify and correct problems if/as they occur.

 

[jaykush]

My only real concern is break-down times and residual ammendments once a soil has been used, then re-ammended and 'knowing' you're adding only what's needed.

well eventually you will be adding less and less in the forms of fertilizers as stable humus is created. and all that will be needed is to just add high quality compost when mixing the soil, and some top dressings every now and then help. then supplement when needed with nutrient rich top dressings(guanos, plant meals, rock powders, etc...) and even still over time are needed less and less as well.

and eventually you know your soil is rich, healthy and full of life when all you need is water to grow the best of the best.

 

[SuperSizeMe]

jaykush - I am kind of working my way there, trial and error from one batch to another.Still also learning how to read my strains for clues as to what may be lacking.A constant learning process while you're attempting to refine your own style.

Good stuff

Thanks K+

 

[grapeman]

WHY?????

LOL - Because I've been trying to re-generate the used soil. 100% used soil. 50/50 used to new and 2/3 & 1/3 new /used and it just seems that my grows are a bit better when I just use 100% newly made soil that has been "cooking" in the garage for several months.

Every time I've tried this I add amendments, and let it sit for a month or 2. I've got like 20 bins recycling in the garage. LOL

So obviously I'm not recycling correctly if so many here don't see what I see.

 

[guest2012y]

LOL - Because I've been trying to re-generate the used soil. 100% used soil. 50/50 used to new and 2/3 & 1/3 new /used and it just seems that my grows are a bit better when I just use 100% newly made soil that has been "cooking" in the garage for several months.

Every time I've tried this I add amendments, and let it sit for a month or 2. I've got like 20 bins recycling in the garage. LOL

So obviously I'm not recycling correctly if so many here don't see what I see.

The first thing I think is........Is this soil alive?

 

[Madrus Rose]

Ah ,

wouldn't it be nice to have the nice little farm space/acreage & a little tractor to boot to amend & recompost all used media , given how dam expensive all the latest planting mixes & coco blends are these days . To digest all that used root material while adding a good deal of organic waste & mulch & find "black gold" at the end after many turnings & passage of months .

And suppose if in the end u could get worms living in & loving it , u certainly would
hit the mark ! The happy worms know ...

 

[grapeman]

The first thing I think is........Is this soil alive?

I'd have to think so, but I'm too cheap to buy a microscope. I've been using LC#2 and feeding ewc tea weekly.

I'm very happy with the results using newly made soil. The second use or third us seems to be not as productive, even when I mix some old soil with new soil.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

I've been applying a high(er) dose of AEM and letting it sit for a few weeks. When it appears that the root mass have been broken down by the lactobacillus strains I then apply an AACT and let it sit for a couple more weeks.

I amend it with 15% EWC/compost mix and some kelp, neem and crustacean meal and that's pretty much it. I've been happy enough to continue this method vs. buying the base ingredients and mixing up new soil.

HTH

CC

 

[guest2012y]

EWC has been one of the top 2 re-amending additions in recycling my soil. It's pretty critical to have high quality castings compared to a lot of these EWC products that are 90% filler.

 

[norichips]

thanks for all the info, i was wondering recently if i could reuse old potted soil, and this thread explains everything perfectly

 

[nogoodname]

Jay

first off you should change your mindset if you want to re use soil, when doing this you pretty much want to focus on building soil ( i.e. a very healthy soil with a diversity of everything) i would start by adding lots of compost, organic matter and some sand instead of perlite( start working your way away from the peat based FFOF mix ). then water with some plain ol compost tea, let it sit and let the microbes do their job while you turn it every now and then to aerate it. you can amend with soil amendments before or after you let it sit from recycling, if you added them after, its best to let it sit another few weeks to a month before planting for best results. this is why its good to have soil "curing" while some is being used to grow plants, then switch so you have fresh mature soil to plant in and you can refresh the used soil. and no waiting.

just because you used something non organic or even chemical doesn't mean the soil is ruined, it just means you have to work a little harder to get it back to a healthy state.

When you talk about moving away from peat based mix I have a couple questions. First, what kind of sand do you recommend adding and in what kind of ratios? And as we "move away" from that mix what other things can we add to help other than compost, EWC, ect? I also plan on adding about 5% biochar to my mix for recycling as well. Also I mulch with this-

http://waytogrow.net/store/product/1292/Coco-Dan-Croutons---28-Liters/

and was considering adding some of this into the soil recycle as an aerator and "reef" for microlife. Anyone done this? I assume its similar to adding mulch. I have a little bit of mushroom compost in my mix as well.

 

[jaykush]

First, what kind of sand do you recommend adding and in what kind of ratios?

a mix of sands is best ( i.e. a little bit of each fine, medium and coarse) but if you only got one, coarse is best for the aeration/structure part of the soil. look into crushed lavarock as well.

And as we "move away" from that mix what other things can we add to help other than compost, EWC, ect?

well the point in moving away from a peat based mix, is to turn it more into real soil so you get all the benefits that come along with it. compost is the addition of organic matter, which in turn decomposes to humus. along with the sand and other rock amendments will create a more sustainable "soil". from then on there is no need to add more peat to the mix, or rock amendments as they are for good. just compost and amendments if you don't topdress and if you do top dress thats all you gotta do.

 

[mad librettist]

an important thing to remember when using a diverse size and shape of materials in a container mix: If your larger pieces pieces are round, then the space between them will be densely occupied by the smaller particles. If the larger pieces are sharp, then the space between them will hold air.

So use sharp sand!

another thing to be aware of is that it takes some time for microaggregates to form, which is really like having larger particle size. One idea to tie you over until your soil is making its own drainage - rice hulls.

another thing you can do is start out with some peat, but not replacing it a it breaks down.

 

[h.h.]

Jay



When you talk about moving away from peat based mix I have a couple questions. First, what kind of sand do you recommend adding and in what kind of ratios? And as we "move away" from that mix what other things can we add to help other than compost, EWC, ect? I also plan on adding about 5% biochar to my mix for recycling as well. Also I mulch with this-

http://waytogrow.net/store/product/1292/Coco-Dan-Croutons---28-Liters/

and was considering adding some of this into the soil recycle as an aerator and "reef" for microlife. Anyone done this? I assume its similar to adding mulch. I have a little bit of mushroom compost in my mix as well.

Try broken up young baby coconut. The attached meat attracts life. My roots seem to like them.
While many will argue against using larger mediums in the mix, I see them as a haven with reservoirs of water, air, and bacterial life. Coconut meat will enhance this.
I also believe they help to stabilize the roots as well as challenge them resulting in more side growth.
Pain in the arse to break up. That will keep you from using too much. Think of them as homeopathy for the plant. Small amounts.
Tossed early into the mix, I break them up a little more every time I turn it. If you use mature coconut the meat turns to creme as the lacto works on it Good for the hands.Mature has a harder shell though and I wouldn't think as beneficial.

 

[supermanlives]

re using soil is a must for me as i dont want a big pile in my yard. i live in the city now. when i lived in the country i experimented with recycling and composting and found my soil didnt reach its peak till cycle 3. i guess all the rock dusts , greensand ect finally broke down enough. now i am starting again

 

[delerious]

another thing to be aware of is that it takes some time for microaggregates to form, which is really like having larger particle size. One idea to tie you over until your soil is making its own drainage - rice hulls.

another thing you can do is start out with some peat, but not replacing it a it breaks down.

Have you used rice hulls before? I picked up a big bag from groworganic, I was going to use that in place of perlite (same amount).