Organic experts, how do I learn what you know?

[Matt Rize]

Ok quick question about the soil after the grow. Say you use organics throughout the entire grow and when it's done just throw the soil back into your already going compost. How long untill the soil is usable again or is it already?

At least a couple weeks, more like a month in cool weather. You have to let the roots breakdown before using the potting mix again, or your pots will have mushy dead roots in them.

 

[Jack Harer]

Matt, do you cut out the woody stem area and compost just the roots, or do you just toss it all in there. I've been shaking out as much soil as possible and burning the root balls.

 

[Matt Rize]

Matt, do you cut out the woody stem area and compost just the roots, or do you just toss it all in there. I've been shaking out as much soil as possible and burning the root balls.

you are doing it right. I try to get as much of the roots out of the potting mix as possible. but there are always some left that should be allowed to decompose before reusing.

 

[SirLancelot]

thanks Matt,

Now I am under the impression (I don't know why) that perlite will naturally break down. Is this true? or am I going to have perlite in my garden over the next few years? (Mind you my compost is used for both gardens) Not that it's a big deal just wondering.

I usually take my stems and keep em aside for hemp paper, and then just toss the root mass in my burn pile. I never had an urge to reuse the soil not to mention I didn't want to put that soil with synth nutes in my compost. But If im using all compost matter anyways then it should be good to recycle.

 

[Matt Rize]

thanks Matt,

Now I am under the impression (I don't know why) that perlite will naturally break down. Is this true? or am I going to have perlite in my garden over the next few years? (Mind you my compost is used for both gardens) Not that it's a big deal just wondering.

I usually take my stems and keep em aside for hemp paper, and then just toss the root mass in my burn pile. I never had an urge to reuse the soil not to mention I didn't want to put that soil with synth nutes in my compost. But If im using all compost matter anyways then it should be good to recycle.

perlite does take a long time to break down. its not bad, but does look different than usual dirt. sounds like you know what you are doing!

 

[Jack Harer]

I thought I was OK there. Thanx Matt.

SirLancelot, perlite is basically puffed up volcanic glass. It's gonna take a while to break down, but then it's inert so it won't hurt anything being there.

 

[SirLancelot]

sweet good to hear! I just bought "teaming with microbes", got my airpump and airstones and bucket. I've just been doin mad research here to see what I can find. My teas are on there way! Thanks for the help guys.

 

[pgill61]

Ed Rosenthal's "Marijuana Growers Guide. is an excellent tool for you to use

 

[Snafu1236]

Read some books to get an understanding, lurk around here for a while, and most importantly---start growing. Experience is the best teacher of all.

 

[personified]

How to learn what I know? Smoke alot of weed and read!!

 

[Buggins]

I thought I was OK there. Thanx Matt.

SirLancelot, perlite is basically puffed up volcanic glass. It's gonna take a while to break down, but then it's inert so it won't hurt anything being there.

People who visit my garden (my veggie garden, not my herb garden) are always asking what all those little white bits in the dirt are - is that fertilizer??

I've been dumping my used soil in my garden for a while now, and even with heavy tilling of the garden soil, that perlite always floats to the surface.

I'll admit, it does look a lot like the white fertilizer pellets my pop used to spread over his corn fields in the summer.