The recycled mix I have cooking now is built like a living soil and I plan to run it the same, teas/plain water/foliars and transition to bottles in bloom. I don't like the term super soil, since that method loads a hot layer of soil in the bottom of the pot, with a light potting mix on top. I like a single homogenous mix. I have 100+ gallons cooking, majority of the totes have 15 gallons of used soil so I will list this recipe per 2 cu ft. Of used #4.
Recycle mix -- 15 gal used #4 -- ** = main ingredients
- 10 - 12 Cup high quality worm castings (or compost)**
- 2 Cup One shot **
- 1/2 Cup Crab Meal**
- 1/2 Cup Kelp Meal**
- 1/4 Cup neem meal
- 1/4 alfalfa meal**
- 1/2 Cup frass
- 1 Cup biochar -- activated or Raw**
- 1 Cup bokashi**
- 1 Cup crushed malted barley
- 1 Cup oyster shell flour**
- 1 Cup gypsum -- flour or pellets
- 2 Cups rock dust -- example: azomite, basalt, glacial, granite, etc**
- 1/8 Cup soft rock phosphate
--thoroughly mix all the above dry ingredients up in a 18 gallon tote
-- then apply a 1-2" layer of fresh peat, or coco, or fresh #4 and thoroughly mix; this can be added with all the other ingredients but making it a 2 step mixing process ensures that all the ingredients get THOROUGHLY mixed, creating a homogenous soil mix!!
-- then pour 1.5 gallons of 6.5 ph water with 30 ml Hygeia, 30 ml Ful-power if on hand, 15 ml SLF, 30 ML EM1 if on hand. (i like to add a little Dr. Growth too to kickstart, but not necessary.....or aloe is good too)
-- thoroughly mix again until moisture level is consistent -- squeezing the soil in your fist should barely form a drop of water, the soil should hold together when squeezed but easily crumble with a touch!!
-- Almost done, after mixed and at correct moisture, let the mix settle on its own--don't press it down. Gently smooth the surface level and press knuckle deep dimples all over the entire surface with your finger tips.....this is a trick to create more surface area across the top for the next step.
- Sprinkle up to 2 Tbs bokashi across the entire surface and gently wet with a spray bottle, spray the lid bottom too. Cover and place somewhere at room temps.....dark closets are best.
- Let the cooking begin--within 24-48 hours the fuzz should start taking over, depending how many of the above ingredients you use, the mix will heat up(mine are 7 days old and holding at 85-90 degrees). Then start cooling down, usually levels off to room temps after 2 weeks.
-- After 2 weeks, go in and thoroughly mix the soil again. It may still be warm in the center but that's OK, the mixing will slow it down. Do the dimple trick, sprinkle 2 Tbs bokashi, spray wet, cover, and back to cook for at least 30 - 45 days -- the longer the better!!
-- Once 60 days has passed it is ready to be used, I recommend 5 gallon minimum with 10 or 15 gal being the best......bigger the better!!
-- Once ready to transplant, up pot, add 1 Cup of oneshot to the tub and thoroughly mix it into the soil. This will kick start the soil for planting and keep the microbes fed.
-- I also liked to spread a thin layer of castings across the soil surface after transplant, then I cover with a thick layer of barley straw mulch.
-- water in with a tsp Dr. Growth and a Tbs Dr. Root
These recipes can tweaked in many ways, the key to dialing them in is reading your plants and taking notes. This could knock it out the park on the first try with most genetics, some it could fall short and others be too hot. I believe it's a good baseline to at least start learning more about building soils and learning plant responses for Everyones different environment. I also think this mix can be taken full cycle with no bottles, but will need different topdresses and other living soil tricks in order to compare to a full bottle run that most are used to. I encourage everyone to recycle your soils and find what works for them!!
