Re use Dirt! :O

Hey everyone! I was aksing myself a small question......

Since I'm growing in a dirt medium, and I'm pretty much a budget grower, I was wondering if after I've harvested from my plant, anyone think it'd be okay to re-use the soil? The thing is I've got no use to reveg my plant right after, since I was to experiment with a few other strains.

And since I'm not much in the mood in getting more potting soil later on during the year, reusing the same stuff could come in handy.

So what do you think? Still able to use the same stuff? Or should I chuck the waste?

Reused soil can be contaminated. Left over roots can rot in old soil. Lots of salt build up in used soil.

New soil (Fox Farm) has a 2 months supply of nutes (bat terds,etc), fresh and clean for root vigor, not clumpy and easy for roots to spread. Only 12-14$ a bag.

Some say ya some say na..........I recycle mine in the compost though.I myself do not reuse it.......you wouldn't reuse a rubber would ya!

good luck with your grow!!!

Dankster4Life said:

you wouldn't reuse a rubber would ya!

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haha thats funny

but yeah dude dont reuse ur soil just got out and get new soil dont be lazy ur future plants will love u if u buy fresh soil

Dankster4Life said:

Some say ya some say na..........I recycle mine in the compost though.I myself do not reuse it.......you wouldn't reuse a rubber would ya!

good luck with your grow!!!

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You can't re use a rubber? Crap! Guess I'd best call back my last few.......
(joke) Alright thanks for the info!

GoldenGanja13 said:

Reused soil can be contaminated. Left over roots can rot in old soil. Lots of salt build up in used soil.

New soil (Fox Farm) has a 2 months supply of nutes (bat terds,etc), fresh and clean for root vigor, not clumpy and easy for roots to spread. Only 12-14$ a bag.

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Alrighties, I'll look into it! Only thing is that I don't have access to Fox Farm products in general, since most growing stores in my area only sell their own brand, or a regional type. I'd have to go on internet to find FF, and with the S/H, that'd cost about 40$ for the equivalent....

(And since i'm in Canada, that'd be 45$CAN)

Thanks anyways

Melangwanja said:

You can't re use a rubber? Crap! Guess I'd best call back my last few.......
(joke) Alright thanks for the info!

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Alrighties, I'll look into it! Only thing is that I don't have access to Fox Farm products in general, since most growing stores in my area only sell their own brand, or a regional type. I'd have to go on internet to find FF, and with the S/H, that'd cost about 40$ for the equivalent....

(And since i'm in Canada, that'd be 45$CAN)

Thanks anyways

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Just go with what you can. Around here it's root organic. It's made here in Eugene so they really try and sway you from FF to RO. I laugh at them and tell them RO is not going to give you the same GOOD results as FF.

I would think you wouldn't have a problem finding a good soil to buy up there.....you must be in da woods bra!!!!

If you flush properly you can re use the soil. I have a buddy that is growing in a 4'x8'x12" grow box. He just filled it up a few years ago and will pull the plants up at harvest and till the soil with a tiny ass pitchfork. Mix in some lime and then start a new batch. He is using a high quality soil that really isnt soil. He uses sunshine mix#1 and #4 mixed 50/50. I wouldnt use a potting soil as its moslty dirt and that makes mud. Plants dont grow well in mud so you really need a mix like I mentioned above. Its actually a form of hydro growing. I know people dont think of it as such but the fact that all your nutriants are provided by you in the watering makes it a hydro ebb and flow system. Granted its a long time between the floodings but its the same thing. Oh and he gets most of the roots out before he replants bt isnt to concerned with getting them all.

doctorD said:

If you flush properly you can re use the soil. I have a buddy that is growing in a 4'x8'x12" grow box. He just filled it up a few years ago and will pull the plants up at harvest and till the soil with a tiny ass pitchfork. Mix in some lime and then start a new batch. He is using a high quality soil that really isnt soil. He uses sunshine mix#1 and #4 mixed 50/50. I wouldnt use a potting soil as its moslty dirt and that makes mud. Plants dont grow well in mud so you really need a mix like I mentioned above. Its actually a form of hydro growing. I know people dont think of it as such but the fact that all your nutriants are provided by you in the watering makes it a hydro ebb and flow system. Granted its a long time between the floodings but its the same thing. Oh and he gets most of the roots out before he replants bt isnt to concerned with getting them all.

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Thanks for the info mate, but don't worry about the whole potting soil thing being mud. I AM growing in the type of soil right now. It's a premix called "potting soil", which contains a good amount of pretty much everything.

If worse comes to worst, I'll just go get a few more bags.... But it's just inconvienient when you're in a relatively restricted area, and I don,t have much of a big growing and storage space.

Dankster4Life said:

I would think you wouldn't have a problem finding a good soil to buy up there.....you must be in da woods bra!!!!

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Nowhere near ze woods, mon. Long live ze suburbs!
But listen, bruddah, no hydro stores close to here. I only 'ave one 'o dose (intentional) greenhouse garden shops with decent stuff, mon.
But if I can cut expenses, I will.

I feel ya....but cuttin expenses isn't always the best route to go.A good medium is important otherwise you'll be disapointed in yourself.Would hate to see ya go through a bunch of problems cause of "cuttin expenses".

May the force be wit ya

Thanks mate. But don't worry. I mean, it's an extra 3 dollars for some more soil, usually. (I don't like buying in huge bulk)
But hey, every dollar counts, nowadays.

I just like to aim for something more economic, if I decide to make most profit out o' my stuff.

If the plants are grown correct then there should be a ball of roots the same shape has the pot that there grown in.It is not exspensive to buy new soil every grow come on f@ck me just get rid of a little to cover the soil and electric cost.

tyke1973 said:

If the plants are grown correct then there should be a ball of roots the same shape has the pot that there grown in.It is not exspensive to buy new soil every grow come on f@ck me just get rid of a little to cover the soil and electric cost.

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Oi mate, Budget grower here. Electric cost doesn't matter to me, but as far as soil goes, it was a simple question. OKAY, can't simply re use the stuff, but hey, if I could, it'd save me MINUSCULE amount of money and EFFort to go get it. Getting soil for me isn't as simply as a small walk over. It's about a 45 min drive to the closest place.

Anyways, no need to say something so evident as "a ball of roots in the soil". DOn't mind that, but anyways, QUESTION ANSWERED, so.... PIPE DOWN.

Id say no because of the roots. Dump it somewhere and let nature take its course. If you wanna grow on budget make fertilizer with leaves from the back yard and stick a shovel in the grow to get some dirt. Then just go through the dirt and make sure its pure.

Its true. Buy cheap buy twice....

make a compost pile and every harvest put the left over root and leaf matter init maybe even buying soil (when ever you can to add to the pile) or take the soil from a part of the back your where weeds and other shit do well and shoveling some of that into the compost pile .. you may have to do some compost reserach but i dont see why you cant you your out side dirt shit is growing in it right now and there doing ok + your going to add nute anyway so why not there are some sites that would show you how to make a compost pile
turn over the top soil in the yard exsposeing the good soil and bringing up the nutes to the top then colecte it in a nice small pile and cover with a dark tarp it will produce its own heat that will be hot enough to kill bugs and bactera then it will be ready buy next grow
"Bing" compost and find out what to add to make soil more nuteie (i.e. orange peel banana peel apple core , leaf mater from yard grass from yard this can also bedone in the winter time or just do enough to last you through it
you sound like you have the land so make a compost pile and make you own soil

nothing like mixing up a batch of fresh soil, i just did, in a wheel barrell, 1/2 peat moss, hand full dolomitic lime, 1/4 vermiculite, 1/4 composted old soils...voila! reefer heaven

Dont use dirt from your yard you will just be asking for trouble.

dirt from your yard is fine

just dig deep take the soil from the top half foot - foot deep and start to compost with that the soil under that is fine as long as its not clay - you said that you have bag soil now use that for this grow and while you wait start a compost and if you come acrose some more bag soil start to stock pile it but if not use the compost soil it will be fine people grow out side all the time no problem - the only way to know is to try and grow - ill tell you this if next grow creeps up on you ill would rather have that compost grow then nothing and youll have a no grow then - theres nothing wrong with back yard soil. yes there are better soils but you are going to add nute anyway ......... use it and make a jurnal. grass has no problem growing in that out side dirt other weed do very well- the only reason most would advise aganist this is because of two reasons 1 bringing soil from out side in side you are asking for pest that are in the soil ( but you still get the same ones with bag soil most places keep bag soil out side anyways) 2 out side soil contain unknown nutes . but other then this its cool

this is what you do use the bag soil that you have in one pot and in a differant pot put the out side soil and get back at us .................................................................................................................................................................