RE-USING ORGANIC SOIL...???

Massgrower98

Massgrower98

Active Member
All season long ive been using nothing but organic dry amendments ,and compost teas, seed sprouted teas... my goal is to dump all my soil onto a tarp, amend it and let it break down over the winter then use it again for next season and maybe add a few extra bags of compost/ new bags of base soil in it to boost soil life ... i know re using soil is a real thing I just want to hear from people that do it and are experienced no til growers not people who don't grow organically so if you don't grow organcially don't bother replying to this...
 
Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
Definitely reuse it! If you can keep it moist during the off season that's the key. Never letting it dry out completely. If it does, all of your healthy microbes will cease to exist which is a bummer.
 
Massgrower98

Massgrower98

Active Member
Maggs707 said:
Definitely reuse it! If you can keep it moist during the off season that's the key. Never letting it dry out completely. If it does, all of your healthy microbes will cease to exist which is a bummer.
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Ok. if I wrap the soil up well and double tarp it hopefully it won't dry out ... I have this product called growers recharge if i use that a bunch in the beginning of the season next year won't that help bring them back into the soil? Also ill add more worms and ill also add a few more bags of conpost and ewc so that should bring the soil life back alil bit right?
 
green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
Recharge isn't bad. But if your adding ewc and compost might not Be needed. The bacteria and microbeasts are pretty resilient. They will cyst over when conditions are not good. But repopulate said themselves fairly quickly, when spring comes. For sure use fresh compost or casting. Some dry amendments can't hurt depended on your current fertility levels. It's easier imo to reuse soil by setting up no till containers.
 
Massgrower98

Massgrower98

Active Member
Maggs707 said:
Definitely reuse it! If you can keep it moist during the off season that's the key. Never letting it dry out completely. If it does, all of your healthy microbes will cease to exist which is a bummer. Ok so should I just wait til spring to use any dry amendments, and etc, compost? I was gonna use some now to let break down but obviously when it freezes the micbroes will die Anyways so its prob better to just wait til spring to amend and add anything extra?
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Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
Massgrower98 said:
Ok. if I wrap the soil up well and double tarp it hopefully it won't dry out ... I have this product called growers recharge if i use that a bunch in the beginning of the season next year won't that help bring them back into the soil? Also ill add more worms and ill also add a few more bags of conpost and ewc so that should bring the soil life back alil bit right?
Click to expand...
You can't "bring life back". The recharge will help recolonize the soil though yeah. But the purpose of "no till" techniques is to maintain the life and never let it die only multiply. And no, I wouldn't wrap it up in bags. Most if the good microbes like oxygen, so if you bag it you'll be promoting anaerobic bacterial growth, which for most all intents and purposes you don't want. The best way to store it on the off season is outside. Let it naturally get rained on. Throw some actual earthworms in there and they'll do wonders for your soil in the off season.
 
Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
green_machine_two9er said:
Recharge isn't bad. But if your adding ewc and compost might not Be needed. The bacteria and microbeasts are pretty resilient. They will cyst over when conditions are not good. But repopulate said themselves fairly quickly, when spring comes. For sure use fresh compost or casting. Some dry amendments can't hurt depended on your current fertility levels. It's easier imo to reuse soil by setting up no till containers.
Click to expand...
Definitely re-amend the soil with some dry goodies. Amend it as soon as possible and let that shit do it's thing in the soil on the off season. I know people who feed their soil all winter. In organic growing, you're feeding the soil not the plant.
 
G

Growitpondifarm

Well-Known Member
Maggs707 said:
Definitely re-amend the soil with some dry goodies. Amend it as soon as possible and let that shit do it's thing in the soil on the off season. I know people who feed their soil all winter. In organic growing, you're feeding the soil not the plant.
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After couple years of testing and reusing soil I have found that typically only N Inputs are needed in between runs. My P and K levels are still super high and seem to be almost unaffected by each run. Cannabis growers love to dump high p inputs into their mix but I’d be careful. High P levels can have pretty disastrous effects on soil biology and efficacy. I know from experience , when I first tried to make my own soil I listened to a lot of bad bro science and had a mess of a time.

I’ve been using feather meal and alfalfa in between runs with good success. I always add compost to my mix, while there are plants being grown and in between. Compost is king and arguably the most important part to a good soil. Source compost so it’s locally if possible and you’ll have success

Good luck
 
Maggs707

Maggs707

Well-Known Member
Growitpondifarm said:
After couple years of testing and reusing soil I have found that typically only N Inputs are needed in between runs. My P and K levels are still super high and seem to be almost unaffected by each run. Cannabis growers love to dump high p inputs into their mix but I’d be careful. High P levels can have pretty disastrous effects on soil biology and efficacy. I know from experience , when I first tried to make my own soil I listened to a lot of bad bro science and had a mess of a time.

I’ve been using feather meal and alfalfa in between runs with good success. I always add compost to my mix, while there are plants being grown and in between. Compost is king and arguably the most important part to a good soil. Source compost so it’s locally if possible and you’ll have success

Good luck
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, getting some compost in there and letting it brew in the soil for weeks/months before you even transplant is a great move. 100%
 
Richard Drysift

Richard Drysift

Well-Known Member
Massgrower98 said:
All season long ive been using nothing but organic dry amendments ,and compost teas, seed sprouted teas... my goal is to dump all my soil onto a tarp, amend it and let it break down over the winter then use it again for next season and maybe add a few extra bags of compost/ new bags of base soil in it to boost soil life ... i know re using soil is a real thing I just want to hear from people that do it and are experienced no til growers not people who don't grow organically so if you don't grow organcially don't bother replying to this...
Click to expand...
That’s basically how I do it. I store recycled soil in a tote bin and use it over and over adding compost and amendments a month before going for another run. I would aquire a few basic amendments like dolomite lime and a fertilizer input or two of your choice along with more base soil and EWC. Perlite breaks down fast too so you may need to add more for aeration if the compost is heavy. Recharge is ok if that’s all you got but a good dank compost tea will do the same thing if not better.
 
Bears_win

Bears_win

Well-Known Member
Are you growing indoors ,
in smart pots in hoopers ,
or full sun?

I grow in smart pots ( gophers ) some hugelkuktur with wire baskets , full sun
I always use the same soil . Sanctuary soils happy hippy base. Then heavy one amendments.
I value my soil as it’s alive, To keep it alive ,
Plant a cover crop in fall ( I like buckwheat, have done clover as well want to try fava)

I vermicompost and add red wrigglers in spring and fall , always mulch heavy with alfalfa so they stay alive.
Water or compost teas in the spring so I doesn’t dry out .
I add 5 lbs of oyester flour every fall when I cover crop and hand water til it’s soaked

reamend every spring with chicken, bone , gypsum , oyester.
Shoot for a PH of 6.5 ish in soil

Things to look out for
Fusarium and other fungal disease , aphids , broad /russet/ spider mites overwintering in your soil.

No right way to do it , but I recommend keeping it alive, if you’re indoor then pests may be a bigger issue and the method your describing ( tarp and dry it ) may work well.
When I did Ins I would recycle my soil for my veggie gardens and just remake it every run as I had an irrational ( maybe not irrational ) fear of root aphids and broads.
 
Massgrower98

Massgrower98

Active Member
Bears_win said:
Are you growing indoors ,
in smart pots in hoopers ,
or full sun?

I grow in smart pots ( gophers ) some hugelkuktur with wire baskets , full sun
I always use the same soil . Sanctuary soils happy hippy base. Then heavy one amendments.
I value my soil as it’s alive, To keep it alive ,
Plant a cover crop in fall ( I like buckwheat, have done clover as well want to try fava)

I vermicompost and add red wrigglers in spring and fall , always mulch heavy with alfalfa so they stay alive.
Water or compost teas in the spring so I doesn’t dry out .
I add 5 lbs of oyester flour every fall when I cover crop and hand water til it’s soaked

reamend every spring with chicken, bone , gypsum , oyester.
Shoot for a PH of 6.5 ish in soil

Things to look out for
Fusarium and other fungal disease , aphids , broad /russet/ spider mites overwintering in your soil.

No right way to do it , but I recommend keeping it alive, if you’re indoor then pests may be a bigger issue and the method your describing ( tarp and dry it ) may work well.
When I did Ins I would recycle my soil for my veggie gardens and just remake it every run as I had an irrational ( maybe not irrational ) fear of root aphids and broads.
Click to expand...
Ok yeah right now I am in the process of re-amending my soil and want to add more earth worm castings and compost / also will add red wigglers as well and plant a cover crop ... i used red clover last time but you recommend buckwheat? I wanna try new cover crops for diversity... here's a couple pictures of what I got going on, I got all my soil layed out on the tarp , got holes dug to put the soil into once i re amend my soil... i want to get right into re amending but not 100% sure on my NPK ratio in my soil, I used a rapidtest and it says im high in N and low in P an K but I've been told those are only so accurate and that the best way to have your soil tested it to be sent out to pennstate university where they test your soil and let you know how much of each food is in my soil... do you know anything about pennstate soil testing? Thanks for your time, really could use the advice on acouple of things with re using soil any advice helps...
 

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Massgrower98

Massgrower98

Active Member
Massgrower98 said:
Ok yeah right now I am in the process of re-amending my soil and want to add more earth worm castings and compost / also will add red wigglers as well and plant a cover crop ... i used red clover last time but you recommend buckwheat? I wanna try new cover crops for diversity... here's a couple pictures of what I got going on, I got all my soil layed out on the tarp , got holes dug to put the soil into once i re amend my soil... i want to get right into re amending but not 100% sure on my NPK ratio in my soil, I used a rapidtest and it says im high in N and low in P an K but I've been told those are only so accurate and that the best way to have your soil tested it to be sent out to pennstate university where they test your soil and let you know how much of each food is in my soil... do you know anything about pennstate soil testing? Thanks for your time, really could use the advice on acouple of things with re using soil any advice helps...
Click to expand...
And I grow outdoors obviously by the pictures
 
Bears_win

Bears_win

Well-Known Member
Massgrower98 said:
And I grow outdoors obviously by the pictures
Click to expand...
1.) many places will run an analysis of your soil, check with your county agricultural extension office. They may offer that service.
2.) have not heard specifically that Penn state will test your soil, but many colleges do. Another good option
3.) I go super high on nitrogen when I amend, I find organic turkey manure is my favorite as of right now, I’ve tried many things, find that I get the most value using this product. Also Recommend down to earth biolive it’s 5-4-4 awesome stand alone amendment or you can mix and match with others.

Site Product Search | Down to Earth Distributors Inc.

www.downtoearthdistributors.com www.downtoearthdistributors.com

Here’s their link - all good stuff .
I like to add gypsum at the rate of about 5 lbs per 100 gallons of soil. And oyster shell flour as well cheap source of calcium.

If your Not yet vermicomposting it is a great way to get rid of food scraps and always have red wrigglers on hand. ,I’ve worms in your soil is a game changer.
 
Massgrower98

Massgrower98

Active Member
Bears_win said:
1.) many places will run an analysis of your soil, check with your county agricultural extension office. They may offer that service.
2.) have not heard specifically that Penn state will test your soil, but many colleges do. Another good option
3.) I go super high on nitrogen when I amend, I find organic turkey manure is my favorite as of right now, I’ve tried many things, find that I get the most value using this product. Also Recommend down to earth biolive it’s 5-4-4 awesome stand alone amendment or you can mix and match with others.

Site Product Search | Down to Earth Distributors Inc.

www.downtoearthdistributors.com www.downtoearthdistributors.com

Here’s their link - all good stuff .
I like to add gypsum at the rate of about 5 lbs per 100 gallons of soil. And oyster shell flour as well cheap source of calcium.

If your Not yet vermicomposting it is a great way to get rid of food scraps and always have red wrigglers on hand. ,I’ve worms in your soil is a game changer.
Click to expand...
I have 565 gallons of soil so your saying I should use
Bears_win said:
1.) many places will run an analysis of your soil, check with your county agricultural extension office. They may offer that service.
2.) have not heard specifically that Penn state will test your soil, but many colleges do. Another good option
3.) I go super high on nitrogen when I amend, I find organic turkey manure is my favorite as of right now, I’ve tried many things, find that I get the most value using this product. Also Recommend down to earth biolive it’s 5-4-4 awesome stand alone amendment or you can mix and match with others.

Site Product Search | Down to Earth Distributors Inc.

www.downtoearthdistributors.com www.downtoearthdistributors.com

Here’s their link - all good stuff .
I like to add gypsum at the rate of about 5 lbs per 100 gallons of soil. And oyster shell flour as well cheap source of calcium.

If your Not yet vermicomposting it is a great way to get rid of food scraps and always have red wrigglers on hand. ,I’ve worms in your soil is a game changer.
Click to expand...
I have roughly 600 gallons of soil to amend... 30 lbs seems like a lil to much should I split that in half?
 
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