Reuse soil?

What needs to be done to soil to reuse it for next grow season?

I'm a newbie who recently finished my first grow (outside). I've got about 20 pounds of used soil (Fox Farm Ocean Forest) that I'd love to use again.
What do I need to do?

Thanks!

There is a Product called Recharge you can Add to it. Along with other organic ammendments if you are going Organic. If you are going Synthetic you can simply reuse it and Fertlize as normal starting on like day 10-14 of your seedling, with a weak fert blend and slowly build up to full strength.

Mix in things like Bone Meal, Blood meal, Feather Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Guano, Rock Phosphate, Vermuclite,etc then water the soil with the recharge.


If you are growing organically that is, if your not and just using an inorganic nutrient line, as I said above simply let the plant grow for its first 10 to 14 days then give it a very light feeding.

The easiest way would be to mix in a dry fertilizer like Dr. Earth. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to add a little extra perlite since FFOF is a little dense. Then use it right away or keep it moist for a few weeks to allow the microbes to start breaking it down first. It's up to you. Or if you plan on using salts just use it as is like IndoorGardener said.

Kamau42 said:

The easiest way would be to mix in a dry fertilizer like Dr. Earth. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to add a little extra perlite since FFOF is a little dense. Then use it right away or keep it moist for a few weeks to allow the microbes to start breaking it down first. It's up to you. Or if you plan on using salts just use it as is like IndoorGardener said.

Click to expand...

Crap Forgot the Dr.Earth Blends, Yes those would be cheaper and easier for sure!

Thanks for all the replies! Still trying to figure out what to do next.

IndooorGardnerOhio said:

There is a Product called Recharge you can Add to it. Along with other organic ammendments if you are going Organic.

Click to expand...

IndooorGardnerOhio said:

Mix in things like Bone Meal, Blood meal, Feather Meal, Alfalfa Meal, Guano, Rock Phosphate, Vermuclite,etc then water the soil with the recharge.

Click to expand...

OK, it looks like organic would be more expensive that just buying more soil! That's a lot of amendments to purchase.

Kamau42 said:

The easiest way would be to mix in a dry fertilizer like Dr. Earth. It also wouldn't be a bad idea to add a little extra perlite since FFOF is a little dense. Then use it right away or keep it moist for a few weeks to allow the microbes to start breaking it down first.

Click to expand...

I was going to ask if I can use something like Geoflora Veg instead of Dr. Earth, then I looked up Dr Earth. They have quite a few fertilizers! Which one would I want? Also, I'd want to use the amended soil quickly? So, there's no need to start prepping the used soil now for use in the spring? I thought I'd read somewhere that it takes months to prep the soil from last grow to use again?

Sorry for all the Q's. As you can see, I'm still a bit confused by this

I’m sure I have elements in my mixes that are 6 years old. I reuse at 15 gallons in a 30 gallon batch. Peat and compost need to be replaced more than anything. I like to keep wet peat with dolomite and crushed Oyster shell and saturated for months.
My best compost has been “Back To Nature” Cotton Burr Compost. Brand is critical here. Also “Black Kow” composted manure and my own EWC.

Hawk518 said:

Thanks for all the replies! Still trying to figure out what to do next.




OK, it looks like organic would be more expensive that just buying more soil! That's a lot of amendments to purchase.



I was going to ask if I can use something like Geoflora Veg instead of Dr. Earth, then I looked up Dr Earth. They have quite a few fertilizers! Which one would I want? Also, I'd want to use the amended soil quickly? So, there's no need to start prepping the used soil now for use in the spring? I thought I'd read somewhere that it takes months to prep the soil from last grow to use again?

Sorry for all the Q's. As you can see, I'm still a bit confused by this

Click to expand...

The Geoflora looks good. I'd use that if it's easier to get. Just get a veg formula and a bloom formula of whatever. You don't need to let it cook for that long. A lot of the stuff in the Geoflora will start breaking down pretty quick. Some takes forever but after a couple weeks the soil should be good enough to reuse. The longer it has to cook the better though. Adding some extra perlite would be a good idea too. Good luck.