Reusing Potting mixes

[ditdotter]

I have not seen this question asked before and I would like some input by other growers. Can potting soils be used over again? If yes what would you have to do to the "soil" to make it viable again. Thanks all.

ditdotter Reviewed by ditdotter on 09-12-2009. Reusing Potting mixes I have not seen this question asked before and I would like some input by other growers. Can potting soils be used over again? If yes what would you have to do to the "soil" to make it viable again. Thanks all. Rating: 5

[oldmac]

The first thing you would need to do is sterilize it. This can be done by baking it in an oven, steaming it or microwaving it. Then you can add any amendments or additions to the mix.

Really easier to start with fresh stuff and I question if saving so little money is it worth it.

[ditdotter]

Oldmac,

I would never dream of doing it myself, but I have a growing friend that keeps asking me why not. He seems to think that if you only use it to flower you could use it over. I keep telling him that you still can not tell what nutes are left in the mix because each plant absorbs nutes at different rates and just flushing the mix will not remove the nutes and additives you do not need. I'm tempted to tell him to go ahead a do it. I just do not what him to screw up a grow by doing like you said "trying to save money on soil".

[Greenthing]

I personaly dont think its a good idea to reuse soil, it seems to be good to use coco again though i have a friend that is into his sixth grow with it.
He uses cannazyme which breaks down all the dead root matter,:hippy:

[midlifecrisis]

Yeah I would agree, it probably can be re-used but why?

I tried to re-use soil before and had problems with major ph fluctuations, wasn't worth it in my opinion.

[Greenthing]

Yeah I would agree, it probably can be re-used but why?

Maybe saves a long drive to the hydro store.:hippy:

[midlifecrisis]

Maybe saves a long drive to the hydro store.:hippy:

Ya, I suppose so.....guess I am spoiled with proximity.

:jointsmile:

[Greenthing]

Ya, I suppose so.....guess I am spoiled with proximity.

:jointsmile:

There are also lot of peeps over here that are very paranoid about going to hydro stores.:hippy:

[oldmac]

Why even go to a hydro store, that charges retail plus, when you can buy alot of supplies from say a garden supply store?

I even suggest looking for a greenhouse supply distributor. In the container grow I'm a partner in, we get 3.8 cu/ft bales of Pro-Mix bx, for just under $25 and a sleeve of 125 pots (6" dia) for less then $10. They even have nutrients, clonning powders and gels, etc. The one we use is also a dist. for Hydrofarm products and can order anything in the catalog and is way cheaper then the hydro stores, especially if you pay cash.

[ditdotter]

That's what I do. I go to a little country garden center about 50 miles away. Purchase 4 each 2.8 cubic foot bags of Metro-Mix, pick up a few odds and ends then pay in cash. I have never had a salesperson ask me what I plan on doing with all the potting soil. I get my nutes from a different store in a large city on a Saturday morning when it's crowded and pay cash of course.