Can super soil be reused?

[Conradino23]

I don’t amend it. If you fertilise right during flower there’ll be always enough nutrients for the next run. My soil starts getting out of steam after 6 runs. Plants grow more slowly in general. I guess phosphorus and nitrogen levels drop below optimal level to provide enough energy for the plants. One day I’ll have it tested, then I’ll know for sure.

 

[Emeraldo]

So... Is supersoil re-usable? Yes, but not indefinitely!

 

[Conradino23]

I just have to add that mine is not super soil, sorry But super soil will last a very long time!

 

[SmokingWings]

<snipped a line or two...>

That's really interesting what you say. Did you really grow cannabis in a 5 gal block of root material? Sure, it's prolly as good a substrate fiber as any, or better than any as far as I know, at least for the root growth of the plant to be grown.

What does it add by way of nutrition, do you think? For a supersoil? Nah, supersoil has to have an abundance of everything. Do you think dead root provides the real deal when it comes to everything? No offense, just askin.

<snipped a line or two...>

What I was trying to say was that there is about 5 gallons of soil in the bottom of the metal basket/bucket. I added a block of roots and soil when I emptied the kitty litter bucket I had grown one of the clones in. Then once I mix it all up all the roots in that block of soil are chopped up and the soil mix feels just like when I first mixed it up.

The amount of nutrients that are added back into the soil by the old roots should be the equivalent to what was taken out of the soil by the plant to grow those roots is how I look at it.

 

[Emeraldo]

Thanks for that clarification. I guess I misunderstood. Good luck with your grow!

 

[bobrown14]

Bob, apart from the puns about "flushing", hee hee , I would say in response to yours, that I did not ask a question about when to flush, or, for that matter, about how flushing could remove nutrients from roots. I never asked either of those questions. Just to be clear.

You did a write up on it up there ^^^^ 2 actually promoting flushing.

There's no science to it. plain and simple.

Show me some if what I'm saying is not true. There's no benefit flushing organic soil. Very simple. You posted several time to the contrary.

I'm just saying you are making statements that have a "truthy" sound to them but are not based on any facts that I'm aware of and why I'm asking about the science you are using to back up your statements.

I use the same soil over and over like Conrad does. We can do several things to keep the soil at its maximum potential.

Amend with vermi-compost and kelp meal is what I do. Don't need much.
I leave the roots in the soil, in a few weeks they are already decomposed fully (temp dependent of course). The warmer the ambient temps the faster the breakdown happens. Much the same as a compost heap.

 

[Emeraldo]

You did a write up on it up there ^^^^ 2 actually promoting flushing.

There's no science to it. plain and simple.

Show me some if what I'm saying is not true. There's no benefit flushing organic soil. Very simple. You posted several time to the contrary.

I'm just saying you are making statements that have a "truthy" sound to them but are not based on any facts that I'm aware of and why I'm asking about the science you are using to back up your statements.

I use the same soil over and over like Conrad does. We can do several things to keep the soil at its maximum potential.

Amend with vermi-compost and kelp meal is what I do. Don't need much.
I leave the roots in the soil, in a few weeks they are already decomposed fully (temp dependent of course). The warmer the ambient temps the faster the breakdown happens. Much the same as a compost heap.

No, Bob, you're the liar. Just overlookin' the fact that I did not ask your questions. What the science of flushing is? Geez, I thought you'd never ask, despite all yer fartin' about yer vermi-comp. The science, dummy, is called "osmosis". So why don't you just climb in a nice sized toilet and learn to flush? Hee hee. Or, alternatively, put that thar in yer pipe an' smoke it on yer bog.

 

[thanyawit]

i have another topic for you guys to argue .....
after mixing ingredients super soil How many days should i use it ?

 

[bobrown14]

The amount of nutrients that are added back into the soil by the old roots should be the equivalent to what was taken out of the soil by the plant to grow those roots is how I look at it.

There's been some scientific studies on this subject. You are correct that the roots will decompose and give back to the soil much of what was taken out.
That plus plants have the ability to take nutrients from the air and put them into the soil.

Take for example legumes. One reason why they use them as cover crops or rotational crops on the farm instead of piling on chemical fertilizers. Food for thought!


Emeraldo - play nice in the sand box.
Sand dont taste very good I'm thinking. More food for thought.

 

[SmokingWings]

Take for example legumes. One reason why they use them as cover crops or rotational crops on the farm instead of piling on chemical fertilizers. Food for thought!

Food for people too. Beans and Peas are included in with other legumes like Clover. The way I remember it is the first nutrient the legumes add to the soil is Nitrogen that the plant extracts from the air and stores in its roots.

 

[bobrown14]

@SmokingWings,

You nailed it!

Plants also do that carbon dioxide / oxygen exchange that keeps us ho-mans alive among other stuff like carbon.

The carbon sequestering is a huge one.
Trees are our friends.

 

[Nunyabiz]

My soil is on its 5th cycle right now and it's a much richer soil today than it was 3+ years ago.
The cover crops replenish the soil, the worms breaking down the old roots and leaves from cover crop and cannabis, the occasional organic banana peel, sprouted seed teas of corn and alfalfa.
Even the 1000s of Rove Beetles living dying eating and shitting in the pot add a lot of nutrients and Chitin.
Living Organic Soil No-till if done properly gets better with age.

 

[SmokingWings]

i have another topic for you guys to argue .....
after mixing ingredients super soil How many days should i use it ?

I take it that you are asking how many days after you mix it up before you can use the soil mixture?

No argument that I can think of so I doubt that we will argue about it, but each of us might put our 2 cents into the discussion based on what we have read or based on personal experience.

I have read that it should be left to do its thing for about a month. I just mix and add ingredients and mix and add and mix in a wheel barrow. I used to then put it in large steel tubs and let it sit on a shelf in the garden work area with a loose fitting cover on it to keep excess rainwater out. I just want it to stay moist and for the bacteria to start working on the soil amendments I have added.

Now a days, I put it into Kitty Litter buckets, those yellow ones that some people just throw away. Naturally, avoid the ones that the previous person put the used Kitty Litter into. The size I use for this is the one marked a net weight 35 pounds of litter. I put the lid back on and leave one side up. This keeps extra water out and allows for an exchange of air. I check every week or so to make sure that the lid did not get pressed down. No need to drill holes for drainage (plus once the holes have been drilled the holes are there forever).

Beautiful day out there. This might just be the day to mix up several wheel barrows worth of soil and put it into storage. Chores first--no matter how old I get, chores gotta come first.

Have a great day.

 

[bobrown14]

Letting the new mixed soil sit for a week or so is good.

Let the mircro-organsims colonize.


Can wait longer if you want.

 

[Emeraldo]

Many do say that if you have time, let the supersoil "bake" for a month or two before use. You might check out Subcool's recipe. You can google it or look it up here on 420. I personally let the soil rest during Nov - Feb and in March I usually make any amendments and then let it rest again until May.

 

[bobrown14]

I just got my soil test back on the soil I've been using heavily for the last 3 years over and over.

The test is perfect same as it was when I had it tested originally.

The only difference really is the soil pH. First test it was 5.8ish now its 7.0pH.
Nitrogen is 1.26% which is interesting.

 

[bobrown14]

I just got my soil test back on the soil I've been using heavily for the last 3 years over and over.

The test is perfect same as it was when I had it tested originally.

The only difference really is the soil pH. First test it was 5.8ish now its 7.0pH.
Nitrogen is 1.26%

 

[JrDigger]

I just got my soil test back on the soil I've been using heavily for the last 3 years over and over.

The test is perfect same as it was when I had it tested originally.

The only difference really is the soil pH. First test it was 5.8ish now its 7.0pH.
Nitrogen is 1.26%

That is amazing. How many grows per year? All you ever added was vermicompost and kelp meal? How much did you add?

 

[bobrown14]

I add EWC/Kelp meal and ground up malted barley about a cup total.
I add it to the hole at up pot. Water for the win.

I'm in perpetual grow. So every 70 days each pot gets a new plant. Same with VEG pots.

So 5 rounds per year in flower and 5 rounds per year in VEG each pot. I've got 8 spots in flower room. Im usually finished faster than 70 days so thats counting a few week waiting time between harvest and new plant. I let the roots decomp a few weeks before I add another plant.

I just cut out the old stem and compost that or make a tea with the old stems.