Can I re-use this soil???

[Walter]

Mixed an organic soil mix last year. Used it successfully once. Then used it again this summer outside for tomato's, Is there a way to sterilize the soil so I can add amendments and use it again? Or would it be better to just toss it and start with a fresh mix?

 

[Chester]

Depends on how serious you take your weed ... since it's been outdoors there is a good chance of bugs .... look up sterilization of soil in the oven and you should be good to go ... I reuse my soil by adding new soil and a few additives but I don't grow outdoors w/ it ...

 

[G.Leave]

Be aware if you decide to sterilize soil by baking, it will throw out some pretty strong odours usually. I'd buy it personally and keep outdoor soils outside.

 

[HubbaBubba]

Some people "Solarize" their soil, they spread it out and bake it in the sun until it dries out and the heat kills everything.

Might be ok for an outdoor grow, but I like like my indoor grow surgically clean and sterilized.

 

[TxGrowman]

I would never re-use my soil that much and most certainly not outdoors to indoors. I want my grow room to be really clean, actually cleaner than a lot of Operating Rooms that I worked in. My outside organics are re-used yearly after re-activation with mycorrhizal fungi and more organic material. My indoor grow is new soil most every grow, that's where some of my outdoor soils come from.

Anxious to see the difference in MMJ with Organic. I understand from many that you will never go back to chemicals again. The difference in taste is huge I'm told. I'm also told that the plants seem to veg better on Organics. Gonna find out!

Have gone Organic for vegetable grows also. Had some butt kicking tomatoes this spring into June but we had rain every day in June and it even flooded out my plants that were doing well. Luckily, I also had five cherry and roma tomatoes in containers. They produced like crazy as the soil was always drained and we covered the grow area with a suspended tarp. Was harvesting two to three dozen average cherry tomatoes a DAY !

I'm sold on Organics.

Gerry

 

[Eyes on Fire]

yes you can use the soil again for ID growing but know if its been OD in the bugs n stuff for a bit Id keep it OD and usew if for OD gardening..but its toallt doable ive done it a few times with pretty much no issues,but also know its twice the work as well as several precautionary things should be maintained.butr if you grow Outdoors,imho Id just keep if for OD plkanting and rewoking as well as if its been rinsed well like after a rain or two and its kinda dry break it up and stick it in a tote and watch the pests if any and you can treat the batch separately and thats a good start to establish a standard build of a worked soil thats been left to sit outside and get exposed.

 

[Terraformer33]

I always would reuse my soil but too many bug problems in the dirt made me switch to fresh happy frog or roots organics soil every time. I use the old stuff when growing cannabis outside and then after a few outdoor uses it gets thrown in the general garden.