New Grower How often should the soil be replaced after growing indoors in it?

[armanidog]

I am just wondering how often the soil should be replaced? Just started my first grow and am already planning my next one. :dance:

If we buy bagged soil, how many times can we use it before it is desirable to completely replace it?

 

[Reedroguez]

Good question. TBH I replace mine after every grow seeing I don't grow organic and I just don't want to risk messing up by re-using soil which might have salts build up in them or which has lost it's buffering capabilities.
Also I always end up having half the root system staying behind in the soil after I take the old plant out. Kinda afraid that the roots that stay behind could start rotting and end up infecting a new plant's roots. Would be nice to find out if it's just me being paranoid.

 

[SourDeezDC]

Great question.. I switched to Fox Farm's Happy Frog and Ocean Forest for my current grow but constantly buying that stuff will get expensive and I've wondered whether I can reuse my current soil.

 

[armanidog]

I'm tjhinking I will reuse part of the soil I am using now and toss the plant roots and stems on the compost pile. My current soil is a little heavy so I want to add some sand and more compost.
Anyone put earthworms or red wigglers in the pot while the plant is growing?

 

[SourDeezDC]

I've never added them, would they add much nutritional benefit to the soil?? 's Big Bloom has a ton of beneficial organic nutrients (Earth Worm castings, bat guano etc.) that's been enough for me in my past & current grows

 

[Chester]

Just about all my soil gets reused ... I remove most of the roots and dump the pots into a large container and then amend w/ added perlite, bone meal, and an equal amount of new pre mixed soil ... I've had excellent luck reusing soil ... some don't.

2nd grow in this soil ... zero added ....

 

[DABaracuss]

I reuse all my soil as long as its holding a good ph..if you water right should push out the salt..I remove big roots just for looks..I would compost it if I had worms...reused soil is good..2nd run will be almost perfect..My soil seems to get better with age..adding little things here and there.

 

[Corgy]

Regarding reuse, these fangdangled BioTabs that much nice is being said about lately, even Mephisto is onto them, has this to say about recycling

http://biotabs.eu/product/biotabs-starterkit/

 

[Reedroguez]

But what about soil that has been used for a non-organic grow but with plain mineral based nutes? I have never cared to try and re-use it in fear of messing up a plant with build up salts or the loss of proper buffering capabilities. Also if you don't grow organic isn't there a risk of the roots left behind from the prior grow starting to rot in the soil?
Am I correct in presuming this or can you re-use non-organically grown soil. I haven't really found people on the net doing this so I think it's better not to re-use soil unless you go organic.

 

[A Gardener]

I don't reuse mine in another grow, I want to make sure everything is fresh and clean. The roots go onto the compost heap and the loose soil is reused in veg patches, tomato pots etc.