J
JahLaw
- 19
- 3
Greetings to all, I am at a point were I cannot afford new soil and have to re-use last years soil. Which is a more sustainable practice I believe and should be encouraged.
BUT, I suffered a great loss last year due to the plants becoming root rotted from over watering an over fertilizing. I am a little worried and need to take good action to make sure the conditions in the soil are not toxic, or diseased, or over potent from last year.
The problem last year, and conclusion was that I was
1. hand flood watering VS. cycle soaking and drying
2. Over fertilizing on top of already well amended soil i.e. I used VERMI FIRE which many suspect to be a contributing culprit,
But to humble myself, now I think it was more about techniques and the grower, than brand of soil and company practices. Many do just fine with Vermi Soils, Vermi Fire blend.
So the plan now, is
1. to on water with H202 first to rid of all living bacteria good and bad.
2. Test NPK with a soil test kit
3. Amend any Nitrogen, Phos., or Pot, as needed
3a. Amend with oyster shell, and dolomite to balance pH.
4. Plant ladies and introduce them to the soil as to not loose any more time as they are root bound (not in a bad way but definitely full) in current container
5. Water with only fresh H20 first two watering times to help flush out old liquid fertz., and basically flush as I water in new plants,
***A New watering technique is now used... of localized to the root zone, slow, deep, and cyclic (wet/dry/wet/dry), and soon slow, emitter soaking irrigation by polytubing to control slow deep method better.
6. water with rich compost tea, to re-introduce good beneficial bacteria and microbes. At least until there are any signs of more nitro needed as were only in early summer/late spring veg.
Is this a good plan?
Should I skip step 5, in case of over moisturizing and re-introducing old bad environment?
I really look forward to hearing what you think.
Many many thanks in advance!
BUT, I suffered a great loss last year due to the plants becoming root rotted from over watering an over fertilizing. I am a little worried and need to take good action to make sure the conditions in the soil are not toxic, or diseased, or over potent from last year.
The problem last year, and conclusion was that I was
1. hand flood watering VS. cycle soaking and drying
2. Over fertilizing on top of already well amended soil i.e. I used VERMI FIRE which many suspect to be a contributing culprit,
But to humble myself, now I think it was more about techniques and the grower, than brand of soil and company practices. Many do just fine with Vermi Soils, Vermi Fire blend.
So the plan now, is
1. to on water with H202 first to rid of all living bacteria good and bad.
2. Test NPK with a soil test kit
3. Amend any Nitrogen, Phos., or Pot, as needed
3a. Amend with oyster shell, and dolomite to balance pH.
4. Plant ladies and introduce them to the soil as to not loose any more time as they are root bound (not in a bad way but definitely full) in current container
5. Water with only fresh H20 first two watering times to help flush out old liquid fertz., and basically flush as I water in new plants,
***A New watering technique is now used... of localized to the root zone, slow, deep, and cyclic (wet/dry/wet/dry), and soon slow, emitter soaking irrigation by polytubing to control slow deep method better.
6. water with rich compost tea, to re-introduce good beneficial bacteria and microbes. At least until there are any signs of more nitro needed as were only in early summer/late spring veg.
Is this a good plan?
Should I skip step 5, in case of over moisturizing and re-introducing old bad environment?
I really look forward to hearing what you think.
Many many thanks in advance!
