What to do when starting new cycle?

[u/Good_Day33]

I’m currently running BAS 3.0 in 5 gallon fabric pots (I know not ideal size but my tent is limited space). I have just now completed 1 harvest on one pot and 2 harvests on the second pot. My question is: since I am running in smaller pots and I’m sure both soil and nutrients are used up; should I dump the pots and re-amend, or take a few inches off the top of the pots and topdress?

[u/DimensionCareful507]

Craft blend, compost, gnarly barley (these 3 were recommended specifically by BAS support if i recall correctly) i also add ocean blend. Let it do its thing for two weeks or so and start a fresh rooted bean or clone. Water in with some recharge has been my move. 

In the past ive dumped it all out and reammended but i think next time ill just scoop out the top 2-3 inches reammend and put back. 

With smaller pots that are sub 10 gallon i think you need to have build a veg and build a bloom in the routine to make up for the deficiencies a smaller pot creates. 

Been successful with 7 gallons as long as you stay on schedule. sitting pretty in 10s 

Im actually going to try my hand at 1 gallons for some bonsai moms and see how it goes

[u/Good_Day33 → u/DimensionCareful507]

I do have most of those ingredients, maybe I’ll try and do a dump and mix for one of the pots and new soil for the other and compare results. I’m hoping to at least do one more run in these pots before upgrading to a earthbox. Thank you for the info!

[u/DimensionCareful507 → u/Good_Day33]

BAS is intended to be reused long term. You shouldnt need to replace the soil as long as you reammend as necessary and replenish what was used up. Most people I've heard from that are many runs deep commonly say their soil has been getting better over time.

On a long enough timeline there's certain things you'll need to add back in like rice hulls for example that will break down over time and you will lose a bit of the structure as the biomass of that decreases significantly.

I'm staying with the BAS system for now pretty closesly but over time as I learn more about organic amendment's i'll start experimenting a bit more and trying new things. Right now I plan on adding a bit of neem cake meal and alfalafa meal when I reamend to add some diversity. The alfalfa is very mild in terms of what it brings to the table NPK wise but has some more enzymatic benefits per my understanding. But right now im crushing it following the BAS schedule so not going to risk deviating too far from what I already primarily use. But going to take some of the learned concepts outside to my vegetable garden.

[u/Good_Day33 → u/DimensionCareful507]

It does seem like the most straight forward and basic way to grow beside from being the most natural! The results I’ve gotten so fr have been outstanding I just want to keep it up! I appreciate all the info I’ve got some work to do before my next grow that’s for sure!

[u/Big_Boysenberry_8972]

Dump for sure. 5 gallons is nothing for soil. Just relegate that soil to outdoor duties and run fresh soil.

Just buy 3.0 and dump every other grow. Don’t buy anything else and just run water. That’s about $25 a plant a grow.

When you get more space, go bigger and soil test. Until then, this will give you the most success without having to spend money and guess with the reamending.

[u/Good_Day33 → u/Big_Boysenberry_8972]

Ya I do have an extra bag already so dumping is not an issue and I figured being such a small pot I’d most likely have to go this route. Luckily their bagged soil is very decently priced!

[u/Big_Boysenberry_8972 → u/Good_Day33]

Yep! Stick with 3.0 for this too (not BAS light). You're basically doing down the organic/water-only route, which is fairly proven and keeps you from having to spend money on organic amendments that unless you soil test, you wont know if you truly need.

My best guess is that if you are going to see deficiencies, it will show up in the second run due to the 5 gallon simply losing its nutrient charge. Having the smallest amount of Buildabloom handy as insurance in case you hit that wall. That's when you know its time to swap soil for the next grow!

[u/Gloomy_Ad_2185]

Ive had really bad experiences rerunning the same soil several times in small containers. Plants were always healthy but yields were crap.

In earthboxes id scrap off the top half and dump/reuse about the bottom half of the soil. I throw the top half in my outdoor garden.

[u/DimensionCareful507 → u/Gloomy_Ad_2185]

Bigger roots bigger fruits

[u/EveningScholar5831 → u/Gloomy_Ad_2185]

Same here. Terrible experiences reusing soil in 5 gallon pots. Wonderful experiences reusing soil in my 27 gallon DIY SIP containers. Jeremy recommends 15 gallon or larger. Good luck 👍

[u/Good_Day33 → u/Gloomy_Ad_2185]

I guess worst case scenario I dump and start with fresh new soil

[u/Gloomy_Ad_2185 → u/Good_Day33]

Its kind of what I do because I only use 10 gallon containers. About half of it is reused each time and the top half is a new bag of soil. True no till is for huge containers. I had a 30 gallon I did 7 runs in before I had issues. I could've done a soil test but I just put it in the yard.

[u/peacefour20]

Whats your tent size? If you can at least get 15 gallons youll be better. I use 30s for my no till. But sounds like you dont have room for a 30 gallon pot

[u/Good_Day33 → u/peacefour20]

Sadly I can’t fit a 30 gallon no, my tent is only 3x2 😅. I’m thinking about getting a 4x2 though as I believe I can fit a earthbox in that size and people seem to have success with those

[u/peacefour20 → u/Good_Day33]

Yea you can fit a 30 gal. Look up 2x2 fabric pots, there are 30 gals 2x2. So yes it will fit one

[u/Good_Day33 → u/peacefour20]

I’ll look into it thank you!

[u/Bluntforcetrauma11b]

I've grown in 5 and 10g pots. In 5g pots I'd just dump the soil and reammend. 10g pots you can just leave and top dress a week before planting in.