Growing Medium Disposal

Marijuana Horticulture

by Jorge Cervantes

Disposing of used growing medium can be as big a problem as finding the proper soil. Most soilless mixes and soils contain perlite, which leaves white telltale traces when dumped anywhere. Grow soil is also packed with incriminating cannabis roots. The plug was pulled on more than one grow show because soil residuals were found in the backyard.

Dry soil is easier to work and transport. Press and rub dry soil through a 0.25 to 0.5 inch screen to remove roots, stems, and foliage. Screening also transforms the cast-container shape of the soil t an innocuous form. Once the roots are removed, dry, used soil can be bagged up or compacted. Pace the dry soil in a trash compactor to make it smaller and more manageable.

Do not throw the spent growing medium into your trash can. Remember, it is not a crime for law enforcement in America to dig through your garbage. In fact, picking through a suspected grower’s garbage is a tactic often used by American authorities to secure a search warrant. Remove the depleted soil from the property. Take it to the dump or dispose of it in a very discreet locale. Never throw away the transporting bags with the used soil. Reuse the bags.

Used indoor growing mediums make excellent outdoor amendments when mixed with compost and garden soil. Do not reuse the depleted soil in outdoor pots. Many of the same problems that occur indoors will happen in outdoor pots.