Growing marijuana in soil has many advantages. For instance, it is the best way for buds to develop an excellent aromatic flavor which a lot of people love. Also, most growers still prefer to plant weed using soil. In essence, using the right type of soil, the resulting harvest will be more rewarding.
While hydroponics allows cannabis to grow efficiently and fast, it also has some drawbacks. One is that it is costly to set up the whole system. Also, it needs a lot of expertise to make the method work. On the other hand, the practice of using soil comes naturally, and it only takes a little research to learn.
So, in this article, we will cover the best soil for growing weed in both indoor and outdoor gardens. It includes recognizing the quality of soil, and knowing what supplies are best to use. Also, we share the recipe for making the best soil for marijuana plants.
In essence, we show how easy it is to assure nutrient balance within the medium. Using the best soil from the start helps lessen the need to pump chemical nutrients into the plant along the way. Also, this increases the chances of a healthy harvest of high-quality buds.
The Basics of Marijuana Soil
Before we get into making the ideal marijuana soil, we will need to learn the basics.
1. Why Grow in Soil?
There are many reasons why soil is the best medium for weeds. It is ideal for germinating, transplanting, or letting the plant grow. Here are the benefits, and disasters that could happen with using soil.
Grow in Soil – Image powered by Growweedeasy.com
Advantages of Using Soil
The soil is the most natural medium for growing almost all kinds of plants. It means that most people already are familiar or have experience in doing it. In effect, it is easier and less stressful to use than other modes of planting, which requires a learning curve.
Another advantage is its simplicity in making it work. Just watering the soil is enough for most plants to grow. Also, the supplies needed are few compared to using other costlier medium.
Disadvantages of Using Soil
Since soil is an organic material, it is natural for bugs to live in it. Therefore, the plants are more prone to suffer from pest infestations.
There is also the issue of slower growth. In contrast, marijuana grown using hydroponics enjoys an explosive growth due to faster and more efficient nutrient absorption.
2. What is High-Quality Soil?
The best type of soil can hold an amount of water that is many times its weight. It also holds the water for a certain degree of time before evaporating. Such characteristics are essential as plants need time to absorb the water.
High-Quality Soil – Image powered by S3.amazonaws.com
Regarding appearance, we want to look for a loose texture that stays the same when wet or dry. It should also be dense enough for the roots to take hold, but at the same time, allow air to pass through.
3. What is the best Soil for Marijuana?
So, what exactly is the best soil for cannabis? The truth is, the plant acts exactly like weeds. It means that it is not very picky when it comes to its medium of growth. In fact, marijuana can grow fairly well in soil that is naturally disturbed. As such, it can pop up and thrive in places where the soil has experienced natural calamity or human movements.
But if the goal is to produce buds with a high amount of THC, the grower has to choose high-quality soil. Veteran producers know that the best soil has the right balance of nutrients and acid level. Not only that, but soil requirements vary in each growing stage.
To be specific, the ideal soil for marijuana has a lot of nitrogen during the vegetative stage. But as the cannabis progresses to the flowering stage, the need for nitrogen goes down. If the nitrogen level in the soil stays the same, this could result to small buds that are less potent. As such, constant monitoring of nutrients is vital.
When it comes to pH level, most plants can do with 6.0. A range between 5.8 and 6.3 is okay, but too high or too low pH may be disastrous to the crop. As a result, the buds tend to be of poor quality.
Best Soil for Marijuana – Image powered by Phoolbari.com
4. What Supplies Do We Need?
To get started, we must find materials that help the seed grow in the right track. It means adequate nutrients and water for germination. For this purpose, it is a whole lot easier if we use peat plugs. But potting mix and composted manure can also do the trick.
4.1. Peat Plugs
Known also as peat pellets, these are small cylindrical seed holders covered in mesh. They give seeds a great start as they come complete with nitrogen and ideal pH level. Any garden shop sells peat plugs that come with a terrarium and small trays.
Peat Plugs – Image powered by Grow-tech.com
Since water evaporates fast when using peat plugs, be careful not to let it go dry. Seeds need plenty of water to grow, so it is important to keep the soil moist.
4.2. Potting Mix
A great option to use when peat plugs are not available is potting soil or potting compost. This material is a mix of different ingredients that provide food for growing seeds.
Potting Mix – Image powered by I5.walmartimages.com
An important thing to remember when using potting mix is to watch out for clumps. If not removed, marijuana plants may have a hard time rooting. So, make sure the potting soil is light and fluffy. Also, look for a brand that has peat moss, pine bark, and perlite or vermiculite. These things improve the quality of the soil by adjusting its pH level and nitrogen content.
4.3. Composted Manure
Another option is to use composted manure. It has plenty of nutrients and nourishment. Also, it is effortless to make at home.
Composted Manure – Image powered by Gardenbedraised.com
While manure is readily available in some gardens, it will take 4 to 6 weeks to turn it into a suitable material. Mixed with soil, it acts as a fertilizer to plants. And unlike other additives, using animal wastes does not build up in the soil. Instead, it helps keep the medium organic.
5. What is Super Soil?
A new type of soil called Super Soil is fast gaining popularity among cannabis growers nowadays. This medium, made by Subcool, is by far the best soil for growing marijuana.
Super Soil – Image powered by Growweedeasy.com
An advantage of using Super Soil is that it already has the right nutrients and acid balance. As such, all that growers need to do is water the plants. But keep in mind that this type of soil is not suitable for seedlings as it may burn them.
As it happens, Subcool shared the recipe on how to make Super Soil. But while this “hack” sounds very appealing, it requires intense research to make. Also, there are some problems with bugs and pests growing in the soil if not properly done. Moreover, it takes a dozen ingredients to make so it can be quite expensive.
While we can easily buy Super Soil in garden supply centers, there is no harm in trying to make it. Especially since we can use organic materials at home.
How to Make Super Soil for Marijuana
Ever since the secret about Super Soil came out, growers are using it to produce top-shelf organic buds. While it is ideal for large producers who aim bigger yields, small-time home growers can also try making it.
In 3 steps, here is what we need to prepare and do to make our own Super Soil.
Step 1. Base
Prepare high-quality organic potting mix. The recommended amount is 8 x 30 pounds.
Step 2. Additives
Here are the things to combine with the potting mix to create a super-charged soil.
2.1. Azomite
This material comes from volcanic rock and contains over 70 minerals and trace elements. Since it contains gold, copper, silver, and calcium, to name a few, its basic use is to remineralize the soil. Having abundant, diverse minerals is a good way to ensure the health of the plants.
The recommended amount is 1/2 cup.
Azomite – Image powered Herb.co
2.2. Bat Guano
Bat feces is a rich source of nitrogen. Also, it comes with an outstanding balance of other minerals such as phosphorous and potassium. Most importantly, it does not leave any metallic taste on the buds like other additives.
The recommended amount is 5 pounds.
Bat Guano – Image powered by Herb.co
2.3. Blood Meal
This additive is not vegan-friendly, but it is an excellent source of nitrogen. Made from the dried blood of mostly cows, it seems like an unpleasant idea for fertilizer. But it is a popular gardening product that increases the growth of cannabis during the vegetative phase.
The recommended amount is 5 pounds.
Blood Meal – Image powered by Herb.co
2.4. Bone Meal
During the flowering phase, the fine powder of animal bones provides phosphorous for more and bigger blooms. Just be cautious of this ingredient if there are vegans who use the buds.
The recommended amount is 5 pounds.
No comments:
Post a Comment