Ideal Soil or In fact Soil 'less' Mixes for Developing Cannabis
The finest quality cannabis will generally be created naturally in soil. Hydroponic systems with manufactured nutrient formulations may produce superior yields, but they will never touch the quality of the finest soil grown natural and organic cannabis. Besides the quality issue, there are numerous arguments to choose soil over hydroponics. Soil grows are more environmentally friendly due to the technique of fertilizer application; there are no reservoirs to eliminate down the drain or major leachate from rockwool running off into the ecosystem. Plants grown in soil tend not to create as much smell while growing as a hydro plant, due to the plants transpiring less. This, along with the fact that there are usually no irrigation timers to breakdown, have given many a grower a much better night's rest. How many days can an aeroponic unit keep your plants alive without power? A serious aspect to consider if you are on a dodgy electric system like most of Spain is.
Just what soilless mix?
When we mention soilless mixes, we are typically referring to a peat moss based substrate with additives that are different between brands and mixes. The most popular European brands like Canna and Cannabium ordinarily have sphagnum peat moss as the body of the mix, chosen for its water holding abilities, reasonably low-priced cost and high "cation exchange capacity" (it's capability to hold nutrients)
Lime is included in two forms to increase the acidic pH of peat moss and give a base of calcium and magnesium to the crop. Hydrated lime is usually added in very small amounts to provide long-term pH adjustment.
Perlite is included in various sizes and levels to make for a more porous blend. Wetting agents are used to help break the surface pressure of the water and wet the mix more evenly on irrigation. A beginner charge of fertilizer is usually included to an EC of about 1.5 to provide enough nutrition for the first few days of growth.
Some brands offer mixes reaching organic and natural standards with the main difference being the use of an organic wetting agent and a small amount of natural source fertilizer.
When getting soilless mixes, it is often best to keep to to the bigger names in this specialized niche. There are a lot of poor soilless mixes out for cannabis out there, several different qualities of peat that you can buy. Even among the big companies, the grade of mix that is sold in many retail garden center chains is not the same as what is sold to business greenhouses or nurseries.
The finest quality peat moss comes in long strands, which translate into more air spaces in the root zone. One of the better byproducts of making the best quality peat mixes is an large quantity of peat dust and very small peat fibres. This is what soilless mixes sold in garden facilities are made with. The issue with this is that the small fibers compact too closely and do not let as much air into the root zone as a higher grade would.
The most effective bet is to buy the large compacted bales of soilless mix, as these are the ones that are usually the highest quality.
Just what soilless mix?
When we mention soilless mixes, we are typically referring to a peat moss based substrate with additives that are different between brands and mixes. The most popular European brands like Canna and Cannabium ordinarily have sphagnum peat moss as the body of the mix, chosen for its water holding abilities, reasonably low-priced cost and high "cation exchange capacity" (it's capability to hold nutrients)
Lime is included in two forms to increase the acidic pH of peat moss and give a base of calcium and magnesium to the crop. Hydrated lime is usually added in very small amounts to provide long-term pH adjustment.
Perlite is included in various sizes and levels to make for a more porous blend. Wetting agents are used to help break the surface pressure of the water and wet the mix more evenly on irrigation. A beginner charge of fertilizer is usually included to an EC of about 1.5 to provide enough nutrition for the first few days of growth.
Some brands offer mixes reaching organic and natural standards with the main difference being the use of an organic wetting agent and a small amount of natural source fertilizer.
When getting soilless mixes, it is often best to keep to to the bigger names in this specialized niche. There are a lot of poor soilless mixes out for cannabis out there, several different qualities of peat that you can buy. Even among the big companies, the grade of mix that is sold in many retail garden center chains is not the same as what is sold to business greenhouses or nurseries.
The finest quality peat moss comes in long strands, which translate into more air spaces in the root zone. One of the better byproducts of making the best quality peat mixes is an large quantity of peat dust and very small peat fibres. This is what soilless mixes sold in garden facilities are made with. The issue with this is that the small fibers compact too closely and do not let as much air into the root zone as a higher grade would.
The most effective bet is to buy the large compacted bales of soilless mix, as these are the ones that are usually the highest quality.