Choosing the Best Soil to Grow Cannabis
Whether you want to call it dirt or a growth medium, soil is a crucial component for growing cannabis. Choosing the best soil for your weed is arguably the most critical decision you’ll make when growing cannabis at home. Getting it right is likely the difference between a bountiful harvest and utter failure.
The apparent simplicity of picking soil often fools newcomers, and they frequently make mistakes that cost them their harvest. The truth is, you have to make a lot of considerations. For example, the soil you use for indoor growing is not the same one you’ll need for an outdoor grow. Then there is the small matter of things like pH, drainage, and a host of other criteria.
There are a large number of soil brands available, which is both good and bad news. You get a lot of options. However, with so many choices, how do you determine the best soil for growing your cannabis? The key is to analyze your situation, and our guide will help do the rest.
Pros and cons of growing cannabis in soil
Ultimately, you can choose between soil or a hydroponic system if you wish to grow weed at home. A hydroponic system is potentially extremely effective, but it is also expensive. Generally speaking, those cultivating their cannabis for the first time should choose soil. The roots of your plants will extend deep into the earth as they look for nutrients and water.
That’s why indoor systems, which have a lack of space, need to create smaller root systems for cannabis. Regardless of the root system you choose, make sure the temperature in the growing area stays around 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
Irrigation in soil is easier than with hydroponic systems, as is fertilization. With so much information gathered from thousands of years of growing, you can quickly become a soil expert as long as you read the right articles!
On the downside, soil requires a ton of space, and it is cumbersome. You’re also more likely to have issues with pests than with a hydroponic system.
Choosing the right cannabis soil container size
The size of the containers you choose will dictate the size of the plant’s root system. The more space the roots have, the faster they grow. You can expect problems to arise when the roots outgrow your container, so choose wisely! There is no need to go beyond a 10 x 10 x 10 cm container while your plants are still seedlings.
Once it reaches a height of 25cm, transplant the plant(s) to a container that is at least double the size of the first one. Once your plant hits the lofty heights of 80cm, move it to at least a 12-litre container. Once your plant hits a meter in height, you’ll need an even bigger box. This process continues until harvest.
Watering your soil
The soil type and growing environment determine the way you water the soil. Hot climates need more water, and colder climates need less.
When you water the plant, it moves essential nutrients and minerals to the roots. Then, they travel to the rest of the plant. Water cools overheated plants down and is a critical ingredient for photosynthesis. The best advice we can give is to water the soil until it is moist, but not wet to the touch. Overwatering aids the growth of harmful fungi, which can result in root disease, so exercise caution!
Quality soil for cannabis
Natural soil comes in four varieties: sandy, silt, loam, and clay. You are in for a nasty surprise if you think that soil is just one ‘type.’
Many soils will have a combination of at least two of the four types. Therefore, you can have sandy/silty, loamy/clay, silty/clay, and so on. If that isn’t confusing enough, there are different ratios of every soil type. It is an important consideration, however, because each one has its pros and cons.
Sandy soils
Sandy soil is known for its large granular size and has a low pH. The issue with this type of soil is that it dries quickly and often experiences difficulties in moisture absorption. The nutrients also get washed away, and nitrogen, in particular, is lost rapidly from sandy soil.
On the plus side, sandy soil is easy to prepare for cultivation, offers good drainage, and contains high oxygen levels. It is one of the best options for growing weed indoors.
Silt soils
This soil type consists of minerals such as quartz and fine organic particles. Although they hold moisture, silt soils have decent drainage and are one of the easiest to work with when wet. Also, silt soils are among the most fertile, which gives you a chance of a decent-sized harvest. With frequent irrigation, you can extend the length of the growing season. Silt soil is one of the best soil types for seedlings.
Loam soils
Loam soil is a combination of sand, silt, and clay, typically in a 40/40/20 ratio. It has at least 20% organic compounds and can vary from being easy to work with to incredibly complex. To identify a loam soil, squeeze it. It should form a loose ball that quickly threatens to break apart.
This is a prevalent cannabis potting soil and has an almost neutral pH. It offers excellent drainage and water retention, contains high oxygen levels, and is naturally fertile. However, it is by far the most expensive option.
Clay soils
This type of soil is among the best organic options for cannabis. Clays consist of fine crystalline particles created via chemical reactions amongst minerals or other natural resources. You can mould or shape clay soil, but it is hard to work with and drains poorly.
If you try to use this kind of soil, expect to have difficulty in getting the plant’s roots to penetrate the surface. Clay soil has a high pH. While it stabilizes plants, the soil is heavy and requires a lot of effort overall.
What does loam soil look like?
Loam is, without doubt, the favourite weed soil of growers. It makes the best soil for potted plants and is probably the best soil for plants in general. It contains the right balance of all three soil types (clay, silt, and sand) along with humus. This combination ensures that loam has high calcium levels, but it also has a relatively high pH.
Loam has a dark colour and is soft, dry, and crumbly when you hold it. Although it offers a tight hold on plant food and water, it drains exceptionally well. The air can freely move between the particles down to the plant’s roots.
How to make loam soil
Loam soil is a combination of the three main soil types. However, don’t think you can create loam soil by adding clay soil to silt, or vice versa. If you try to add sand to clay, for instance, you’ll end up with a cement-like texture. In reality, creating loam soil for your plant is not a straightforward or quick process.
It is, however, the best soil for cannabis, which means it is worth the time and effort that you have to put in. No matter what type of soil you have, creating loam involves adding organic matter to it each year. The decomposing plant material creates the excellent drainage conditions your weed needs.
The amount of work you must do depends on the balance of your existing soil. For instance, if it has high amounts of clay or sand, you’ll have to add large amounts of organic matter several times a year. You can add a two-inch layer of organic matter onto the surface of the garden. Then, you should work it into the first couple of inches of soil.
Buy only the right soil for your cannabis plants
It is normal to go to your local garden store full of enthusiasm. That is until you are knocked back by the enormous number of options. First of all, please note that buying it in bulk could be a mistake. There are no certifications or standards attached to soil quality. Believe it or not, some of these sellers provide you with soil from construction sites. They could even sell soil excavated from basements!
When buying soil for weed, make sure you understand the basics of good cannabis soil. If you want your plants to offer lots of cannabinoids and trichomes, you have to pay attention to several variables. including:
- Drainage, texture and water retention
- Nutrients
- pH
Drainage, texture and water retention
The texture, drainage ability, and water holding ability are arguably the most critical aspects of cannabis soil. Your plant will not produce a good yield if it doesn’t have the right mixture of water and oxygen in the roots 24/7. If there is too much water, the roots won’t get enough oxygen. If there isn’t enough water, the roots can dry out quickly and become damaged.
High-quality soil should have:
- A rich and dark colour
- Loose texture
- Excellent drainage; in other words, it should not make a pool on top of the soil for more than a few seconds
- The ability to retain water without becoming muddy
It is unlikely that your cannabis soil will have the ideal drainage, texture, and water retaining abilities. Fortunately, there are a host of amendments available to alter the drainage, texture, and water-retaining capacity of your soil. Here are four of the most popular:
Coco coir
This is made from coconut husks and manages to improve water retention without causing the soil to become heavy. When you use coco coir, the roots of your plant should develop quicker, and you’re less likely to overwater. You can grow your cannabis in pure coco coir. However, a maximum of 30% is best for a productive soil amendment.
Vermiculite
This enhances water retention and causes your soil to become ‘lighter.’ It works particularly well with Perlite.
Perlite
This is probably the most commonly purchased amendment and is ideal for practically any soil mix. It consists of airy ‘rocks’ known for their white hue. Perlite looks a bit like popcorn and improves drainage while adding oxygen. Use 10-20% to improve water retention. You can go as high as 40%, but you risk leaching nutrients faster. If you use Perlite and Vermiculite, don’t go above 50% for the two combined.
Worm castings
Yes, we are talking about worm poop! Once you get past the initial horror, you’ll find that your cannabis plants adore worm castings. They improve water retention, drainage, and texture. Their natural nutrients are quickly broken down. Worm castings typically include useful microorganisms since they go through the digestive systems of worms. Keep the level of worm castings down to around 30%.
Nutrients
As long as you choose correctly, your cannabis soil should already have a vast array of nutrients because it consists of organic material. One mistake is to try and add organic material such as animal manure and rotting vegetables directly to the plants as fertilizers. You must break down the content first if you want your plants’ roots to absorb the nutrients.
This is because they don’t benefit from nature in the same way as outdoor growers. Use heat to sterilize the soil and add nutrient-rich potting soil mix. You can make it yourself, but newbies should purchase it from the garden store. Water the soil correctly. Also, keep it in a room with a temperature of 68 degrees Fahrenheit and test the pH every so often.
pH
In case you weren’t aware, pH means ‘potential of hydrogen.’ It is a chemical scale that determines a substance’s alkalinity or acidity. The range goes from 0-14. A pH of 7.0 is neutral (pure water is 7.0, for example). Everything from 0-6.9 is acidic, while everything from 7.1 to 14 is alkaline.
Battery acid and hydrochloric acid have a pH of 0, while liquid drain clearing fluid has a pH of 14. Ideally, your cannabis soil is slightly acidic. Most experts believe that the ideal pH is 6.0. However, you are on solid ground if your soil’s pH is between 5.8 and 6.3. Your crop will survive outside of this range, but the yields are likely much smaller. If you stray too far from the 5.8-6.3 range, the plants will die.
If you are a beginner grower, you must purchase your soil from a garden store. Did you know that the vast majority of expert growers also buy their soil? A handy tip when talking with a store employee is to ask about the right kind of soil for tomatoes. It is an excellent option if you feel uncomfortable disclosing your desire to grow weed!
Source: MarijuanaBreak