Photo by Wirestock
There is often a debate among growers that organic, soil-grown weed is superior when it comes to the taste, aroma, and overall smoking experience. For those who are growing in soil, these six tips will take any organic grow game to the next level.
#1—Invest in a Well-Known Brand
One of the easiest ways to ensure that plants will have the optimal balance of available nutrients, aeration, drainage, and beneficial microorganisms is to use a well-known industry brand. Avoid buying cheap soils from garden centers as they will often lack the primary and secondary nutrients, as well as trace elements, that cannabis plants require.
#2—Keep an Eye on pH Levels
Nutrients will become available to plants within a specific pH range. For soil, aim for a level of 5.5–7.0. This ensures that the plants will not become short of food or deficient in nutrients. Use soil pH meters that can be inserted directly into the growing medium, or test the pH and E.C runoff after every feeding, for the most accurate data reading.
#3—Recycle Your Soil
The longer one can recycle soil, the better it can become over time. This is because it will encourage a far greater population of symbiotic beneficial bacteria and microorganisms.
Recycling soil will not only save costs and trips to the local grow store every few months, but it will also allow growers to be more eco-friendly. However, it is advised to remove any roots using a sieve and add top dressing or liquid nutrients to add new nutrients to ensure the best quality soil.
#4—Use The 10% Rule
As a beginner grower, knowing just how much water to use can be a game of trial and error. In some cases, the soil may become too dry, or in a worst-case scenario, over-saturated. Some growers apply the 10% rule. This means using a tenth of the water based on the size of the pots. So, for a 5 gallon pot, use 0.5 gallon of water/nutrient solution and allow the soil to wick the water throughout. However, the amount of water needed will depend on a variety of factors including the environment, the growing medium, and growth stage of the plant.
#5—Organic Amendments
It is important to feed the soil with organic and liquid amendments that help keep it nutrient-rich and fertile. Applying top dressing using compost, worm castings, bio-char, manure, and guano, or liquid amendments such as seaweed, algae, molasses, and fish emulsions will ensure soil is supercharged and ready to re-use after every harvest.
#6—Feed the Microbes
There are billions of beneficial microorganisms in a teaspoon sample of soil. Ensuring they have plenty of food will keep the soil in an optimal state. Microbes and fungi use carbon as their primary food source, so the goal is to feed the microbes, converting nutrients and minerals back to the plant’s roots. The easiest way to achieve high-carbon levels is to use molasses, fish emulsion, algae, and biochar.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing With Soil
In addition to these tips, there are other important considerations that growers should keep in mind when growing in soil. Below are some of the most common mistakes to avoid.
Overwatering Causes an Unpleasant Smell
Providing soil with too much water can have negative effects such as encouraging pathogens and disease and affecting plant growth. When there are inadequate oxygen levels and air pockets present, bad bacteria will develop. This results in an unpleasant rotting smell that will be an indication that the roots are not happy and fighting off pathogens.
Poor Drainage and Aeration
Commonly associated with cheap commercial soils, poor aeration and drainage will only invite problems over time. Roots love oxygen and plenty of room to grow. So when they are restricted due to a heavy and compact soil structure, growth and yields will become significantly affected and the risk of pathogens is far greater. To prevent this from occurring, the soil structure should have a good balance of perlite (30-50%) as this will provide more air around the roots and improve aeration, according to Royal Queen Seeds—an expert community of cultivators.
Contaminated Soil
When a soil culture has become contaminated with a pathogen, it will not be fit to recycle and should be thrown away. The easiest way one can identify contaminated soil is to check the consistency and aroma of a rotting egg/sulfur stench.
Cold Soil Means Cold Roots
Keeping the soil at the correct temperature (64-66 degrees Fahrenheit) will allow the roots to stay warm and happy. It also allows plants to focus on sourcing food and healthy development. A cold grow room may cause plants to become dormant, as well as encourage bad bacteria and pathogens to disrupt the soil food web. This results in pathogens fighting with the good bacteria and microorganisms, according to the experts in growing media and plant science at Canna.
Leave a Reply