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Growing Medium and Nutrients

Hydroponic Media

The two main types of medium for plant growth are hydroponic and soil. My preference for soil is already known, so I will only briefly discuss hydroponics systems. Hydroponic medium is any sterile medium that will hold some water, but allow water and air to pass through. Gravel, perlite, rockwool, volcanic pumice, “rock corn” and sand are some examples of hydroponic media. Hydroponic systems provide nutrients via the water that is supplied to the medium several times daily. Exceptions are passive units such as wick systems that have constant access to a nutrient-rich reservoir. Most systems consist of a reservoir, a pump, tubing to carry the fluid to the plants, the pots and medium that hold the roots of the plants, and some way for the water to return to the reservoir. Water soluble nutrient is mixed with the water in the reservoir and delivered to the plants. Most systems are automated using a timer.

Hydroponics systems are famous for producing the largest amount of foliage and fruit. The plant does not have to put as much energy into roots and therefore has more energy for foliar and bud growth. The roots are regularly aerated and thus have excellent oxygen exposure. I think that the incessant regimen produces a bland finished product. Entrepreneurs in the hydroponics industry are striving for more natural hydro systems, and are experimenting with many new nutrient products. I have yet to sample a hydroponically grown product that surpassed a soil grown product in overall quality and flavor. The same can be said about indoor versus outdoor growth. That is, when grown outdoors in the right environment, the product is usually superior to an identical plant grown indoors.

Soil

To date, the best indoor products are soil grown. This may be because soil is not a sterile medium. Soils are alive and thriving, and they interact with roots. Some potting soils are not organic and may contain unwanted chemicals. Shop around, read labels, ask questions to salespeople and friends and get familiarized with the brands available in the local market.

Even the good manufacturers sometimes skimp on their ingredients. This is why I like to supplement commercial soil. The two main supplements I use are worm castings and a bat/seabird guano mix. For soil used in the vegetative stage I like to add more worm castings than bat/seabird guano. For soil used in the bud cycle it’s the opposite—more bat/seabird guano than worm castings.

Here’s a recipe for a soil mix that works well. The bulk of the mix—about 70% of the finished product—is made up of equal parts peat or sphagnum moss (I prefer coarse-cut sphagnum moss) and perlite. Then worm castings are mixed in to about 15% of the finished product. About 10% of the finished product is organic compost. The final 5% is made up of a mixture of about equal parts trace mineral elements, granulated charcoal and washed sand. Then I add worm casting concentrate if the soil will hold a plant in vegetative cycle. For flowering I add powdered bat guano. The perfectly moistened mix will hold together as clumps when squeezed but will not release many drops of water.

Selecting Nutrients & Supplements

My preference is for the most natural nutrients and supplements. Many fertilizers are produced using industrial chemicals and do not, in my opinion, produce the highest quality bud. I prefer nutrients produced naturally, such as worms, fish, bats, birds, plants and seaweed. Green manure, or composted plant matter, is another excellent source of food for plants.