One of the many parameters that a weed breeder should take into consideration is the quality of the soil that will be used. Selecting the best quality soil can take you several steps forward in cultivating your very own weed farm. There are some pointers that you need to consider to know which is the best soil for indoor cannabis growing.
According to Nicole Richter, choosing the right kind and quality of the soil is one of the most crucial parts of starting a glorious cannabis farm. This decision can either take you to a farm full of a good harvest or a situation wherein it will look like a cemetery full of dead plants.
In this article, we will provide adequate information especially for those beginners who are planning to start their own indoor cannabis plants. Since it is where your plant will try to thrive and grow, it should be of good quality. But what makes a soil’s quality good?
Best Soil for Indoor Cannabis
Before we go through the aspect of growing cannabis in a perfect soil composition, we’ll make it a bit easier for you by defining and comparing two mediums that are usually used in this kind of plant.
Growing cannabis on soil can pose a lot of advantages and disadvantages. One advantage is that it is way cheaper than allowing your plant to be cultivated in a hydroponic medium. Although hydroponics provide a better medium compared to soil, it is quite expensive to use.
Why use soil as a medium?
Soil clearly is the most common form of medium that any plant uses. It is also the top choice for people who are just starting off their first plant in their indoor garden.
The capability of the plant’s roots to move through the soil is quite fascinating. It extends its length and digs deeper on the soil to search for some water and nutrients for the plant to consume. Indoor growing of marijuana plants means that the root structure should be just the right size so that the plant won’t occupy so much space.
The main thing to monitor is the temperature of the soil must be somewhere near 68°F with the right amount of oxygen and water for your plant’s perusal. As a matter of fact, the irrigation system in soil is way better compared to those of a hydroponic medium.
Beyond this, there are a lot more factors that you need to carefully scrutinize on to acquire that best possible soil for your plants. These include the pH level, water retention, nutrient composition, drainage capability, and texture of the soil.
The awesome trio.
The ability of the soil to hold water, the ability to drain water, and the texture of the soil are three of the top things you need to look after for the best quality soil. The soil should have a loose texture which contributes to its capability of draining water.
If the soil is too compact, water won’t be able to flow downwards and may cause flooding of your plant. On the other hand, having a weak water retention or a too loose soil will create a lack of oxygen and water presence that your plant needs.
The best quality soil doesn’t appear to be muddy in composition and doesn’t keep the water stagnant on top of it. It should be somewhere in between to assure a well-balanced water, oxygen, and anchorage capability for your cannabis plant.
Always look for soil that meets the right pH level.
Another important thing to look for in a good quality soil is the pH level. The best soil for indoor cannabis plants has a pH level of slightly acidic which is around 5.8 to 6.3.
A higher or lower pH level compared to the given range above will still make your cannabis thrive but it won’t perform well. A pH level that is not within the range can cause a lower amount of yield at the end of the flowering phase of your plant.
Getting acquainted with the types of soil.
There are different types of soil that are available in plant shops or garden stores that you can freely choose from. Many of these offer a specific pro and con that makes each type differ from one another.
Sandy soils are described as a set of soil with granules that are large and has a lower pH level. In this type, water drainage is properly observed, the oxygen content is abundant, and it the ease of usage is optimal. The downside is that it lacks good water retention capability and it dries quite faster than other soil types which contribute to nutrient wasting.
Silty soils are those medium-sized granule soils that contain good amounts of nutrients and has the ability to retain water at optimal levels. The only not so good thing about it is that it can’t provide a good passage for water to seep down to the bottom parts of the pot.
Clay soils contain good amounts of minerals, has the ability to perfectly retain water, and can help stabilize your cannabis plants. It also has a higher level of pH. But just like the other soils mentioned before, it lacks the ability to drain properly the water making it harder to work on.
Lastly, loam soils are typically more favored since it can hold water and drain it when necessary, it is fertile enough for your plants to enjoy, it contains good sets of microorganisms, and it has high levels of oxygen. The only disadvantage is that it is quite costly. But it never hurts to spend a little bit more for the betterment of your marijuana plants.
Selecting the best possible option.
If you’re still having some doubts on what type of soil will fit your indoor garden, it doesn’t hurt to go to the nearest nursery or a garden store and ask for some advice from expert growers. Remember that you shouldn’t divulge information that you are trying to grow some cannabis plants on your residences. The best thing you can do is to talk about what’s a good soil for growing tomatoes since it has almost the same growth parameters with cannabis plants.
Store bought soils are not that much recommended since it contains too many nutrients and minerals for your plants to handle. You can always have a customized soil based on your plant’s needs. It is not that hard to look for the right composition for your very own soil.
The Best Soil that will Fit Your Indoor Farming Needs
Clearly, the best possible type of soil that you can use is around the loamy type. It contains every factor right but it may cost you a little bit more. Other than that, it is easier to manage and you can always create your own loamy soil that will match the needs of your marijuana strain on hand. Keeping these ideas will surely make your weed breeding and farming experience worthwhile and problem-free.
