If you have purchased a best marijuana grow tent, you also need to choose a best growing medium.
A growing medium or grow medium is what you’re growing your cannabis roots in, whether that substance is soil, perlite, coco coir, Rockwool, vermiculite, water, etc. Your marijuana plant will thrive as long as the roots have room to grow and have consistent access to fresh water, oxygen, and the proper nutrients in proper levels. There are a variety of ways to satisfy all these needs of a cannabis plant while growing, and each has its own pros and cons!
So compare Coco Coir with Soil: Which is Better for Grow Cannabis?
What is coco coir?
As the name suggests, coco coir is made up of fibrous coconut husks and is a pretty recent discovery to the gardening world. It wasn’t until the 1980s that keen gardeners discovered that coco coir can be a perfect growing medium which promotes strong roots and vegetative growth. It can be either be added to soil or used on its own for hydroponic growing.
What is soil?
Soil as a growing medium you are likely to be more familiar with. This tried and tested method is popular amongst growers who like to produce their cannabis organically, in the most natural way possible. Soil can be used for indoor growing but is mainly used for outdoor cultivation. By the way, a full spectrum LED grow light is essential for plant growth.
One key difference between soil and coco coir is that soil contains nutrients whereas coco coir is similar to an unfertilized soil and requires nutrients to be added to it.
Pros & Cons of Growing Cannabis in coco coir LESS STRESS MORE SUCCESS
Cultivating cannabis in coco coir is pretty uncomplicated and just like any other grow op; once you have your system dialled in, it's plain sailing. 'Nuff said.
ROOTS
Being oxygen-rich and an excellently water-retaining medium makes coco coir a really great habitat for cannabis plants' roots. In addition, coco coir retains phosphorus very well and combined with the aforementioned attributes roots will positively thrive.
100% ECOFRIENDLY AND REUSEABLE
Coco coir is a natural product and a totally reusable. In fact, by growing ganja with coco coir you are recycling and putting to good use what would have been wasted coconut husk left to rot and pile up like trash.
LIGHT WEIGHT AND COVERT
If you want to keep your growing activities stealthy and delivery costs to a minimum, coco bricks are an elegant solution. A couple of 6 packs of coco coir bricks is feather light in comparison to lugging two 50l bags of soil home from the grow store. Also, should you choose to have coco bricks delivered, they will incur far lower delivery charges and less attention than heavy sacks of soil. Perlite to mix with the coco coir can be discreetly sourced from the local garden centre.
LESS VULNERABLE TO INSECTS AND PLAGUES
Root rot and nasty root invading fungi and insects are far less likely to plague the coco coir grower. Coco coir is nice and sterile and so well aerated, the roots develop almost as quickly as in advanced hydroponic setups.
The only real disadvantage of coco coir is if you happen to mistakenly buy a low-quality brick, that may have been incorrectly processed or somehow contaminated. This is rare and if you stick with reputable high-quality coco coir brands you won’t have to worry about this kind of problem. It really comes down to grower preference which way to cultivate cannabis. If you ask us, you really can’t go wrong with coco coir.
Pros & 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 marijuana. Regardless of the root system you choose, make sure the temperature in the growing area stays around 68 degrees Fahrenheit. To control a best and suitable temperature, you need a Inline Duct Fan!
Of course, ample water and oxygen in the soil is a must.
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.
Coco Coir is better for:
Control – you can control exactly what nutrients your plants receive
Fast growth and bigger plants
Drainage and aeration
Soil is better for:
Beginners – as nutrients are already present and it is a more forgiving growing medium, and you should know that a marijuana grow tent kit can help a beginner more.
Time-saving – requires less attention
Organic gardening
Final thoughts
Both coco coir and soil are excellent growing mediums for cannabis cultivation. Deciding between the two really comes down to how much time and effort you want to put into your crop. With coco coir, it will require closer attention to detail which may be attractive to some but not others. For a more low maintenance growing medium, soil would be a good choice. You can even use a mixture of the two to get the best of both worlds! Make sure you check out our best coco coir and best soil selections above to get you off to a good start.