Soils are mostly comprised of three types of mineral particles and organic material such as decomposed plant matter. The three different (according to size) types of mineral particles are sand, silt, and clay.
Except for the size, they differ in toughness, how they retain water and nutrients and other characteristics, but most soil based mediums have at least one of them in their composition. For instance, loam is a standard soil that can be bought in shops that is great for growing cannabis and a common practice both in gardening and in agriculture. The composition of sand, silt, and clay in loam is 40:40:20 and that is an example how we tell apart different types of soil.
Another thing that should be mentioned when discussing different types of soil is super soil. Super soil is a unique type of organic soil that tries to imitate natural soil conditions. Compost is utilized to make a thriving microbiological environment that will take care of your nutrient needs as this “living” soil will supply all the nutrients needed for the plants by itself. However, making super soil is a complicated and time-consuming process that will take a couple of months, so it is not recommended for beginners.
As you see, mixing your own soil shouldn’t be a problem. All you have to do is decide what ingredients you will mix and in what ratio, based on what you want to grow and how you want your soil to behave (more acidic or more basic, should it drain or retain water and nutrients etc.).
NUTRIENTS IN SOIL
Due to the organic composition of soils in nature, they contain a sufficient amount of nutrients for plants to grow successfully. Materials like animal remains, excrement and rotting plant matter provide the soil with all the nutrients plants need, but require additional processes before they decompose and can be absorbed by the roots. Worms, insects and water help in furthering the decomposition process.
Unfortunately, indoor growers will have a hard time duplicating these conditions (as mentioned earlier, creating super soil is a painstaking and time consuming process). But, you can choose to grow your plants in nutrient rich soil that is suited for your needs.
Watch out for the NPK ratio of soils, making sure that you have the right amount of needed nutrients. An important thing to notice concerning nutrients in the soil is that the pH value of the soil is in direct correlation with the absorption of said nutrients. The optimal values of pH will maximize nutrient absorption and you can use chalk or Epsom salts to control the pH of your soil.
Humans have planted in soil for thousands of years and the accumulated knowledge concerning growing plants in soil is vast. It is still the most common medium for growing and cannabis growing ain’t no different. From beginners to professionals, many people choose soil as their medium because it is cheap, really easy to use and very effective. Still, it takes a little bit of preparation and care to maximize the potential of your soil. As with all things in life, treat it with care and it will give back.
Growing cannabis on soil indoors（二）
TYPES OF SOIL BASED MEDIUMS
Soils are mostly comprised of three types of mineral particles and organic material such as decomposed plant matter. The three different (according to size) types of mineral particles are sand, silt, and clay.
Except for the size, they differ in toughness, how they retain water and nutrients and other characteristics, but most soil based mediums have at least one of them in their composition. For instance, loam is a standard soil that can be bought in shops that is great for growing cannabis and a common practice both in gardening and in agriculture. The composition of sand, silt, and clay in loam is 40:40:20 and that is an example how we tell apart different types of soil.
Another thing that should be mentioned when discussing different types of soil is super soil. Super soil is a unique type of organic soil that tries to imitate natural soil conditions. Compost is utilized to make a thriving microbiological environment that will take care of your nutrient needs as this “living” soil will supply all the nutrients needed for the plants by itself. However, making super soil is a complicated and time-consuming process that will take a couple of months, so it is not recommended for beginners.
As you see, mixing your own soil shouldn’t be a problem. All you have to do is decide what ingredients you will mix and in what ratio, based on what you want to grow and how you want your soil to behave (more acidic or more basic, should it drain or retain water and nutrients etc.).
NUTRIENTS IN SOIL
Due to the organic composition of soils in nature, they contain a sufficient amount of nutrients for plants to grow successfully. Materials like animal remains, excrement and rotting plant matter provide the soil with all the nutrients plants need, but require additional processes before they decompose and can be absorbed by the roots. Worms, insects and water help in furthering the decomposition process.
Unfortunately, indoor growers will have a hard time duplicating these conditions (as mentioned earlier, creating super soil is a painstaking and time consuming process). But, you can choose to grow your plants in nutrient rich soil that is suited for your needs.
Watch out for the NPK ratio of soils, making sure that you have the right amount of needed nutrients. An important thing to notice concerning nutrients in the soil is that the pH value of the soil is in direct correlation with the absorption of said nutrients. The optimal values of pH will maximize nutrient absorption and you can use chalk or Epsom salts to control the pH of your soil.
Humans have planted in soil for thousands of years and the accumulated knowledge concerning growing plants in soil is vast. It is still the most common medium for growing and cannabis growing ain’t no different. From beginners to professionals, many people choose soil as their medium because it is cheap, really easy to use and very effective. Still, it takes a little bit of preparation and care to maximize the potential of your soil. As with all things in life, treat it with care and it will give back.