Hydroponic Weed Over Soil?

The debate between hydroponically grown and soil-grown weed has been raging for years. Advocates of hydroponic growing emphasize the potential for advanced environmental control and higher yields, while those growing marijuana in soil highlight enhanced terpene profiles and natural processes. This article will define both hydroponic and soil growing methods, explore their respective pros and cons, and provide a comparison between the two approaches.

What is Hydroponic Weed?

Hydroponics refers to cultivating plants using water as a feeding method. This approach functions by sending precisely what cannabis needs directly to the plant roots through a water-based solution. You’ll find six main types of hydroponic systems, each offering unique approaches to optimal plant growth and development. 

• Ebb and Flow systems flood and drain plant roots with a nutrient solution, providing water and nutrients while allowing the roots to access oxygen after draining.
• Deep Water Culture (DWC) suspends plant roots in a nutrient- and oxygen-rich water solution, promoting efficient nutrient uptake and robust growth.
• Drip hydroponics involves dripping a nutrient solution on the roots and growing media before draining back into the reservoir.
•  A Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) involves circulating a shallow stream of solution over the roots, providing them with a continuous flow of nutrients.
• The wick system works on capillary action, where the plant draws the solution into its roots using its own power.
• Aeroponics involves suspending the plant in the air and misting the roots with a nutrient solution, which provides the nutrients needed for growth.

What is Soil-Grown Weed?

Soil-grown cannabis refers to plants cultivated using soil, which provides a stable medium and essential nutrients needed during vegetation and flowering. The terroir, along with the composure and texture of the soil, including clay, sand, silt, and loam, significantly impacts plant growth and terpene profiles. Loam soil, a combination of sand, silt, and clay, is ideal for cannabis cultivation for its excellent drainage, water retention, and ease of use. 

Hydro vs Soil Weed

Growth Medium

Hydroponic plants flourish in soilless environments utilizing various growing media such as perlite, vermiculite, coco coir, or Rockwool. These mediums enable growers to control the supply of nutrients throughout the growing cycle. On the other hand, soil-based cultivation fosters microorganisms crucial to nutrient uptake and plant health. Unlike hydroponics, outdoor growers prioritize soil quality for its influence on the terpene profile and more robust growth.

Nutrient Delivery

The nutrient delivery system provides plants with essential minerals and nutrients directly into the reservoir, enabling growers to supplement the necessary elements for the plants to flourish. However, when growing in soil (sometimes called living soil), plants naturally absorb essential nutrients from the soil, benefiting from the breakdown of organic matter by soil microorganisms. Additionally, growers have the option to supplement these nutrients with organic fertilizers and beneficial worms and insects.

Plant Growth and Yield

Plants often experience faster growth and higher yields because of the precise control of nutrient delivery, optimal growing conditions, and efficient use of resources in hydroponic cultivation. On the other hand, although initially slower, soil cultivation fosters more robust growth from a diverse microbial community that enhances nutrient release and root development, along with harsher outdoor climates that strengthen their structure.

Pros and Cons of Hydroponic Cannabis

While many cultivators love or hate hydro, this growing system has its benefits and drawbacks.

Pros

• Hydroponic systems can accelerate plant growth via the optimized delivery of nutrients and water, growing significantly faster than plants grown in soil. 
• The ability to regulate environmental factors during hydroponic cultivation can lead to higher yields than cannabis plants grown in soil. 
• Growers have constant control over growing conditions, allowing them to customize nutrients and environmental factors as requirements change throughout the plant grow cycle.

Cons

• Setting up a hydroponic system is generally more expensive than using soil as a growing medium because it requires specialized equipment.
• Operating a hydroponic system effectively demands a level of technical understanding and experience in managing nutrient solutions, pH levels, and environmental factors.

Pros and Cons of Soil-Grown Weed

Even though most growers choose soil, there are a few drawbacks to consider.

Pros

• The terroir and soil content significantly influences the overall terpene profile of a strain, as observed in landrace strains such as the iconic Indian Kush grown in the Himalayas, impacting the plants’ aroma and flavor characteristics. 
• Soil growers typically enjoy lower startup costs than people building indoor hydroponics systems, making it a more budget-friendly option for beginners.

Cons

• Soil-based cultivation often results in slower initial plant growth because of the time required for roots to establish and access nutrients. Marijuana can also be challenging to grow in regions with shorter summers and colder climates.
• Cannabis plants grown with nutrients in soil can be more susceptible to pests and diseases that thrive in soil with the presence of organic matter and diverse micro-bacteria.

Hydroponic Weed vs. Regular Weed: Which is Better?

When comparing hydroponic weed and soil-grown marijuana, it’s essential to consider the critical points discussed in this article and determine which method of growing suits your needs best!

How to Start Growing Hydroponic Weed

Follow this step-by-step guide to learn how to grow your own hydroponic weed at home.

1. Choose a hydroponic system

When choosing a hydroponic system that suits your needs and space, it’s important to explore all the available options. For those new to hydroponics, Deep Water Culture is the most straightforward and beginner-friendly hydroponic setup. Acknowledged for its user-friendly approach, it serves as an excellent introduction to hydroponic cultivation.

1.  Equipment

When setting up your hydroponic system, you will need a growing tray or container, a water pump, a timer, and pH-adjusting chemicals. Depending on the chosen hydroponic method, specialized equipment like aeration stones for more oxygen in deep water culture systems or a wicking system may also be necessary, so research and plan accordingly.

1. Set up the growing area

When setting up the growing area for your hydroponic system, begin by creating a suitable space with appropriate lighting, ventilation, and temperature control. Ensure that the area receives ample light for plant growth and adequate ventilation to maintain air circulation, preventing the buildup of stagnant air throughout the growth cycle.

1. Prepare the nutrient solution

During the vegetative stage, plants need more nitrogen to support leaf development and overall plant growth. As they transition to the flowering stage, their need for phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients increases to facilitate flower production. Adjusting the nutrient solution accordingly and monitoring it regularly is vital to prevent any imbalances or deficiencies.

1. Plant the seeds

When planting the seeds or seedlings in a hydroponic system, ensure they’re adequately supported and have access to the nutrient solution. This includes providing proper support structures such as net pots or growing mediums to stabilize the young plants, ensuring the roots have ample access to the nutrient solution for optimal absorption.

1. Monitor and maintain the system

Regularly monitoring pH and nutrient levels, along with ensuring proper lighting and ventilation, is crucial for maintaining an optimal growth environment. Adjusting the nutrient solution based on the plant’s development helps to ensure the best conditions for your plants to thrive and produce abundant yields of high-quality buds!

FAQs for Hydroponic Weed

Let’s check out some questions that beginners in growing cannabis have about choosing hydroponic weed over soil.

Is hydroponic cannabis growing more difficult than growing in soil?

Not necessarily. Growing hydroponic cannabis can be more difficult than growing it in soil, as it requires more precise control and nutrient mixing. However, soil can also be challenging depending on the environment.

Do hydroponic cannabis plants grow faster than those in soil?

Hydroponic cannabis plants may grow faster than those cultivated in soil due to the direct access to nutrients but precise environmental control and ideal conditions can create optimal growth in either soil or hydroponic.

Is setting up a hydroponic system more expensive than growing in soil?

Setting up a hydroponic system can be initially more expensive than growing in soil due to the cost of equipment such as reservoirs, pumps, and nutrients. However, hand watering can reduce costs.

Does hydroponic weed require more attention and maintenance than soil-grown plants?

Hydroponic cannabis plants generally require more attention and maintenance compared to soil-grown plants due to the need for careful monitoring of nutrient levels, pH levels, and water quality.

Conclusion

We’ve explored the significant variances between soil-based and hydro weed cultivation. Ultimately, the choice between these methods depends on your available resources. Each approach carries its distinct set of pros and cons. Hydroponics demands meticulous control of nutrient solutions and pH levels, while soil-based growing leverages natural nutrients and organic supplements for plant nutrition.

As you continue to explore cannabis cultivation, we encourage you to consider hydroponic growing as an alternative to traditional soil cultivation. Hydroponics offers advanced environmental control and the potential for higher yields. If you are interested in high-quality seeds, check out Humboldt Seed Company’s wide selection of seeds to suit your growing needs.