Hydro vs soil, what's your opinion ?

[Bongo Fury]

Hi everyone
I'm at my 9th indoor, I have always cultivated in hydroponic because I always thought to get more yield, but is it true ? I mean, growing hydro is a very hard job: every day controlling several times ph and nutrients and every mistake is very bad. It also takes a high quantity of osmosis water, which I do produce myself: a lot of time, and water loss. Every 2 weeks completely change all the 18 liters with new water. Also, a cost, because the pump for the air bubbles must go 24/24. And every time I watch some video of professional growers, they do it in soil. I grow only one plant because for me it's enough. So, please let me know your experience, is it worth growing hydro, is there a big yield difference ?

 

[f-e]

For me it's been noticeable. Soil is forgiving, which for a newb might mean the highest yield. If you want to do acres employing cheap labour, again in might be the best idea, as mistakes are more tolerable.
However, I find it the lowest yield and perhaps even a bit slower. Coco is maybe 10% better, then hydro another 10% (flood/drain not dwc) then aeroponics is meant to be next level, though I have not tried that. I think getting the root ball in shape would be a struggle, as canna likes the air part. So myself, I don't see how it beats a well addressed flood/drain

 

[HempKat]

It's always a matter of what your wants/needs are vs what you are willing/able to put into it. Generally speaking yes, Hydro is considered to yield more but it also requires the greatest level of attention to detail. For some people who really like the feeling of control and are very hands on orientated the work Hydro requires can be a plus. If you want a less hands on approach or have a lifestyle that doesn't allow you enough time then soil is probably better for you in the long run even if the yield is lower. Now all that being said there are way to grow in soil that achieve very impressive results those methods usually require more work and/or expense.

If I were you and I felt growing hydro was just wearing me down and/or burning me out I would switch to growing in soil but grow an extra plant or two to make up for any potential lose in yield.

 

[Creeperpark]

What you call soil can mean different things. Pro-mix peat mix, Organic amended mix, Coco, or soil from the earth, and a few others. By far the easiest is peat Pro Mix HP, and will give you the best biggest yield. One only has to water every 3rd day with feed water and that's it. Here's are some photos from my last peat grow. This grow was a demo on how to boost the CEC but the main component is Pro-Mix HP. So easy it's pathic!

 

[Creeperpark]

I just used General Hydroponic Flora series base nutrients only. No additives just Micro, Grow, Bloom in rainwater fortified with cal-mag.

 

[Lester Beans]

If you think hydro is a lot of work don't switch to soil. Making soil, transplanting, mixing nutrients, watering by hand, cleaning pots (ask Unclefishstick haha), recycling soil, sourcing amendments, etc.

Hydro I change my res once a week. Twice a week I add fresh water and re-ph. Boom done. Very little work in hydro when it is done correctly.

How I decide which method, soil vs hydro, is what am I growing for. Do I want a crop from clones and yield I go hydro. If I'm hunting trough seeds or growing multiple strains I go soil.

As far as Coco, it is like hydro with the work of soil. Lots of people have great success, but it is my least favorite style of growing.

Good luck!

 

[Sunshineinabag]

I haven't grown in both but I've smoked both and I do know that where I come from the greedy cash cropping scum bags that have all been pushed out by good responsible farmers were all in Hydro so that they could get out of big sexy bag of appeal grass and then all of the sudden the P2,the Northern Lights this ctF and the early Pearl that were grown in soil caught up and was Far surpassed and taste High you know that old school Grandpa weed where you take two poles and there was no ceiling you don't get that in Hydro give me a break

 

[Sunshineinabag]

If you think hydro is a lot of work don't switch to soil. Making soil, transplanting, mixing nutrients, watering by hand, cleaning pots (ask Unclefishstick haha), recycling soil, sourcing amendments, etc.

Hydro I change my res once a week. Twice a week I add fresh water and re-ph. Boom done. Very little work in hydro when it is done correctly.

How I decide which method, soil vs hydro, is what am I growing for. Do I want a crop from clones and yield I go hydro. If I'm hunting trough seeds or growing multiple strains I go soil.

As far as Coco, it is like hydro with the work of soil. Lots of people have great success, but it is my least favorite style of growing.

Good luck!

Not to mention when you get a really good dialed in the soil basically what you're creating is a pH neutral sponge bus that up Ria mendick growth it again it gets better and better and better show me that in hydro

 

[flylowgethigh]

If you think hydro is a lot of work don't switch to soil. Making soil, transplanting, mixing nutrients, watering by hand, cleaning pots (ask Unclefishstick haha), recycling soil, sourcing amendments, etc.

Hydro I change my res once a week. Twice a week I add fresh water and re-ph. Boom done. Very little work in hydro when it is done correctly.

How I decide which method, soil vs hydro, is what am I growing for. Do I want a crop from clones and yield I go hydro. If I'm hunting trough seeds or growing multiple strains I go soil.

As far as Coco, it is like hydro with the work of soil. Lots of people have great success, but it is my least favorite style of growing.

Good luck!

I am the opposite Lester. Soil is easy. I mix up a batch of microbes and goodness to top water every Sunday AM, and the rest of the time it is just culling males and adding water to the SIP. Of course, my results are not that great terp-wise, yet. Recycling soil is the easy part. I just dump the bag into the soil bin and add amendments and goodness.

 

[GMT]

I need to learn how to reuse soil, I'm a soil consumer. Buy about 400 litres a year, and dump it after one use. I don't mind the cost, but the ski slope in the garden wasn't intended.

 

[flylowgethigh]

I think the stuff just keeps getting better and better. I added some volcanic material the last amendment, and will put in more fluff next time, like rice hulls. Just don't let it dry out. I have 2ea 100 gallon tubs with soil, and use 40 gallons per tent per run. The rest cooks the amendments in between runs.

 

[St. Phatty]

Hydro is better in a 6th floor apartment.

Soil is OK in a 2nd floor apartment.

Depends on how you feel about the apartment manager knocking on your door and asking,
"why did you just dump 100 pounds of wet dirt in the trash ?"

 

[goingrey]

As far as Coco, it is like hydro with the work of soil. Lots of people have great success, but it is my least favorite style of growing.

Coco is a lot less work than soil in regards to mixing, carrying sacks, and especially cleaning. During the actual grow it is pretty much the same, yes. I like it!

 

[Sunshineinabag]

I need to learn how to reuse soil, I'm a soil consumer. Buy about 400 litres a year, and dump it after one use. I don't mind the cost, but the ski slope in the garden wasn't intended.

Is customs arseholes about compost?

https://vermontcompost.com/compost-plus


I can send ya as much as u need.

 

[GMT]

I think customs would be ok, but carriers charge by weight. Probably be cheaper to buy it a seat on an aeroplane, and I'm not sure how they would get a negative covid test from it.

 

[Lester Beans]

Have to test the microherd haha

 

[Bongo Fury]

I haven't grown in both but I've smoked both and I do know that where I come from the greedy cash cropping scum bags that have all been pushed out by good responsible farmers were all in Hydro so that they could get out of big sexy bag of appeal grass and then all of the sudden the P2,the Northern Lights this ctF and the early Pearl that were grown in soil caught up and was Far surpassed and taste High you know that old school Grandpa weed where you take two poles and there was no ceiling you don't get that in Hydro give me a break

Sorry, I'm not english, I don't understand what you say

 

[Sunshineinabag]

I'm willing to learn ur native tongue
soil better,longer high
Soil tastes better to some
Me included

 

[Creeperpark]

Coco is a lot less work than soil in regards to mixing, carrying sacks, and especially cleaning. During the actual grow it is pretty much the same, yes. I like it!

My opinion coco has way too much nutrient waste and work! .

 

[Creeperpark]

Coco and peat are not living soil and in the horticulture world, they are all considered soil-less. The soil-less mixes are mostly used for annual crops in commercial businesses for fast production and marketing. Soil-less mixes must be supplemented with nutrients or amended with organic nutrients and converted by microbes. Soil-less mixes can be supplemented in 3 different methods, synthetic liquid, slow-release granular, or organic amendments. All three are soil-less!