Soil From Local Greenhouse?

[OldSmokey]

Hi .Thanks for looking at this. I just about have everything put together for a 1st time indoor soil grow. I was wondering if you guys think I need to buy some fancy funky soil on line... or if some good quality organic soil from a local greenhouse would be ok? You can grow outside in regular dirt ..Just asking.Thanks.
OldSmokey

 

[CannabisDog]

If your on a budget then you can just grow in plain old soil. Some people forget cannabis is just a weed (no pun intended ). It is nice to add some additives to your soil. I like to mix in some good potting soil into the top soil. Also I add in some sheep manure and some worm castings. Depending on the PH of your soil you may need some powder lime. The good thing about soil you buy most of the time it has been PH adjusted. Some peat moss is also good as it holds water and you will have to water less often.

 

[fishheadbob]

I just. I was wondering if you guys think I need to buy some fancy funky soil on line... or if some good quality organic soil from a local greenhouse would be ok? You can grow outside in regular dirt ..Just asking.Thanks.
OldSmokey

I'm not sure what you mean. Buying from a local greenhouse... If you mean bagged product, first time use, then sure , go ahead. Maybe more like a garden center than a greenhouse ? But if you mean a commercial greenhouse where someone has used the soil for growing whatever, and is then selling it, I'd say no. Somebody has used it and feels that it's no good anymore; might be infected with god knows what and he's thinking better to get a few bucks for it than carting it off to a landfill.
Good old dirt can work O K if it's good soil, and you can always dress it up to make it better.

 

[supermanlives]

most greenhouses nurseries around my area make their own soil and sell some .. works just as good if not better than commercial mixes. all depends on whats in it. talking to the owner will give you more info.

 

[highonmt]

most greenhouses nurseries around my area make their own soil and sell some .. works just as good if not better than commercial mixes. all depends on whats in it. talking to the owner will give you more info.

The quality can vary hugely with the house brewed soil. I've seen tons of bugs in some; aphids, spidermites, thrips and worse. You may have a good greenhouse in your area but be sure you ask questions and make sure the soil is sterile. Alternatively you can make a really good soiless mix with a bale of peat moss mixed 3x1 with perlite, worm castings a little vermiculite, some bone and blood meal,green sand and some dolomite lime. All are usually available at greenhouses and will give you some more control over your grow...more work but worth it IMO. Additionally soiless mixes are very light and plants love em, many potting soils are just compost with some perlite and are easily waterlogged. There are many soiless recipes on this site and others. The sunshine soil products are widely available and are pretty good and cheap the #4 soiless mix works pretty well when amended a bit with worm castings bone/blood meal and greensand . Best of luck,
HM