Someone once told me that a plant that grows in a pot is a living thing totally dependent on care, and that’s something I totally agree with, because if you want it to be healthy and green, you will have to try to water it when it touches and, what is most important if possible: plant it in a suitable substrate. And it seems not, but depending on the quality of the soil in which the roots grow, we will obtain more or less healthy crops.
This is particularly relevant when you want to plant cannabis, because although it is not as demanding a plant as others, if we want it to flower in order to have good harvests, we will have to take care that the land is of good quality. But of course, How to choose the substrate for growing cannabis?
What characteristics should the marijuana growing medium have?
Cultivated land is a mixture of substrates which, depending on what they are, have certain characteristics or others. For example, there are some that have coconut fiber, which is very acidic, spongy and therefore retains a lot of humidity, but also allows the roots to grow without problems, since the air circulates well between the granites; then there are others that have black peat, topsoil or other similar substrates, which are heavier and more compact, but have an advantage over others, that the cost of production is inferiortherefore the sale price may be low.
Now well, it is important to be very careful with these cheap substrates because in my own experience they can contain unshredded organic material (branches, leaves) which is really not a problem, and/or eggs, fungal spores and other pests which can seriously damage the plants of marijuana. In addition, all these elements have a common characteristic and that is that they are quite heavy. This already tells us that it is a very compact soil, which can even have difficulty absorbing moisture and also losing it. So, when you buy one like that, you will have to very, very well control the risks so as not to lose the plant.
In reality, it is better to opt for a substrate of the best quality, so be it:
- soft and light
- with good drainage
- The pH must be neutral or slightly acidic (between 6 and 6.5)
In other words, the best substrates for marijuana contain: blond peat (and/or black, but it is in small quantities), coconut fiber, perlite, vermiculite or clay.
Substrates used to grow marijuana
Let us know more about each of them.
Arlita
Image – Wikimedia/Lucis
Arlita is a type of substrate widely used in hydroponics, and not so much in traditional agriculture unless mixed with others. It is marble shaped, about one centimeter in diameter and brownish in color. It takes a long time to get rid of it, and also, it barely retains water, so it will be very difficult for our plant to have problems due to overwatering.. Its pH is between 5.5 and 5.8.
coconut fiber
Coconut fiber is obtained from the fruits of the palm tree. cocos nucifera (known as the coconut tree). It has a pH between 6.0 and 6.8, and it is also an excellent alternative to peat, as it a small amount is enough to fill several jars. Likewise, it quickly absorbs moisture and retains it for a long time, which also allows us to save water.
pearlite
Image – minetech.es
Perlite is a mineral that performs the same function as clay, i.e. as it does not absorb water, it is used to improve the drainage of the ground. It has a pH of 7.0, so if we want to use it alone we should lower it a little, either by sprinkling it with water and a little vinegar or a few drops of lemon.
Peat
Peat is an organic material made up of plant remains that decompose over time. There are two types:
- black peat: it is dark in color, practically black, and is very heavy and compact. Its pH is high, between 7.0 and 8.0. It maintains a lot of moisture, but being so compact, watering must be carefully monitored so that the roots do not rot. In marijuana cultivation it is mixed with perlite, clay or the like.
- blonde peat: It is light brown in color and is much lighter than black peat. It comes from the decomposition of plants, such as moss. The pH is low, between 3.0 and 3.92, so we cannot use it alone if we want to grow cannabis. In this case, we will mix it with a little black peat or vermiculite, in a ratio of 6:4.
vermiculite
Image – Wikimedia/KENPEI
Vermiculite is a mineral that retains a lot of moisture. In addition, contains essential marijuana nutrients such as magnesium, potassium and calcium. The problem is that the pH is a bit high, 7.2, so it is usually mixed with an acid substrate, such as coconut fiber or white peat.
By choosing the substrate for marijuana well, you will surely get a good harvest.