How to Grow BIG Plants
Consistency
Creating the ideal soil consistency starts with some of the basic ingredients we covered last month . These constituents fall in the category of “ soil conditioners ,” but they don ’ t add much ( if any ) nutritional content to the soil . They do contribute to its CEC . More than 90 % of your soil will likely be comprised of these materials :
Coco Coir :
Ground coconut husk , available in loose or compressed brick form . Bricks are often cheaper due to reduced shipping costs and can be expanded with water to many times their compressed size .
Sphagnum Peat :
Perlite : Air-puffed , lightweight volcanic glass with excellent water and oxygen retention .
Vermiculite : Similar to perlite but formed from mica-like minerals and possesses greater water retention capacity .
Rice Hulls : They are exterior shells that surround rice and are generally inexpensive as they are typically disposed of by rice producers . They allow good oxygen flow and drainage but have limited water retention .
Sand : Fine mineral particles with almost no nutritional content and a CEC close to zero .
Organic Soil Conditioners
Although it only makes up 5 % of your soil material , organic matter plays a critical role in supplying nutrition to your plants . These soil conditioners contribute to CEC , generally in the “ clay ” particle category , but they pack a huge punch !
Worm Castings : Worm “ poop ” is packed with not only the primary nutrients , Nitrogen ( N ), Phosphorous ( P ), and Potassium ( K ) needed for plant growth but many micronutrients as well .
Guano : Again , “ poop ,” but this time derived from flying animals . Bat guano holds tremendous amounts of N with small amounts of P and K . Seabird guano is almost pure P .
Compost :
Meal : Ground-up plants , bones , shells , and seeds . Alfalfa , Fishbone , Feather , Crab Shell , Shrimp Shell , Blood , Kelp , Algae , Neem Seed , Oyster Shell , and Palm Bunch Ash contain differing levels of N-P-K and micronutrients .
Mineral Soil Conditioners
Of the 45 % minerals in an ideal soil blend , a significant portion is made up of perlite and vermiculite . The rest can include materials that improve the soil ’ s nutritional content . These are either mined from the earth , produced through volcanic eruptions , or a combination thereof ( sedimentary , igneous , or metamorphic , if I remember correctly from middle-school science class ). You won ’ t find much N ( if any ) in these minerals , but their P , K , and micronutrient content can do wonders for cannabis . The dry amendments are Azomite ®, Calcitic Limestone , Dolomite Limestone , Glacial Rock Dust , Rock Phosphate , Sulfate of Potash , Epsom Salt , and Gypsum .
Beneficial Micro-organisms
Nothing improves the strength of your plants like beneficial bacteria and fungi . Even with a perfect soil blend , beneficial micro-organisms can still add value and improve yields . Without these organisms , roots are isolated and alone in their search for nutrition . With fungi and bacteria , though , roots trade goods ( i . e ., carbohydrates ) in abundance for the precise nutrients they need at the exact time they need them to maximize their growth potential . Adding beneficial microorganisms in liquid or dry form to a soil mix has zero downside but huge upside potential for flavonoid , terpene , and cannabinoid production .
Bagged Blends
Volume 2 isn ’ t the end of this series . Next month , we ’ ll take a tour of the most popular pre-mixed soil blends and analyze what ’ s really inside those bags !
It is decaying moss with a consistency similar to loose coco coir , but it breaks down over time and has an acidic pH .
Decaying organic material such as cotton burr , forest floor materials , mushrooms , and manure ( mammal “ poop ”) is rich in N-P-K . It often contains many trace minerals such as Sulfur ( S ), Carbon ( C ), Magnesium ( Mg ), Calcium ( Ca ), and others .
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