Fabric Pots
● Pros: Aeration, light, and foldable design allow roots to grow to the side,“ Air shear,” and spread out on the interior rather than wrapping.
● Cons: Can retain bacteria or bugs in fibers, and non-rigid material is not as easy to work with when filling.
Aerated Plastic Pots
● Combines rigidity, re-usability, aeration, and air-shearing capability.
Roots that found the side of a plastic container and started to wrap.
Caution: There are many pictures online of people growing in soil in 5-gallon buckets. Unless a bucket has been altered, a regular five-gallon bucket has no drain holes, and drainage is important!
Now, let’ s talk about Hydroponic grow media.
The two most common types of hydroponic grow media are stone-wool products and clay and rock pebbles.
The best way I can explain stone-wool products is to tell you why I hate clay pebbles and Hydrostone.
● Cannabis roots and hard rocks aren’ t the most compatible substances in nature. Sure, lava rocks and clay pebbles are porous, allowing nice retention of moisture and nutrients, as well as mold, bacteria, spores, and any other nastiness that managed to creep its way into those rocks.
● People always try to clean and re-use them: GROSS!
● Have you ever seen a root-ball growing around rocks? It’ s difficult and, in my opinion, must be painful.
● Now look at the roots that grow through a rock-wool cube. They are happy and surrounded by substrate and growing through and into rather than around rock surfaces and edges.( See photo below)
● Crushed Stone-wool or tiny cubes( see photo below) are an amazing substitute for anywhere that you are currently utilizing HydroStones or clay pebbles.
● You can also use Stone-Wool products as a substitute for soil with traditional containers and hand-water.( See photo above right.)
In general, people usually start growing in“ soil” and pots and hand water, because it always seems easier, less complicated, and more cost-effective than buying or building a hydroponic system. Hydroponic systems consist of many parts, are rather costly, and are usually designed to support multiple plants. The only affordable, single-plant hydroponic systems are One-Bucket Deep Water Culture( DWC) systems, usually using clay pebbles. These often lack good water circulation and require some know-how and maintenance to produce really nice results. Inexperienced growers frequently face fungal and root issues in these setups.
That is, until now! I have taken the custom hydroponic setup that I highlighted in my August 2025 issue article and created an affordable alternative to single-pot, hand-watered soil and cheap DWC systems. My all-in-one Plug-n-Play Hydroponic bucket is affordable and suitable for growing a single plant from seed to harvest.( See photo top left page.) It features a fully recirculating constant feed pump and is super simple to use— just top off water and watch your plant grow and transform into amazing buds.
Gerry’ s Ultimate Soil Mix If I were stranded on an Island and had to choose one“ Soil” to grow with forever, what would it be? Stop by the store, visit our growers’ lounge, and I’ ll share my recipe! Emerald Garden Grow Supply at 6532 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Raytown, MO.
No matter how you choose to grow, just jump in there and get growing!
Scan the QR code to see Gerry’ s How-To videos. Gerry is also available at Emerald Garden Grow Supply for Free personal grow consultations. He’ s happy to help walk you through your grow from seed to harvest!
Roots growing through and into a rock-wool cube rather than around rock surfaces and edges.
Crushed Stone-wool or tiny cubes.
Gerry Donovan, the owner of Emerald Garden Grow Supply, Raytown, MO, says,“ I am not a plant Biologist nor a Chemist. I do not have any formal cannabis plant education, as that was a non-existent thing before today’ s world. I do, however, have a passion for cannabis, which words fail to describe. I’ ve traveled throughout Europe, including Amsterdam, Spain, and Canada, where I not only ventured into the world of seeds and genetics but also continued my quest to learn as much as I could about Growing the Plant. I continue to expand my knowledge via grow seminars and cultivators’ conferences and, most importantly, through simple discussions with other growers. Over the last 22 years, I’ ve developed my own Grow Methodology through trial and error with love and passion. I hope to guide you on the pathway to enjoying the best cannabis you have ever consumed— your own homegrown!” Cannabis – Education – Wellness.
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