Substrate — what your cannabis grows in
Substrate defines water, nutrients, and error tolerance. More important than nutrients or panel choice.
TL;DR: Bio-soil: easiest, up to 400 g/m². Coco: faster, daily feed. Hydro DWC: max 500–700 g/m², zero tolerance. Living soil: best flavor, higher upfront cost.
Bio-soil
Ready mixes (BioBizz, Plagron, Canna). Auto pH 6.0–6.8, forgiving. Nutrients from wk 3–4.
Coco
Coco + 30 % perlite. Inert, daily feed. Cal-Mag mandatory. pH 5.8–6.2, EC 1.2–2.4.
Hydroponics
DWC: roots in oxygenated solution. Max yield but zero tolerance. Water temp <22 °C.
Living soil
Self-feeding organic soil. Best terpene expression, reusable, $5–8/L upfront.
FAQ
Soil or coco for beginners?
Soil — most forgiving.
Reuse soil?
Yes with amendments and 4-week rest.