Before you dive into growing cannabis, you need to learn about a lot of the stuff surrounding it. When grown indoors, growers have complete control over the environment and you can save money producing high-quality cannabis. Many cannabis enthusiasts claim that they didn’t appreciate the plants until they grew them themselves.
While the benefits of growing indoors are numerous, there are potential problems that can cost or harm your plants if you’re not paying careful attention. Choosing potting soil is one of those things. The best potting soil is the first and decisive step to the success of your crop.
Luckily we have prepared a list of the best potting soil for weed, along with some information that may be useful to growers.
Why is the Farming Environment Important?
The plant is a reflection of where it is grown and cannabis is no exception. The farming environment is the basis for everything that you do.
Cannabis exposed to a good environment determines the overall health of the plant, its ability to resist pests and infections, the production of nutrients, and the cultivation of cannabinoid compounds.
The availability of nutrients and bacteria in the roots while the plant is growing is what essentially proves the plant’s effects, the expression of the chemical terpene, and the medicinal and nutritional properties of the plant.
To create a truly amazing end product, you’ll have to make sure that your cannabis plant has everything it needs to perform its botanical functions.
What are the Pros & Cons of Potting Soil?
#1 Nature friendly
Cannabis can be grown outdoors in fertile soil in an environment that mimics its natural ecosystem. However, the legal status of cannabis as well as space constraints make this quite difficult in most areas.
While growing in pots can limit the biodiversity of the soil, in general growing in fertile potting soil will help you increase a wide range of beneficial bacteria and fungi.
Combined with some high-quality or homemade fertilizers, growers can create an increasingly diverse environment for your marijuana plants, compared to a controlled hydroponic environment.
#2 High content of nutrients and terpenes
Many growers believe that marijuana grown on soil tastes better. Why? That is, there is a combination of chemicals secreted by the roots of the plant and the metabolic processes of microorganisms in the soil.
When the soil has access to more healthy bacteria, fungi, and oxygen, compounds like iron and magnesium, essential oils and essential fatty acids can be produced. They are then available to the plant through the interaction between the plant and soil microorganisms.
Exposure to good bacteria and fungi in diverse and abundant quantities means a greater likelihood of positive interactions for healthy plants. The healthier the plant, the more opportunities it has to produce a variety of terpenes and nutrients.
This is good news for those who are interested in using all parts of the cannabis plant, or want to gain as many medical benefits as possible.
It is estimated that we do not know 90% of the chemicals that plants produce. Marijuana is perhaps one of the cultivars that has been studied for its psychostimulant THC that can maintain diversity. The best potting soil gives us a greater opportunity to reap the benefits of plant compounds.
#3 Organic
Cultivation will benefit Mother Earth, and marijuana cultivation is also included. This is especially true if you are a home grower who has chosen to grow cannabis in your garden. Taking good care of the soil and keeping the plants healthy will help regenerate the topsoil over time.
#4 Agricultural activities cost us half of our class
surface soils over the past 150 years. Barren topsoil means that our medicinal plants (like Cannabis) are less productive, more susceptible to disease, and increase the risk of pests and diseases.
This is a basic principle of organic farming. Let the soil and plants do the work for you, and limit additives.
Even if you are growing plants in containers, once you have perfected your soil you always mix the soil with fertilizer or add it to your vegetable garden.
Most marijuana plants can be used in these ways, but you can also add unused samples or main stems to your compost. What are the benefits of good compost? The topsoil is more fertile.
#5 Uncertain
Because you buy and add everything to a hydroponic system, you know exactly what is going into your plants. This is not necessarily the case with soil.
When you buy a potting soil or something from your local grower store, you will often be able to read a little bit of information about the product on the packaging.
However, in case you are using land from a local farm or some other source. You probably won’t be able to tell exactly what you’re getting. Because there are thousands of different bacteria and fungi, you must make sure you are choosing a quality product before you plant seedlings.
The last thing you need to know is that some improperly disposed compost will contaminate your entire crop. Growers will want to do a little research in advance to make sure that what you are doing is actually going to be in the best interest of your plants.
#6 Low yields risk
If you’re not growing in a crate or in raised beds, you shouldn’t have any trouble getting a high yield from the crop. Although, it’s not as easy as when you grow in a soilless system.
However, if you want to go the most sustainable route and plant directly into the ground (with some good compost or extra topsoil), it will take some time before you get the results you want.
There are very few places in the world today where topsoil is fertile enough to support a large cannabis harvest. As an example, let’s imagine a typical backyard. Did you have dandelion? Wild daisies? Thistle flower? These flowers grow in disturbed soil.
For cannabis to grow well, it needs to have the right ratio of fungi for the bacteria to be in the perfect soil. However, if you continue to grow marijuana and other companion plants in that soil over time, you will be able to increase the fertility of the soil and eventually the plant will produce a high yielding crop.
Although this takes some time. This may be a better option for those interested in organic farming and permaculture or growing for fun, rather than for those who want to produce a quick, lush, usable crop.
#7 Take time
Growing indoors can speed up this process a bit. However, if you want your buds to do well outdoors you will have to wait for the plants to do this.
In both hydroponics and indoor soils, you can promote flowering plants as they reach hardy maturity. This gives you more control over harvest time. Growers can harvest the expected yield at intervals relatively often.
If growers are growing outdoors, you can expect a crop in about 3-4 months. But, in the end, nature will take whatever it wants.
When that happens, each grower develops a method that works best for them. There are many tried and tested methods that have become quite popular among cannabis growers. But there’s also a lot to learn from new insights into how plants grow and interact with soil in natural environments.
How to Quickly Cultivate Weed with Potting Soil?
Cannabis plants in the wild usually grow in places where the soil composition is rich in nitrogen, they love nitrogen during the growing stage, and have a great need for Phosphorus and Potassium during the blooming stage, they also have needs for micronutrients such as Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn, throughout their life cycle.
The life cycle of the cannabis plant can basically be divided into two major stages, the growing phase and the blooming stage. The difference between these two stages is clear: Cannabis plants have less need for nitrogen than before, and they have a greater need for phosphorus and potassium.
For growers who have more or less knowledge, fertilizing plants is quite simple. Growers just need to buy a reputable product and fertilize according to the manufacturer’s recommended dose at each stage, an example of the company’s fertilizer dosage advice.
For growers who have experience in using organic fertilizers (nutrients from natural organic sources such as algae, animal bones, animal manure), the care of plants is not a big problem.
In the wild if attentive growers will find many sources of nutrients that the cannabis plant loves, you just need to experiment, over time, experience from practice. It will give you the insights to make the best blends.
There are so many different types of nutrition on the market today that it can be overwhelming to know which one to use and what the results will be.
On the market today you can find many manufacturers of cannabis nutrients and each brand has many different products. One of the most effective ways to grow cannabis plants effectively is to stay in touch with your nutritionist.
Ask the person whenever you feel nervous about how to use it. After a successful crop, you will have experience in the use of nutrients.
Which Soil Should be Used for Weed?
Soil is the most traditional medium for growing cannabis indoors, as well as the most forgiving, making it a good choice for first-time growers.
Any high-quality potting soil will work, as long as it doesn’t contain artificial extended-release fertilizers, which are not suitable for growing cannabis well.
A very good option for beginners is organically fertilized soil. This soil can grow cannabis plants from start to finish without adding nutrients, if used properly.
This can be done by combining casting worms, bat guano and other ingredients with good soil and letting it sit for a few weeks, or it can be purchased in advance from a number of different suppliers.
As with all organic growth, this method relies on a healthy population of mycorrhizae and soil bacteria to facilitate the conversion of organic matter into usable plant nutrients.
Alternately, you can use the regular soil mix and then replenish your plants with liquid nutrients when the soil is depleted.
Composting can be done year-round, as the breakdown of dead plants gives off heat. It’s best to make plenty of compost for the whole year, whether piled up in the backyard, or in special bins that you can buy at a local home and garden supply store.
Feel free to use the space in your yard, and no one will doubt it. Composting takes about 2-5 months. Some special crates can even alter your soil, speeding up the process.
Make sure the soil you choose for your cannabis plant is highly draining but still has the ability to hold water. You also need to consider the pH, nutrients, and texture of the substrate.
Coco Coir is currently a popular choice and is sold as a large bag or as a lump. Many cannabis growers prefer to mix Coco Coir and regular potting soil to create a better base.
It is helpful to purchase a pH test kit to make sure your plants are growing normally by assessing the correct pH. It is important to be aware of the nutrients you put into the soil as they are also involved in the pH balance.
The common cannabis plant prefers a slightly acidic environment at the roots. A slightly acidic soil environment is what the cannabis plant needs to thrive in its natural environment.
With the right pH in the roots, it helps the plant to access and absorb nutrients as best as possible.
If the pH is too high or too low, the plant is prone to nutritional deficiencies, improper nutrient absorption, even if you provide adequate nutrients for the plant.
Nutrients take many different forms (chemically) depending on the pH of the surrounding environment. Some forms are more readily absorbed by the roots than others.
When the pH is too high or too low, the cannabis plant will begin to show signs of a nutrient deficiency, even if that nutrient is available in the environment around the plant’s roots.
By maintaining the pH level, you will help the marijuana plant access and absorb all the nutrients it needs throughout its entire life cycle.
While pH is important for all plant growth, it is even more important for cannabis growers to use nutrients and fertilizers to fertilize the plants.
The standard pH level for cannabis plants to grow in potting soil is 6.0 to 7.0.
Top 7 Best Potting Soil for Weed Review 2023
#1 Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden – Editor’s Choice
If you are looking for a potting soil that contains everything for your weeds to thrive, this is the soil for you. This potting soil has a positive effect on root formation, which improves the overall health of the plant and improves its ability to absorb nutrients. Extremely suitable for cultivating marijuana.
This potting soil is packed with ingredients including premium bird droppings, fish meal, crab meal, and earthworm meal, as well as a generous amount of forest humus and peat moss.
This soil has everything plants like to have in their nutrient medium. This formula also eliminates the need for nitrogen addition and is adjusted to the ideal pH level of 6.3 to 6.8.
This product from Fox Farm is full of nutrients and this is also the main advantage. In addition, this potting soil can inhibit the growth of mold and fungi, has a great texture, and it drains well even without the addition of perlite.
#2 Real Growers Recharge – Best for Organic Growth
If you’re looking for a great way to get the most out of your plants, why not look at some of what nature has to offer? That method is organic growing and this product will be very useful with this method.
This little bag is full of nutrients that will help your plants form mycorrhizae. It is a combination, a symbiosis built from fungi and plant roots with unexpected effects on yield.
This development improves nutrient absorption and protects the marijuana plant from many unwanted threats.
In addition to the natural benefits that this product brings, it has many other advantages. First, it’s designed for use with houseplants, especially cannabis. Next it improves the speed and health of growing plants.
Finally, it is completely organic, and contains microorganisms suitable for use with fertilizers. However, growers will have to use this product weekly so the color will fade quickly. It’s quite expensive, and the fine powder is easy to waste if you’re not careful.
#3 Dr. Pye’s Scanmask 10 Million Live Beneficial Nematodes – Best for Pest Control
With the naked eye, we will never be able to detect organisms and pests in the soil. That’s why there are so many potting soils available today that control these microscopic pests.
As a cannabis grower, if you’ve never heard of nematodes, it’s time to get acquainted with them. Nematodes are microscopic worms that will target pests that frequently appear in your soil such as thrips, fungus gnats, and other unwanted insects (when they are in their immature stages). They can cause root rot and make marijuana plants unhealthy.
This product is a super cheap organic way to get rid of pests and you can get 10 million of them from Bug Sales for just a few bucks.
The nematodes will arrive on your doorstep fully alive and then all you need to do is release them on your soil. With this 10 million package, it can cover about 600 – 1000 square meters of land, larger and smaller packages are available to fit your growing needs.
#4 FoxFarm Ocean Forest FX14000 Organic Potting Soil – Best for Newbie Growers
When looking for the best potting soil for your weed plants, you need to make sure it has a good texture, can hold water well, and also has good drainage. And again the product from Fox Farm will not let you down.
This amazing organic soil from Fox Farm ticks all the boxes in this regard. Its formula contains a wonderful blend of bird droppings, and micronutrients that will welcome your plants into their pots. With the perfect pH for the cannabis plant, this is a good choice for beginners.
This product has the main advantage of helping to encourage root growth. It’s organic, filled with rotted moss that keeps your roots aerated and helps absorb nutrients.
This large bag is long lasting, and growers do not need any additional nutrients during the first few weeks of the growing period.
However, this mix can be a bit too warm for auto flowering strains.
#5 Unco Industries Wiggle Worm Soil Builder – Best Earthworm Castings for Soil
Earthworms are leftovers from food eaten by worms and contain a lot of nutrients that your cannabis plants will enjoy, and this will help them thrive – some people are even starting to call the powder. Wormwood is a ‘superfood’ for the cannabis plant.
And this is a popular and natural way to give your soil and plants some additional nutrients and minerals is to use vermicompost on your soil.
Unco Industries is known for delivering some of the best organic fertilizers on the market, and with this worm casting bag, you’ll be enjoying this non-toxic fertilizer for a while.
With just a small amount sprinkled on the soil, you will start to notice the effects and what’s more, it’s odorless so it can also be used indoors. Get your hands on this bag and join the earthworm fan club right now.
#6 The Good Earth Organics, Zen Blend Premium Potting Soil – Best for the Money
While soil is often an ideal home for some nematodes that are considered parasitic, they can cause major harm that cannabis growers are likely to face. Then this organic soil will contain friendly symbiotic nematodes
Whether it’s fungal rodents, termites, beetles or leaf diggers, having these tiny creatures in your soil in large numbers is a great defense. This helps prevent the use of pesticides that may be technically safe.
The main advantage of these tiny creatures is that they are organic and harmless to pets and humans. They can handle spaces up to 6,000 square feet making them well suited for large growing areas.
In addition, this organic soil is easy to apply with just a little water. However, this organic soil is easily damaged by intense UV rays. And importantly, organic soils often come with a high price tag. This product is organic soil comes with the most reasonable price.
#7 Organic Plant Magic Compressed Organic Potting Soil – Best for All Containers
This potting soil can be used if you are growing your cannabis organically and it will not harm the environment or the pets that may be frequented in the growing area. It’s also super effective at targeting insects you don’t want near your crops and is especially great at stopping moths from damaging your crops.
A formula containing every essential nutrient plus trace minerals, this super-concentrated super soil feeds your plants for months and makes them 3x larger.
The non-toxic ingredients of this potting soil can keep moisture 3 times longer. It can easily bring water, air and nutrients to the roots continuously according to the needs of each growth stage. Perfect for all plants, containers and gardens.