Someone once told me that a plant that is grown in a pot is a living being that totally depends on the care that we give it, and it is something that I totally agree with, because if we want it to be healthy and green, we will have to try to water it when it touches and, what is more important if possible: plant it in a suitable substrate. And it seems that not, but depending on the quality of the soil in which the roots grow, we will get more or less healthy crops.
This is especially relevant when you want to plant cannabis, because, although it is not as demanding a plant as others, if we are interested in it flourishing in order to have good harvests, we will have to ensure that the land is of quality. But of course, How do you choose the substrate for growing marijuana?
What are the characteristics that the marijuana growing substrate should have?
Cropland is a mixture of substrates that, depending on what they are, have some characteristics or others. For example, there are some that have coconut fiber, which is very acidic, spongy and therefore retains a lot of moisture, but also allows the roots to grow without problems, since the air circulates well between the granites; later there are others that have black peat, topsoil or other similar substrates, which are heavier and more compact, but have an advantage over others, which is that the production cost is lowerso the selling price can be low.
Now, it is important to be very careful with these cheap substrates because, from my own experience, they can contain unground organic matter (branches, leaves) that really do not pose a problem, and/or eggs, fungal spores, and other pests that can seriously damage marijuana plants. In addition, all of these have a common feature and that is that they are quite heavy. This already tells us that it is a very compact soil, which can even have a hard time absorbing moisture and also losing it. Therefore, when we buy one like this, we are going to have to control the risks very, very well so as not to lose the plant.
In fact, it is best to opt for a substrate of the best quality, so be it:
- fluffy and light
- with good drainage
- The pH must be neutral or slightly acidic (between 6 and 6.5)
Or put another way, the best substrates for marijuana They contain: blond peat (and/or black, but it is in small quantity), coconut fiber, perlite, vermiculite, or clay.
Substrates used to grow marijuana
Let us know more about each of them.
Arlita
Image – Wikimedia Commons/Lucis
Arlita is a type of substrate that is widely used in hydroponic crops, and not so much in traditional agriculture unless it is mixed with others. It is marble-shaped, about a centimeter in diameter, and brownish in color. It takes a long time to get rid of, and also, it hardly retains water, so it will be very difficult for our plant to have problems due to excess watering.. Its pH is between 5.5 and 5.8.
Coir
Coconut fiber is obtained from the fruits of the palm tree. Cocoa nuts (known by the name coconut tree). It has a pH between 6.0 and 6.8, and it is also an excellent alternative to peat, since it a small amount is enough to fill several pots. Likewise, it absorbs moisture quickly and retains it for a long time, so that it also allows us to save water.
Perlite
Image – minetech.es
Perlite is a mineral that fulfills the same function as clay, that is, as it does not absorb water, it is used to improve the drainage of the land. It has a pH of 7.0, so if we want to use it alone we would have to lower it a bit, either by watering 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 have been decomposing 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 similar.
- Blond peat: It is light brown in color, and is much lighter than black peat. It comes from the decomposition of vegetables, such as moss. The pH is low, between 3.0 and 3.92, so we can’t 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 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Vermiculite is a mineral that retains a lot of moisture. Also, contains some essential nutrients for marijuana, 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 acidic substrate, such as coconut fiber or blond peat.
Choosing the substrate for marijuana well, you will surely get a good harvest.
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