The Basics 

You may be sitting at home right now thinking about starting your own Indoor cannabis grow and you begin reflecting on those formative years when you learned about what it takes for a plant to grow. On that list includes one of the most important and often overlooked ingredients necessary for Indoor growing success, the SOIL.    

Now I am not talking about your run of the mill dirt. I am talking about nutrient rich breathable organic living soil. You may be thinking to yourself, “What is the difference? Aren’t dirt and soil the same thing?”. 

Well, I am here to teach you that they are not one in the same and that understanding the difference between the two will exponentially increase your Indoor Cannabis growing success. 

A Little Story about Soil

The first lesson one must learn in order to be a successful Indoor cannabis grower is the difference between soil and dirt. Dirt is the ‘non-living’ cousin of soil. It has been neglected and battered to the point that it can no longer harbor the SECRET ingredients that differentiates the two medias. You now may be wondering “What are those vital ingredients Redfern is talking about?”. 

Those Secret Ingredients:

– Life (The ‘Living’ aspect of the soil that mutually works with your Cannabis plant)

– Nutrients (The ‘Food’ aspect of the soil that feeds your Cannabis plant)

– pH (The ‘Chemistry’ aspect of the soil that allows your Cannabis plant to uptake its food)

– Composition (The ‘Media’ aspect of the soil that gives your Cannabis plant a place to root)

Those 4 Factors are essential and make up the key differences between Dirt and Soil. By having a balanced combination of those 4 key factors, you can attain a great soil which will translate into a large healthy Indoor Cannabis growing experience. 

Your Soil Essentials  

You have now taken the next step and have arrived at your local garden center or eCommerce retailer looking for that perfect bag of soil/mix. You are quickly faced with one major problem, there are too many options. 

We can Help with that Problem!

As you have learned, it is crucial that you make the proper soil selection so that your Indoor cannabis plant grows to its optimal potential. This task may look daunting after reading about the 4 key Factors listed above but it is a VERY simple endeavor.

Let me walk you through what you need to look for when shopping for soil at your local garden center or online retailer. 

First, look for a great brand of potting soil/mix that is comprised of these 4 Ingredients:

– Peat Moss/Coco Coir (A ‘Composition Factor’ of the soil)

– Pumice (Perlite or Vermiculite AKA “The Breathable Factor” of your soil)

– Compost (The organic materials that provide the ‘Nutrients Factor’ of your soil)

– Topsoil (A ‘Composition Factor’ containing a combination of Humus, Clay, Sand, and Silts) 

Secondly, look for a pH rating or note on the bag that indicates a ‘Balanced pH’. Cannabis cultivation required a pH close to 7 which is considered Neutral. 

It is Important that the potting soil/mix you purchase is near this pH number. If it is under or over this number, your Indoor Cannabis plant may not be able to grow to its optimal potential.  

Thirdly, make sure the soil/contents within the soil you are purchasing has a balanced N-P-K Ratio. This is the foundational ‘Nutrient Factor’ of your Indoor Cannabis grow success. 

An example would look like this 5:5:5 or 10:10:10 on the bag. This ratio highlights the Nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P), and Potassium (K) within the product. 

*If there is no indication of the NPK Ratio on the bag, ask your local garden center customer service representative and they should be able to enlighten you with an answer. 

*Alternatively, if the potting soil/mix contains Compost (Manure, Bat Guano, Worm Casting, etc.) you should be fine nutrient-wise to start.

Lastly, make sure the soil/mix you are purchasing is not bone dry. This may indicate it has been on the shelf for some time and may be initially hydrophobic (water-resistant) which is not something you want. Look for soil/mix bags that have some weight and feel moist. 

What’s Next?

You have checked the Indoor Soil Box off your list and now you need to focus on what is next. Are you looking for more Beginner basics or are you experiencing problems as your grow? Our Grow 101 education platform we have created is here to help you be a better Cannabis Grower! An array of Cannabis Growing information ranging from Beginner to Expert is at your fingertips and the best thing is that it is all FREE!