Hydro or Soil guys and gals?

[Whattheheck]

After 8 years, I'm finally almost to the point of bring able to get this show on the road. I'm trying to get back up on my game, but before I do I have to ask, all things considered, which do you all prefer, hydro or soil?

My original intention was to go with organic, top quality soil. I'm not concerned about working in the dirt (I love gardening) or the yield (I'll have MORE than enough) I just want the medium that will produce the best buds.

I'll get up on my research, but what do you all say?

Thanks.

[Cyclonite]

I was a hydro head for a while then decided soil is so much lower maint and easier to deal with so thats my new thang...if you have the drive and dedication hydro does produce the best results

[VapedG13]

more can go wrong with hydro....dirt is easy....IMO:D Dirt can/does produce nice plants

Might I suggest Sunshine professional Organic growing Mix...I get mine from a Feedstore(horses livestock) $30 for a 3.8 cu ft. block

Sun Gro Horticulture | Products | | Sunshine® Natural & Organic Mix #4 (http://www.sungro.com/products_displayProProduct.php?brand_id=3&product_id=139)

The #4 mix has more perlite for better drainage... if you live in a dryer climate use the #2 mix...it has abit more peatmoss for better water retention

[the image reaper]

start in soil, definitely ... hydro's advantage is speed of growing, and more control over the plant's nutrients ... but, it's time-consuming, and a small miscalculation can do serious damage ... use a decent potting soil, (peatmoss is bad, acidic, but most soils have some in it, anyway), Perlite for drainage and aeration, and go easy on the fertilizer ... the plant will do well, with the soil's ingredients ... no ferts for first two weeks, then use 1/2 strength nutes, once per week ... lay off additives, etc., until you see a 'need' there ... good growing :thumbsup:

[the image reaper]

Vaped G13, that's a beautiful plant ya got there, super work :thumbsup:

[cannakeeper]

I've grown for alot of years and as a punk kid my first few were soil. A few years later a racing buddy let it slip he was growing hydro with drip/rockwool slabs and let me check it out. First time I had seen 6.5 ft trees! Needless to say, I started a grow immediately using same set-up and was hooked!!! I used this style up till a few months ago when I made a bunch of mistakes trying hydroton in the same set-up. Imo hydro is waaaaay easier but you do have to pay close attention and dont fuck up. Cool thing is you don't have to worry as much as most people think with the fine expierienced cats around here willing to give EXACT processes and formula's, who could fuck that up? This last grow the info provided here alone gained me the confidence to try DWC....The old addage about trying new things..well...FUCK N A RIGHT!!!! I think it is easier and lower maint. than the slab shit. I am currently following a tiny tweaked version of Latewoods formula and these bitches are the healthiest plants I have grown in almost 20yrs!! and they are each only in 2 gal of solution. I AM GOING NUTZ waiting for them to finish to see what it brings.(2wks in bloom) Give it a shot and if you spend some quality time with the ladies I am pretty certain you wont be sorry.

[Whattheheck]

Thanks for the heads up guys, soil it is. I was leaning that way already as I have all the equipment for it (I can't wait to use it, I only dropped 3K for it back in the day) and it just seems more natural.

G13, that is an amazing plant, may I ask the specifics of it, what strain and such. And this maybe the dumbest question eve, but is that one plant? Goodness!! :thumbsup:

[VapedG13]

Vaped G13, that's a beautiful plant ya got there, super work :thumbsup:




G13, that is an amazing plant, may I ask the specifics of it, what strain and such. And this maybe the dumbest question eve, but is that one plant? Goodness!! :thumbsup:


Thanks for the compliments people.....I have been growing this indica strain for 15 years...I got a clone from a friend told me it was the G13 strain:wtf:...its definatley skunk indica.

Yes that is only 1 plant... the plant is only 26 inches tall and gave me 7 0zs... I usually grow 2 months in veg and then 10 weeks in bud..I avarage 6-8 oz per plant the most I have ever produced off 1 plant was 12 ozs (3/4 a lb)

[LOC NAR on probation]

Hold on, wait a minute, let me put some pimpin in it.

HYDRO. HYDRO. HYDRO.

No really start with soil if you haven't grown. I did and I sucked at it. I then went drip hydro and I'm hooked. One of my bro's will only go soil and when his are almost ready to flower I stand there burning a big fat one and we start the same time.

I think it is more envolved but much faster and for me much more potent. Things can go wrong faster but can be corrected faster too.

With the help I got here I had success I never thought I could do.

[Big len]

Why not try both if you can, rubbermaid in dirt very easy great results you have to ty the plants to keep at a set hieght but that is part of the fun.

[Chineseyes]

I grew for many years in soil. I'm currently on my 2nd hydroponic grow using drip irrigation and have to say my harvest is at least double what I was getting in soil and I can't tell the difference in quality.

I find it easier to make adjustments because the changes happen immediately, no waiting days for results like in soil and days again making corrections.

I started an EXCEL spreadsheet to track my grows and am having fun again since I switched to hydro. I look forward to taking readings, making adjustments and checking averages etc in the garden now. I was extremely frustrated with my last few soil grows and had several less than spectacular harvests until I switched methods.

So for me WTH, its hydro without question.

[UgrowGirl]

Hey everyone.

I started hydro, and soil at the same time to see which I would like best.

Soil is easy, not a lot of tending. Hard to get a handle on things when problems arise, and they usually do!

Hydo is one heck of a ball of wax. My advice is to get a TriMeter it makes life so much easier. Sure its a few bucks, but when you consider the amount of time etc invested in a grow only for nute mishap... be safe.

The post from members on the board have been very helpful... btw thanks "Weedhound" things started to become clear reading your posts.

Anyway with hydro you really learn the mechanics of growing... if that makes sence... i'm a little medicated right now :hippy:

My votes for Hydro

[LOC NAR on probation]

Hey everyone.

I started hydro, and soil at the same time to see which I would like best.

Soil is easy, not a lot of tending. Hard to get a handle on things when problems arise, and they usually do!

Hydo is one heck of a ball of wax. My advice is to get a TriMeter it makes life so much easier. Sure its a few bucks, but when you consider the amount of time etc invested in a grow only for nute mishap... be safe.

The post from members on the board have been very helpful... btw thanks "Weedhound" things started to become clear reading your posts.

Anyway with hydro you really learn the mechanics of growing... if that makes sence... i'm a little medicated right now :hippy:

My votes for Hydro

What she said to the max. Peace SISTER.

[the image reaper]

for me, hydroponics was amazingly easy :wtf: ... but, I am a relentless reader and researcher, plus, I have lots of time to monitor the plants ... I had great advice from xcrispi, too :thumbsup: ... but, I recommend beginning growers to definitely go with soil grows ... hydro can fix deficiencies fast, but it also creates problems fast, if you're 'off' too much ... :smokin: