Dirt is waaaaay messy and u can feed once a week. Hydro u can feed round 6 times a day or any ebb and flow as a matter of fact. Areo is BY FAR the most cleanest hands free system I have ever delt with and I feed my girls 24/7 and it shows.... I have marks on my wall with growth patters up to 3inches a day. There is no veg time and evey plant dedicates all of its energy to one massive cola. On an average 4 to 6 onces apiece dired........66 days = donedahda!!!!