Article: Soil vs. Hydroponics

**Spittn4cash** · 02-12-2007, 06:04 PM

There has been a debate as to which growth medium is most beneficial for home- or commercially-grown plants. On one end there is soil, the traditional growth medium that has been used for thousands of years to grow plants, and on the other is hydroponics, a more recent practice of growing plants with water and nutrients but no soil. So the question remains, which process is more suitable for growing things?

One of the most important advantages of hydroponics over soil growth is the absence of weeds and pests in hydroponic growth environments. Soil can play host to a variety of insect pests and plant parasites as well as competing weeds that can take away valuable nutrients or sunlight from your plants. Of course, if you are growing a small number of plants indoors in small pots, then chances are that you won't run into too many problems with weeds or pests that you can't handle as needed. However, if you're planning on growing many plants that require a good deal of nutrients and live in a pest-susceptible environment, then hydroponics may be the way to go in order to avoid spending money on pesticides and herbicides.

Hydroponics also benefit the overall growth of the plant in terms of size. Root systems spread throughout soil in order to increase surface area and the chance that the plant will absorb minerals and water that percolate through the soil. However, with hydroponic plants, the nutrients are present all throughout the liquid mixture, so the root system does not have to be as extensive as with soil-based plants. This means that the plant can devote more nutrients and energy to growth above the root system, which is the kind of growth that people generally want. Furthermore, plants that are grown hydroponically do not need to be repotted in order to accommodate growing roots that might become too large for the initial pot to contain comfortably. The hydroponic plants are constantly supplied with a ready stock of water and generally reach maturity faster than soil-grown plants.

It might seem as if hydroponics require more water than soil-based plants. The contrary is actually true in this case, as hydroponic systems generally use up to one-tenth less water than irrigated soil crops.

Is there any way that soil is better than hydroponics? The answer is yes. Since hydroponics depends on adding balanced nutrient solutions at particular times during growth, it is quite possible to make mistakes when giving nutrients to the water-grown plants. With soil-grown plants, excessive nutrients can be more readily absorbed and carried away by the soil. Although hydroponics is not a particularly difficult system for growing plants, it is one that requires a good deal of attention, research, and care.

In conclusion, hydroponics carries several advantages over soil-growing and could benefit the grower in a number of ways. However, soil-growing has been tried and true for centuries and is certainly not inferior to hydroponics so long as the grower is diligent and careful.

Source: Hydroponics Vs. Soil Growing - Associated Content

**Spittn4cash** · 02-12-2007, 06:08 PM

My question is which do U choose? which has given better yeild? most potent bud? which is easier? what would U reccomend to a complete n00b to start off with.

only concern I have with dro is that the bubblers seem like they are too loud, so Ive stuck with soil growing just for its stealthness..plus being an electrian, electrical safety is my #1 concern, and with all that heat, humidity, water and electricity something is bound to go wrong..any ppl think otherwise?

like the article says Id rather stick to the "tried and true method" unless there are significant yeild and potency advantages to switching over to a hydro system of growing..

**dankciti** · 02-12-2007, 06:13 PM

tempermental versus lethargic>???

um soilponics, bubblle jugs half filled with soil and clay balls. net baskets and hydro nuted watering intervals.

thereare alot of crossovers blending characteristics of the both of them.

hydroPRO = commercial
homeGROW = soil for ease and stability.

**fdd2blk** · 02-12-2007, 06:15 PM

i use dirt. so that is the way.

**dankciti** · 02-12-2007, 06:45 PM

Originally Posted by fdd2blk

i use dirt. so that is the way.

so that is the way huh. well i havemt had much argument with you so far, yet again golden,

god made dirt and dirt cant hurt

(unless ure skydiving w/o parachute)

soil-less soil/ponics is the shit!!.....

super airy custom soil blends make for the optimum grow medium w/o slowing growth rates.

still there is hearty full heavy budz and rapid growth.

statistic govern to do whatyou do best.

grow that shit, smoke that shit, pass dat shit.

**TillthedayiDIE420** · 02-12-2007, 06:58 PM

Soil is Natural... Weed is natural... marijuana grown in Soil, with the help of Nutrients... Is the best way to grow premium marijuana, but you can turn your plant to rubbish by not using the proper care... if u use eny medium

**fdd2blk** · 02-12-2007, 07:03 PM

it's a matter of opinion. wonder if i can figure out a way to grow in jello. pre loaded with all necessary nutes of course. i gotta go work on sumtin.....................

**Spittn4cash** · 02-14-2007, 01:23 PM

thanks for the responses!
I know soil is tried and true like u guys say, but doesnt growing hydroponically "speed up" the whole growth process?..and you can definately tell the difference in some "dro" and something that was soil grown...just like how theres a huge difference in something grown outdoors and some "indo"... does growing hydroponically make the weed more potent?

**SiLENT** · 02-14-2007, 01:49 PM

I Would say the easiest way for a noob to begin is with Soil.

A Hydroponics setup takes up more room, Less stealthy, along with the noise, and the risks being involved, plus the care and monitoring of the sytem, and costs... I say wouldn't be a good start for a noob who doesn't know what he's doing.

I Started off outdoors, which can be effected by random events, and carries risks as well with detection by others. (Unless you have a GOOD hiding spot) *Not for beginners, unless you have somewhere discreet... and are just expirementing with growing outdoors at first*

I Moved indoors over winter, and started my own little grow space, inside a Dresser like, Storage cabinet thingy... lol.. Bout 6 ft long, 2.5 ft high, Growing with Soil, Using Air Filter, to remove the bad things in the air, and blow healthy air towards to the plants

Using Floros mounted inside, reflected by aluminum foil, and insulated by some type of Plastic thread paper (VERY STRONG SHIT, VERY GOOD INSULATION)
With it being in the basement, and it being so cold outside, and inside, the heat from inside the container will hardly make any difference to the temperature around it, and on the outside... Heat is not really given off... Which is awesome, because i'm stealth growing, and trying to avoid thermal... Which isnt of any concern at this moment

The only problem with soil is it takes longer for a grow to begin growing...
But For the nooby, and the person who wants to stealth grow... Soil is the way to go...

Hydro for intermediate to pro growers.

After my first few soil grows, i'm gonna move onto hydro grow

**videoman40** · 02-14-2007, 02:16 PM

Weed grown in soil tastes better, weed grown in soil can be grown organically, hydro cant, hyro pollutes the environment. Organic is good for me and the earth.
Lets see how well your hydro weed fairs after a power outtage!
Peace