IS RDWC really better than soil? If so how?

I got into DWC while back and kinda dont remember anymore why i chose this over soil.
I am looking for concrete reasons to why someone would go with RDWC vs soil.
I know veg times are shorter but i got a bunch of friends who dont even veg, meaning they buy junior clones and flip to flower a few days later.
So my question stands, Is RDWC better than soil? or its preferred for some reason.

My experience growing in dirt vs DWC is that hydro has the potential for much more vigorous growth.
Not going to get into the debate of if either tastes/smokes better.
I've just had quicker/bigger plants using RDWC.

GBAUTO said:

My experience growing in dirt vs DWC is that hydro has the potential for much more vigorous growth.
Not going to get into the debate of if either tastes/smokes better.
I've just had quicker/bigger plants using RDWC.

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so what your saying is that you get more yield per light with rdwc vs soil? ya i specifically talking about yield not taste

Darknes01 said:

so what your saying is that you get more yield per light with rdwc vs soil? ya i specifically talking about yield not taste

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Yes hydro has more yield potential. I grow in dirt because I smoke my weed.

JoeBlow5823 said:

Yes hydro has more yield potential. I grow in dirt because I smoke my weed.

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so in hydro it doesnt taste or smoke good vs soil?
i dont see how thats really possible if u compare same feed in soil&hydro.

Darknes01 said:

so in hydro it doesnt taste or smoke good vs soil?
i dont see how thats really possible if u compare same feed in soil&hydro.

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You really cant feed the same in soil&hydro. Soil is already pre packed with sooo many nutrients...

Ive never had hydro that I really liked. Maybe it was all just bad growers but I tend to like most any weed grown in dirt even if the grower doesnt do a great job. Dirt adds a major buffer between human and plant. Good dirt has most everything a plant needs and you only really need to add a little bit of dry amendment during flower. Trying to dial in hydro feeding is very complicated as each strain has slightly different needs. I also feel like the way plants grow in hydro is almost cartoon like.... Like incredible hulk growth hormone. I like to keep it simple.

This is my dirt


This is my fertilizer (i top dress at the start and middle of flower). It cost 14 dollars. I used half the bag.

And these are my results...

what i really want to understand is this. Why does hydro even exist? there must be a reason ( hopefully) that makes hydro better than soil in enough ways to warrant all the hassle of hydro. Don't get me wrong i do nothing but hydro but I have friends pulling 2.5. to 2.8lb per light with soil so i wanted to know why even bother going with hydro if people are pulling yields like i mentioned with soil.

Darknes01 said:

what i really want to understand is this. Why does hydro even exist? there must be a reason ( hopefully) that makes hydro better than soil in enough ways to warrant all the hassle of hydro. Don't get me wrong i do nothing but hydro but I have friends pulling 2.5. to 2.8lb per light with soil so i wanted to know why even bother going with hydro if people are pulling yields like i mentioned with soil.

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Start to finish is typically faster with hydro. Those same friends could be pulling 25% more in hydro which if quantity is all you care about, that is a lot more. Personally I stick to a keep it simple stupid strategy and as a half way intelligent human, have excellent results. Hydro also allows for automated watering so you can have bigger seas of green, more plants in the space you have. Lots of reason. But a lot of why some people, you being one of them i suspect, is the hype around hydro. People think because its more "scientific" its better. Or because pop culture says that dro is where its at. Lots of reasons but when it comes down to it, I will always advocate good dirt for the average home grower.

Speed bro. All about speed. Hydro systems veg faster. But they also require more maintenance. My 25 gallon No tills can be left for 2-3 weeks. But hydro/aero systetems need daily measurements taken. Costs is the same. Pots and dirt vs tubs and pumps. My issue with rdwc is if one plant gets sick it will effect everything on that line. With quality dirt i may see some N deficiency if i let the plant veg too long.

m4s73r said:

Speed bro. All about speed. Hydro systems veg faster. But they also require more maintenance. My 25 gallon No tills can be left for 2-3 weeks. But hydro/aero systetems need daily measurements taken. Costs is the same. Pots and dirt vs tubs and pumps. My issue with rdwc is if one plant gets sick it will effect everything on that line. With quality dirt i may see some N deficiency if i let the plant veg too long.

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See.... Worst case scenario he gets some N deficiency in dirt. A very common scenario in hydro is a bunch of diseased plants. Dont forget the cost of all the bottles of snake oil and pixy dust you need for hydro.

i do rdwc because its interesting and keeps me engaged.
Dirt and pots are boring and id probably lose interest in a grow or two.
Ive smoked pounds of my own poorly dried/cured hydro grown bud and its been just as good as an dispensary stuff ive got local.

fragileassassin said:

i do rdwc because its interesting and keeps me engaged.
Dirt and pots are boring and id probably lose interest in a grow or two.
Ive smoked pounds of my own poorly dried/cured hydro grown bud and its been just as good as an dispensary stuff ive got local.

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I havent been to many dispensaries but the ones i have, i walked out laughing my ass off at the schwag they are peddling for 60+ an eighth. You can keep yourself engaged with different strains, training techniques, etc..... But i do understand the interest of hydro.

JoeBlow5823 said:

I havent been to many dispensaries but the ones i have, i walked out laughing my ass off at the schwag they are peddling for 60+ an eighth. You can keep yourself engaged with different strains, training techniques, etc..... But i do understand the interest of hydro.

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i get pretty good quality for around 100 an oz out the door on the medical side. took a while to find a reliable place but its good always huge variety and well cured. They just dont let it go quite long enough for my liking.

fragileassassin said:

i get pretty good quality for around 100 an oz out the door on the medical side. took a while to find a reliable place but its good always huge variety and well cured. They just dont let it go quite long enough for my liking.

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Nowhere anywhere near me sells anywhere near that cheap. Not even close. I dont think ive ever seen under 250

Darknes01 said:

what i really want to understand is this. Why does hydro even exist? there must be a reason ( hopefully) that makes hydro better than soil in enough ways to warrant all the hassle of hydro. Don't get me wrong i do nothing but hydro but I have friends pulling 2.5. to 2.8lb per light with soil so i wanted to know why even bother going with hydro if people are pulling yields like i mentioned with soil.

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They grow twice as fast in hydro, under the right conditions. Organically grown soil plants usually taste better in my experience, so far....I'm actually doing a side by side experiment right now...super soil vs. General hydroponics

manfredo said:

They grow twice as fast in hydro, under the right conditions. Organically grown soil plants usually taste better in my experience, so far....I'm actually doing a side by side experiment right now...super soil vs. General hydroponics

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Will be interested to hear your opinion on that. Growing clones I hope? (true scientific method)

For me its not just taste.... The smoke is just different. Smoother, fuller, more enjoyable. And the high is more well rounded as well. Most hydro I have had just gives me headaches and a sore throat.

The reason people can claim soils are better tasting is that hydro has nothing on soils when it comes to VOC's. The whole bennie and enzyme thing is on the right track but I hear it stinks...like literally lol.

If you take a step back on the original question...why grow hydroponically in the first place for any plant? In the wider horticulture community it is clear. Better yields, better quality on average. Yields are pretty simple and not subjective but it's more contentious with quality as so much of that comes down to personal taste, specifically in regards to taste of the produce. Quality can include things like damage from pests.

In a way you can argue that a bigger yield means better quality by default as the plant has to reach a decent level of health to produce that in the first place.

Nugg_Monkey said:

The reason people can claim soils are better tasting is that hydro has nothing on soils when it comes to VOC's. The whole bennie and enzyme thing is on the right track but I hear it stinks...like literally lol.

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Oh yes organic dirt and top dress have a pretty potent smell. The fact that plants grow well in rotting organic mater is nothing new.

Nugg_Monkey said:

In a way you can argue that a bigger yield means better quality by default as the plant has to reach a decent level of health to produce that in the first place.

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Small plants can produce the highest of quality. I do see what your saying but with hydro its all about growing as big as possible as fast as possible. I believe growing at the speed it should and everything having adequate time to develop is critical. I guess the best comparison i can think of right now is pine vs oak trees. Pine grows much faster but oak grows a much sturdier "better" tree. Pine is grown for logging because for the most part people are satisfied with shitty wood products. Personally i prefer oak.

JoeBlow5823 said:

Oh yes organic dirt and top dress have a pretty potent smell. The fact that plants grow well in rotting organic mater is nothing new.


Small plants can produce the highest of quality. I do see what your saying but with hydro its all about growing as big as possible as fast as possible. I believe growing at the speed it should and everything having adequate time to develop is critical. I guess the best comparison i can think of right now is pine vs oak trees. Pine grows much faster but oak grows a much sturdier "better" tree. Pine is grown for logging because for the most part people are satisfied with shitty wood products. Personally i prefer oak.

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That's a good analogy.

Still...I think blind bud testing and lots of it will settle the question once and for all cause I don't see a lot of that and I think a Youtuber could easily make a killing off it...someone less lazy than me do it.