What makes better cannabis, Living Soil or Coco?

BlueCrabGuy · Feb 20, 2025

Hi Growers,

I've been successfully cultivating cannabis in Earth Boxes using living soil. This method is incredibly easy and eliminates the hassle of watering and providing nutrients. I've had no complaints using this approach.

Recently, I watched a video about growing in AutoPots using coco and salts, which seems akin to a hydroponic style of cultivation. The AutoPots system appears to simplify the process, as there's no need to worry about over or under watering, and the nutrient schedule is straightforward. The setup involves a 10+ gallon reservoir for water and nutrients, making nutrient management easy. One significant advantage of this method is the potential for hydroponic-like yields, which are higher than those from living soil.

My question is, given that AutoPots with coco and salts might produce larger plants, will the strength and terpene profile be compromised due to the faster growth? I've already purchased a setup for 2 AutoPots and plan to try them out. However, I'm curious if I should expect higher yields but potentially lower quality.

Thanks, BC.

OldOneEye · Feb 20, 2025

Which ever fits your lifestyle, needs and abilities
They both have positives and negatives

Bobcat.Branch · Feb 20, 2025

Either... It's really up to the grower and the genetics.

LoveGrowingIt · Feb 20, 2025

I agree with the others who have responded so far. There could be some divergent opinions about organic versus synthetic nutrients. That said, what does "better" mean? Does it mean the same to everyone? I doubt it. I like organics for several reasons, but that's a personal choice. I wouldn't criticize someone else's growing choices if they like their outcomes.

pyrex · Feb 20, 2025

Personally, I prefer soil to coco. I grew for 3 years in soil, slowly learning along the way and getting pretty good results. Then my 4th year I couldn't get the soil I use, and I just got an Octopot, so I decided to try out Cocopeat. Boy did I regret it. Constantly had to adjust my ph down and deficiencies left and right. (I had also switched to a different nutrient line which added to my problems. This year I went back to soil, with a lot more knowledge, and I'm killing it!

Redneckx · Feb 20, 2025

Living Coco

RoyalCannaSeedbank · Feb 20, 2025

pyrex said:
Personally, I prefer soil to coco. I grew for 3 years in soil, slowly learning along the way and getting pretty good results. Then my 4th year I couldn't get the soil I use, and I just got an Octopot, so I decided to try out Cocopeat. Boy did I regret it. Constantly had to adjust my ph down and deficiencies left and right. (I had also switched to a different nutrient line which added to my problems. This year I went back to soil, with a lot more knowledge, and I'm killing it!View attachment 2381291 View attachment 2381292 View attachment 2381289 View attachment 2381290

Awesome plants bro!

Natep · Feb 20, 2025

BlueCrabGuy said:
Hi Growers,

I've been successfully cultivating cannabis in Earth Boxes using living soil. This method is incredibly easy and eliminates the hassle of watering and providing nutrients. I've had no complaints using this approach.

Recently, I watched a video about growing in AutoPots using coco and salts, which seems akin to a hydroponic style of cultivation. The AutoPots system appears to simplify the process, as there's no need to worry about over or under watering, and the nutrient schedule is straightforward. The setup involves a 10+ gallon reservoir for water and nutrients, making nutrient management easy. One significant advantage of this method is the potential for hydroponic-like yields, which are higher than those from living soil.

My question is, given that AutoPots with coco and salts might produce larger plants, will the strength and terpene profile be compromised due to the faster growth? I've already purchased a setup for 2 AutoPots and plan to try them out. However, I'm curious if I should expect higher yields but potentially lower quality.

Thanks, BC.

Living soil is way easier and has better flavor. Coco with synthetic nutrients can be more potent.

OldOneEye · Feb 20, 2025

I've been growing since 1982, started in the woods in SW Mich.
Then moved to Fl and went active hydro for 10 years, then switched to passive coco, at the moment I am making the switch back to active hydro, flood and drain in coco.
I grow outdoor every year, sometimes in coco, sometimes in hydro.
What ever flips your trigger, that's the best way to grow.

Grownsince95 · Feb 20, 2025

Sometimes the style picks you. I was a terrible soil grower until I found hydro. And don't even get me started on the bugs! Lol

Gmix · Feb 20, 2025

The biggest difference is the grower

ChiefGreenleaf · Feb 20, 2025

yep, personal prefrance, im 100% organic. to me, the bud can't be beat, you may not get the bulk that hydro and inorganic gets, but its close enough for me.

BlueCrabGuy · Feb 20, 2025

pyrex said:
Personally, I prefer soil to coco. I grew for 3 years in soil, slowly learning along the way and getting pretty good results. Then my 4th year I couldn't get the soil I use, and I just got an Octopot, so I decided to try out Cocopeat. Boy did I regret it. Constantly had to adjust my ph down and deficiencies left and right. (I had also switched to a different nutrient line which added to my problems. This year I went back to soil, with a lot more knowledge, and I'm killing it!View attachment 2381291 View attachment 2381292 View attachment 2381289 View attachment 2381290

Thanks. Those girls look frosty.

BlueCrabGuy · Feb 24, 2025

Big thanks to everyone that provided responses :)

Ninjadogma · Feb 24, 2025

For me there's just something about sun grown weed in organic soil that gives it a superior taste, but it's never as pretty looking as the stuff grown indoors in coco or hydro.

Freddiebest · Monday at 3:10 PM

I've found that living soil tends to enhance the flavor and aroma profile, while coco can boost yield. It's about balancing what you value more, taste or quantity.

Freddiebest · Monday at 3:50 PM

I found that growing methods can impact the balance between potency and flavor. While exploring new techniques, I've been considering micro dosing cannabis to manage some personal health issues. It really helped me adjust to different strain effects while keeping side effects in check. Maybe experimenting with different growing setups could complement this therapeutic approach by possibly enhancing certain characteristics in your plants.

Phil.D. · 2026-06-30T12:35:48-0400

I grow using Promix HP amended with Build a soil nutrients as well as worm castings and top quality compost. Not sure if this is considered soil or hydro. I strictly use Earth Boxes and other SIPS built into 5 gal buckets. I get excellent results with good to great yields. Taking the watering function away from the grower is the big take away.

TannedViking · 2026-06-30T15:01:36-0400

Been doing both and ye honestly they have their own place. I'm using autopot with coco/perlite indoors for convenience, good results with little effort. Soils and such for outdoors.

Dankster47 · 2026-06-30T21:35:35-0400

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BlueCrabGuy said:
Hi Growers,

I've been successfully cultivating cannabis in Earth Boxes using living soil. This method is incredibly easy and eliminates the hassle of watering and providing nutrients. I've had no complaints using this approach.

Recently, I watched a video about growing in AutoPots using coco and salts, which seems akin to a hydroponic style of cultivation. The AutoPots system appears to simplify the process, as there's no need to worry about over or under watering, and the nutrient schedule is straightforward. The setup involves a 10+ gallon reservoir for water and nutrients, making nutrient management easy. One significant advantage of this method is the potential for hydroponic-like yields, which are higher than those from living soil.

My question is, given that AutoPots with coco and salts might produce larger plants, will the strength and terpene profile be compromised due to the faster growth? I've already purchased a setup for 2 AutoPots and plan to try them out. However, I'm curious if I should expect higher yields but potentially lower quality.

Thanks, BC.

I think you are wrong it's just my opinion but I've grown in rockwool using organic teas and have gotten just a big yields I just top feed it was incredible.I just don't like having the leftover rockwool it's not something that breaks down over time witch bothers me.i used sea kelp solution earthworm castings tea and bat guano tea all mixed everything available to your plants I used Bio blast for silica and liquid calming you can even add mycorreza to it .it's also easier to flush at the end .i just couldn't put it in my worm bin at the end to recycle.It doesn't go away after using. Just my two cents I did use hydrogen peroxide sometimes to get more oxygen to the roots but re activated the biology wt tea and mycorreza.

What makes better cannabis, Living Soil or Coco?

What makes better cannabis, Living Soil or Coco?

BlueCrabGuy

OldOneEye

Bobcat.Branch

LoveGrowingIt

pyrex

Redneckx

RoyalCannaSeedbank

Natep

OldOneEye

Grownsince95

🤘😆👍

Gmix

ChiefGreenleaf

BlueCrabGuy

BlueCrabGuy

Ninjadogma

Freddiebest

Freddiebest

Phil.D.

TannedViking

Dankster47

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