Can soil compete with hydro yields? Please read

[Nirod]

I've grown in soil, DWC, flood and drain, and coco coir.

The flood table has less yield than a DWC (just in my experience) but makes up for that by having a quick turn over by doing a SOG with a short veg

SOG for a DWC isn't practical because cleaning all those buckets in between nutrients changes would be a pain, not to mention all the oxygen stones I would be eating up. Having 4 plants in 5 gallon buckets in a 4x4 tent is manageable but I need to scrog and it's hard scrogI g a DWC because I can't clean the buckets easily because the plant is anchored to the scrog and I can't lift up the net cups very high.

I like coco the best because the yields are great, and no root rot like in DWC and I can scrog easily.

But what I miss about soil is only having to water every 3 days at most.

I'm pondering whether a dense SOG (4 plants per sqft), grown in soil, and flipped to flower after the clones root could compete with hydro yields. Basically, I would be making up for the low soil yields by cramming in a bunch of fast flowering indicas. What are your thoughts?

 

[Rrog]

I'll stay quiet, but am curious of the answers you get.

 

[Nirod]

I know some may advise that a flood SOG with equal plants would out perform a soil SOG of equal plants. But the most I've been able to do in a hydro flood is 2 per sqft. Any more than that and they crowd so quickly. Even if I flip to flower right after root. So the real comparison would be a soil SOG with 4 plants per square foot vs a flood table with 2 plants per sqft.

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

im attempting a sog under a 600 watt hps from rooted clones in 1 gallon smart pots with some soil i have had cooking for a few months ... we will see how it turns out .. just starting and trying to get my sht dialed in... only my second grow in my new place.. still getting used to things interested to see some experienced responses on this thread.

 

[Rrog]

Keep us posted, MeanG

 

[redi jedi]

Hydro will outperform soil any day of the week.

 

[giglewigle]

Hydro will outperform soil any day of the week.

what about flavour ?

 

[Rrog]

I would not eat hydro veggies. I would not eat Hydro Chickens. I don't eat farm-raised fish. I'm disappointed when I smoke hydro weed.

 

[giglewigle]

I would not eat hydro veggies. I would not eat Hydro Chickens. I don't eat farm-raised fish. I'm disappointed when I smoke hydro weed.

Imo im a complete newb iv only ever smoked shitty weed i know its hydro tho n theres no smell or flavour but im pretty sure who ever grew it doesn't no shit nobody seems 2 in my neck of the woods

 

[Rrog]

Agreed. I then start thinking about pesticides, etc needed to keep an un-natural environment free from pests and disease. If all you care about is yields, there's no room to care for anything else.

Greed sucks

 

[redi jedi]

what about flavour ?

If you like the taste of dirt...grow in soil. Having done both I can say they do taste different and I prefer hydro.

 

[redi jedi]

Its alot easier to keep an indoor environment clean and free of bugs when its not full of dirt.

 

[The_Enthusiast]

Agreed. I then start thinking about pesticides, etc needed to keep an un-natural environment free from pests and disease. If all you care about is yields, there's no room to care for anything else.

Greed sucks

There is less pesticides / fungicides in hydro than in soil if you are running indoor. As for taste - if you give them 13+ elements in good ratio the taste will be same/better.
Hydro is not a amateur thing- its hard to do it RIGHT

Problem with hydro is people don't understand nutrients and genetics (i am talking about vegetables now). All greenhouse grade vegetables are breed for shelf life and esthetics - not flavor.

 

[CaliSmokes]

If you like the taste of dirt...grow in soil. Having done both I can say they do taste different and I prefer hydro.

What lmao?!?!

 

[Tim Fox]

What about SIP growing,, Soil/hydro hybrid,,, no ph'ing of water, no ppm, no mixing of nutes,, fill the Res 1 time per week,, water roots give hydro results,, Soil up top gives ph stability and an Organic feed of nutes

 

[meangreengrowinmachine]

What about SIP growing,, Soil/hydro hybrid,,, no ph'ing of water, no ppm, no mixing of nutes,, fill the Res 1 time per week,, water roots give hydro results,, Soil up top gives ph stability and an Organic feed of nutes

I have been thinking about trying this out next round with a scrog and a few 27 gallon SIPs , I have been looking into them and heard a few folks mention them but havent seen a journal or anything in depth.. if anyone can point me in the right direction that would be awesome!

 

[Rrog]

These soil comments are not simply wrong, they're ignorant. Taste of dirt? Everyone knows that complete bullshit - jesus man.

Less pesticides and fungicides? Maybe if you're not growing in real soil. Otherwise you have billions upon billions of helpers

 

[Rrog]

What about SIP growing,, Soil/hydro hybrid,,, no ph'ing of water, no ppm, no mixing of nutes,, fill the Res 1 time per week,, water roots give hydro results,, Soil up top gives ph stability and an Organic feed of nutes

Look at Blumats or similar for auto-drip

 

[The_Enthusiast]

What about SIP growing,, Soil/hydro hybrid,,, no ph'ing of water, no ppm, no mixing of nutes,, fill the Res 1 time per week,, water roots give hydro results,, Soil up top gives ph stability and an Organic feed of nutes

What is soil/hydro hybrid? The definition of hydroponics is a subset of hydroculture, the method of growing plants without soil, using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent.
So what you are talking about is just SOIL + irigation with nutrient solution...

 

[redi jedi]

What lmao?!?!

You must like the earthy flavor...