Soil vrs. Hydro

[Bizzler]

I heard that you get Better Quality with Soil;but Bigger Quantity with Hydro.
I also Heard you get Better Quality from seed than you do Clones.

Is this true in anyones experience.

 

[Bongman]

Plants grown hydroponically tend to be less leafy with more dense buds, and also grow as fast as they can due to the extra oxygen around the root hairs.

It is much easier to mess up a hydro grow if you are not careful. Having real time control of its nutrient uptake also means that it has nothing if you for some reason fail to maintain your system properly. Soil holds nutrients for quite a while, and all of the cannabis I've grown has been tough as nails in soil.

 

[jsgrwn]

hydro gives you a faster crop though it may not be as potent. but as far as seed vs clone...this depends on the strain, but a clone is a fem for sure and is sexually mature when you plant it unlike a seed. in fact you are better off using cloned because most of them have been carefully selected and you know the plant is a good on. with seeds it can be a crap shoot. late

 

[email468]

I would bet in a double-blind controlled experiment, there would be no statistically significant difference in appearance, taste, or buzz.

Growth rates and yields however ....

 

[tahoe58]

there are a thousand opinions and then a thousand more. you will get many differing views on the output from each approach. The reality from my perspective is the quality of the grow? - whether in terms of the quantity or the "quality smoke" - this is entirely unique to each individual. We each have our own expectations, we each have our own goals/objectives.

That said, my focus is on soil....I like the idea of growing in soil....from the eart5h...and all that crap. and for what its worth - fdd has said that hydro bud is like breat implants - look great....but upon feeling them - you feel shortchanged.

I have heard the same relating to clones vs. seeds....but my experience is insufficient to provide direct personal feedback.

Good luck and walk on man!

 

[Rocky Mountain High]

I agree with tahoe, at the least I would try soil first, you may find yourself in love with the actualy farming, and then you can 'move on up' if you like.

I'm in soil and it has quickly become my second favorite hobby.

 

[tahoe58]

I expect that this would prove totally valid....where all other parameters are kept to their optimum. thanks email!

I would bet in a double-blind controlled experiment, there would be no statistically significant difference in appearance, taste, or buzz.

Growth rates and yields however ....

 

[email468]

here is an excerpt from one of my other posts about this ....

you should try what you think you'll dig the most. If you like getting your hands dirty and being in touch with nature - then soil might be your thing. Besides - you can always say it tastes better (whether this is true or not is debatable).

if you feel like more of a mad scientist that likes beakers and chemistry sets then you might be more drawn to hydro with the system that suspends roots rather than burying them. All nutrients comes from chemicals and you can mix and match them. A little micro - a dash of bloom and a touch of diamond nectar can make you feel like you're cooking up a monster (monster bud anyway). I think this goes for all types of hydroponics.

Maybe the gadget junky or a cutting-edge technology type might be drawn to the aeroponic style of hydroponics. You get the "mad scientist" theme of hydro with the "latest and greatest" glee that comes from using emerging technologies.

Or it might be someone decides to go with what a grower they respect uses successfully.

Influential books (Cannabis Bible, etc..) and websites (rollitup.org - there aren't any other websites, right?) can also sway people in one direction or another.

Could be people use what they can afford.

But as far as results go - I think all things being equal - the equipment you use is much less important than the experience of the operator.

 

[email468]

I expect that this would prove totally valid....where all other parameters are kept to their optimum. thanks email!

thanks tahoe - i often like to quote Benjamin Franklin: "Let the experiment be made".

 

[tahoe58]

hey email..thats a good one...thanks...and you last statement in your post....But as far as results go - I think all things being equal - the equipment you use is much less important than the experience of the operator. the finest equipment and the best of environmental conditions, managed by someone that lacks the knowledge, experience or humbleness to actively listen to their plants and their peers is a path to sub-optimal results.

 

[Dr G.Thumb]

Hydro setups are indeed more work and can require alot more time per day/week.

I prefer Soil as it keeps things a bit more simple... And am currently growing via Soil but I'm considering a Hydro setup for a possible SOG grow down the road but I'm still 50/50 but will probably just stick with soil.

 

[email468]

hey email..thats a good one...thanks...and you last statement in your post....But as far as results go - I think all things being equal - the equipment you use is much less important than the experience of the operator. the finest equipment and the best of environmental conditions, managed by someone that lacks the knowledge, experience or humbleness to actively listen to their plants and their peers is a path to sub-optimal results.

you got that right! i have some great new equipment but it can't compensate for my lack of experience - i'm lucky that weed is - well ... a weed!

 

[tahoe58]

hahahahah....well said....they are amazingly resilient to our own shortcomings!

you got that right! i have some great new equipment but it can't compensate for my lack of experience - i'm lucky that weed is - well ... a weed!

 

[Bizzler]

Thanks for the feed back guys.
I have 5 females in soil from seed right now. And I love it. First grow.
But The I heard the info and wanted to know for my next grow if I should invest in a hydro set up. But I think I like the Soil. It seems easier and less maintenance.

 

[Rocky Mountain High]

good join the 'dirt baggers club'!!

 

[1puff2puff3puff]

I am currently growing both soil and hydro, i have found the soil to be more forgiving and faster to "bounce back" from mistakes. There is also alot less maintainance and problems in finding the right nute solution. I would just go strait soil this next grow but i spent so much on my hydro system it would be a waiste. So i will be doing both this time around too but i have learded alot so this next time around should be alot easier...

Good smoking/luck

 

[Wavels]

IMO, it really boils down to personal preference. I have not grown hydro since the early to mid 1980s. I found that soil (soilless) was easier for larger multi light grows. Soil is less labor intensive and more forgiving.

Another advantage of soil is the superior portability. If trouble is brewing on the horizon, it is far easier to breakdown the grow and move the plants to a more secure location. This should be a consideration if you are growing in a hostile state!
I also tend to think that soil produces tastier and more potent buds.

I have always wanted to try a hydro grow outside under the mega HID in the sky.....one of these days, somehow?

 

[delerious]

Hydro setups are indeed more work and can require alot more time per day/week.

I prefer Soil as it keeps things a bit more simple... And am currently growing via Soil but I'm considering a Hydro setup for a possible SOG grow down the road but I'm still 50/50 but will probably just stick with soil.

Look into hempy buckets. It's a passive hydro setup that's pretty easy as far as hydro goes.

 

[chronicle]

i do soil too, hydro can be difficult to maintain proper pH and nute uptake.

ive seen from experience that seed > clone. they might be equally potent, but clones will eventually lose a small bit of vigor - some strains look different after taking clones off clones off clones off clones.