Living soil + Airpot, good idea? Plus asking for tips for my second ever grow.

Quick and simple things you should know In mineral grows, the nutrients are provided and dissolved in water, and are directly absorbed by the plant. In organic grow, you add the microbes in the soil, which then extract the nutrients from the earth and make them available for the plant... So, you shouldn't use mineral fertilizers on organic nutrient soil, as you risk killing the microbes that are crucial for organic grow. Airpots are possible with organic grow, but they dry out extremely quickly, especially on the sides. Microbes always need sufficient moisture; otherwise, they die off. The risk is definitely higher with Airpots... After years of experience with organic grows, I would recommend organic nutrients in powder form rather than liquid form. Good luck!

if you don't mind the cost, airpot is always a decent option.. I couldn't tell a different with pots.. certainly can't discern from normal genetic diversity growing at home, but i'll trust good research if it says otherwise. regardless of soil or soilless, you want the same gas:water mixture per volume around the roots. That's what matters most. Use more perlite or equivalent. I'd recommend vermiculite #3 or perlite #2 as far as size (amarican standards.. and those are not 100% uniform). Vermiculite also adds some plant-availble Si, which is a nice bonus. Looks like you barely have any mixed in... I wouldn't worry this grow, but in future, improve the aeration/drainage to make better use of those airpots... the airpots aren't helping a compacted or heavy soil very much. exposure to more air won't help if it cannot penetrate deeply (yeah i used that phrasing on purpose bwahah) If it's a high water capacity medium, 50% of volume should be something that improves drainage/aeration. If it's coco coir base with amendments, it may depend a bit what you amend with but since coco holds 2/3rds thw ater of a typical soil, it requires less perlite or similar to reach same gas:water per volume goal. ~33%. Again, some common sense.. if the 'living' part is mixed in and holds more water, need to use more perlite or equivalent. The different needs are all about water capacity per volume and amending to get a more optimal gas:water mix per volume. so, it depends on the soil... need varies. as far as the fertilizer... that's different relative to every soil... you supplement what the soil can't provide over time... that will vary greatly from one soil to another. Trial and error. take good notes until you get familiar with a particular soil product etc... same product and competent manufacturer should have some consistency and predictable expectations. If you change products - for any reason - expect a new larning curve... but it's easier each time you go through it. similar but likely different too... i'd also suggest starting off on weak side of dosage and working up... much easier to react to a slight deficiency than the ramifications of causing a toxicity. Again, notes will help avoid that trial and error next grow.