Are you ready to start growing cannabis but worried about the cost of growing mediums? You’re not alone! Finding the cheapest growing medium can feel like a treasure hunt, especially with so many options available.
From good old potting soil to advanced hydroponic systems, your choice can make a significant difference in your wallet and the health of your plants. So, let’s break it all down and figure out what makes growing medium cheap and what are your options in this article below.
A growing medium is simply what your cannabis plants live and grow in. Think of it as their home base. Whether it's your typical garden center potting soil, specialized cannabis grow mixes, or even organic super soils loaded with compost, the growing medium is key to your plant’s health.
But it doesn’t stop at the soil — some growers use materials like coco coir, perlite, or vermiculite, known as inert substrates because they don’t naturally contain nutrients. Heck, you can even ditch the soil altogether and go the hydroponic route, using only water and nutrients to grow your cannabis.
Here’s the thing — figuring out which growing medium is the cheapest isn’t as simple as looking at the price tag. It’s about more than just the upfront cost. Let’s break down the factors that play into the real expense of growing mediums.
Imagine you’ve got two bags of substrate for your plants. One is a bargain bin potting mix that only costs five bucks, and the other is premium organic super soil that’s significantly pricier.
The cheap mix seems like a steal, but here’s the catch: it might not have enough nutrients to sustain your plants long-term. Those nutrients could last just 3 to 4 weeks before you need to start feeding your plants yourself.
On the flip side, the expensive organic mix is packed with natural nutrients that could carry your plants through their entire growth cycle, saving you money on fertilizers in the long run. So, while the pricier option might hit your wallet harder initially, it could actually be the more economical choice overall.
Another important factor is whether you can reuse the growing medium. Regular potting soil? Probably not. Once it’s depleted of nutrients, you’re starting fresh for the next grow.
But with substrates like perlite or vermiculite, you can reuse them for years. Just keep in mind, that these inert mixes don’t contain nutrients, so you’ll still need to add those separately.
If you’re going hydroponic, even without any growing medium, you’ll still need to invest in hydroponic nutrients to keep your plants thriving. So, when calculating the cost, consider not only the initial price but also how many grows you’ll get out of your medium and the added cost of nutrients.
In short, the cheapest option upfront may not always be the most budget-friendly over time. Balancing cost with quality and longevity is key to making your choice.
When choosing a growing medium, consider what’s available locally. Using nearby options saves you money compared to importing exotic materials. For instance, while zeolite might be popular, perlite can be a budget-friendly alternative.
Check local sources to avoid transportation costs and support local businesses. Plus, local materials often suit your climate better. If you’re hesitant to mention cannabis, talk about growing tomatoes instead — it works!
Also, buying in bulk can lead to great savings, so keep an eye out for discounts and promotions.
Also remember, handling and storage are crucial when picking a growing medium. Bulky options can increase shipping costs, especially online. Instead, visit a local nursery for soil, which is typically cheaper.
For coco coir, consider buying blocks to mix at home rather than loose coir. By making such smart choices, you can save money and enjoy a successful cannabis grow. Happy planting!
The cost of growing mediums also depends on where the materials are taken from and how. High-end options such as peat moss, coco coir, and Rockwool may have higher initial costs thanks to the way they are harvested, processed, or shipped. For example, peat moss is collected from bogs, which is a very labor-intensive job and involves transporting it to different regions as it's not available everywhere. Due to the high cost of extracting and slow regeneration of peat moss, it is costlier than potting soil.
Coco coir, made from coconut husks, also goes through excessive processing to convert the raw material into appropriate fibers for growing. Although it's renewable, it can be expensive to transport, especially when imported from the tropics.
Next, Rockwool is created when volcanic rock is melted and spun like cotton to manufacture fibers. The manufacturing price of Rockwool is high due to the energy input. It can be used in hydroponic setups, but it’s generally best for larger tents or rooms.
On the other hand, growing mediums like soil or perlite are relatively less expensive and easier to get, thus resulting in a lower price tag. Perlite is a volcanic glass that has a very low density, making it cheap and lightweight but it also creates dust particles so it must be carefully used. A classic soil mix is cheaper but may not have the right properties for your cannabis plants like balanced pH and aeration.
Cannabis growers watching their budget might be tempted to pick the lowest cost option in the store. While low-cost mediums can seem like a bargain, they may not provide your cannabis plants with ideal conditions to thrive. This can create problems like nutrient deficiencies, overwatering, or root issues so you'll end up spending more on other supplements to rectify the problem.
If you purchase high-quality growing mediums, you will experience benefits that will enhance your plant health for a fuller yield. These include:
Premium mediums such as peat moss or coco coir retain moisture and provide good drainage properties. The container you select must have proper drainage to avoid waterlogging around the roots.
To grow well, cannabis roots need oxygen, and mediums such as Rockwool and coco coir mixed with perlite will aerate better. The roots can absorb oxygen more easily, enhancing nutrient and water absorption and boosting growth.
Good quality mediums like coco coir hold nutrients well and release them gradually to the plants over time. This prevents you from wasting too many nutrients and also stops blockages. On the flip side, using less expensive growing mediums can result in deficiencies as some of them are inconsistent. However, this doesn’t mean that all cheap mediums are bad. If you have a good look at the brand and purchase from trusted manufacturers, you might get a good bargain.
Perlite is a volcanic glass that expands into small, white lightweight balls when heated. Many growers who grow vegetables and flowers also like perlite due to its properties like good aeration and drainage.
Advantages
One major benefit of perlite is that it's affordable. Considered one of the cheapest substrates, even beginners can grow cannabis with slightly lower budgets.
Moreover, you don’t need to buy much perlite as it is lightweight. So, bulk buys will not burn a hole in your pocket. In addition, you can also reuse it for many growing cycles, making it very appealing for anyone looking to save money without harming plant health or yield.
Perlite is quite porous, which means there will be many tiny air pockets that allow oxygen to get to the roots. Cannabis plants, like most other plants, need oxygen in the roots for healthy growth. Roots will become waterlogged and die when there's a lack of oxygen, but since perlite creates enough aeration around the roots, you'll have very healthy plants.
Adding to the previous point, perlite’s porous nature helps to maintain adequate drainage after you water the plants. Water passes through it easily, preventing waterlogging. Many cannabis growers overwater their plants and suffocate the roots. This can also create conditions for fungal growth or cause nutrient lockouts. Perlite helps drain excess water quickly, preventing these problems and enhancing the health of the root zone, which is especially ideal for hydroponic systems or growers using dense, water-retaining soils that may otherwise become too wet.
However, there are a few disadvantages you should consider.
Disadvantages
First off, perlite doesn't hold any water. It drains very well but doesn't retain moisture, which can be an advantage as well as a disadvantage.
This means that when used alone, or in high proportions, plants may dry out faster and require more watering. For cannabis growers, this could lead to more time spent tending to plants as well as increased water usage. It could be more problematic in hotter or drier climates.
To prevent this, you can mix perlite with coco coir or peat moss, which helps maintain moisture levels better than perlite alone. This ensures that the plants remain hydrated while still allowing water to drain away well.
Another disadvantage of working with perlite is that creates fine dust when it's dry. This can irritate your nose when you inhale it. Some people report that it also irritates their skin and eyes.
Although this isn't a major health risk, those with respiratory issues should always wear masks when working with perlite. Another effective way to reduce dust exposure is to moisten the perlite a little before using it. For small operations, this isn’t too big of a deal, but in larger growing environments or commercial farms where a lot of perlite is handled regularly, it becomes more of a concern.
Perlite occurs naturally in nature but is not a renewable resource. It is obtained from volcanic deposits which indicate that the production of perlite uses non-renewable resources from the earth. In time, it raises ecological concerns for growers. Even though perlite doesn’t release harmful chemicals, its extraction can have environmental consequences. From land disruption to energy consumption and other issues, there is certainly a cost to perlite’s benefits. However, you can reduce this impact by reusing it multiple times to grow your plants. But, don't forget to sterilize it between uses so it lasts longer and doesn't affect small seedlings with any infection from the previous plant.
To clean used perlite, pour some clean water into a bucket. Add your used perlite and let it all settle at the bottom. The dust or other waste particles will float to the top. Then, remove the perlite, let it dry a bit in the sun to naturally sterilize it and you’re good to go.
To dissolve any accumulated salts, some growers immerse the perlite in an acidified solution of diluted vinegar or pH-neutral water. Alternatively, you can use a mild hydrogen peroxide solution for better sterilization. Still, using plain water is one of the best solutions.
Keeping the growing medium sterile won’t spread pathogens from one cycle to the next. It will help your perlite last longer and stop you from having to buy a new medium every cycle, thus helping you save money and reduce waste at the same time.
Rockwool or stone wool is a hydroponic growing medium made from spinning basalt rock to make fibers. The rock is heated to extreme temperatures until it melts and then spun into fine fibers. After that, it is pressed into cubes, blocks, or slabs. Rockwool is commonly used by cannabis growers, especially in hydroponic systems, because it retains water and provides aeration as well.
Advantages
Rockwool can hold considerable amounts of water while still allowing aeration, making it perfect for hydroponic or soilless cannabis planting systems. It doesn’t get too wet, allowing the roots to access oxygen, which means that it keeps root rot at bay. The fact that rockwool can hold moisture makes the roots able to take water between watering cycles, reducing the chances of underwatering. Also, since the fibrous nature of rockwool has ample space, there's enough aeration for the roots, keeping them happy and healthy.
Rockwool does not have nutrients and organic matter as it is an inert growing medium. By doing this, you won't add any pests, fungi, or diseases to your grow room. Since it’s sterile, it is often utilized in seed starting and cloning, ensuring no diseases are passed onto young cannabis plants.
Rockwool is available in different forms ranging from small cubes for germination and cloning to large slabs for mature plants. You can purchase any shape and size according to the needs of your setup.
Disadvantages
Rockwool is slightly alkaline so it needs some pre-treatment. For this, soak the Rockwool in a pH-balanced solution to bring the pH down to 5.5 for a few hours. Remember, cannabis plants growing hydroponically will do well if the pH ranges between 5.5 to 6.5. Next, squeeze off the excess solution and your Rockwool is ready to be used. You must monitor pH regularly throughout the growing cycle since there may be some fluctuations at times.
Rockwool comes from mined basalt rock, much like perlite. This brings up sustainability issues since basalt is non-renewable. Also, Rockwool won’t decompose, meaning it won’t break down in the environment, unlike other growing mediums. Although you can reuse Rockwool a few times, it needs to be cleaned and sterilized between grows. Eventually, after 2-3 growing cycles, you'll have to dispose of it.
Rockwool fibers can be as irritating as perlite when handled. When using dry Rockwool, make sure you wear gloves and protective eyewear as well as a mask as the small particles can irritate the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. To prevent this, you can slightly wet it before proceeding to reduce the pH.
Compared to other growing mediums, Rockwool is slightly more expensive. However, the benefits can outweigh the costs. If you are on a tight budget, Rockwool may not be the cheapest choice at first. But, with that said, it can help recoup some of the cost.
To save some money, you can reuse and recycle rockwool like perlite. If you clean and sterilize between uses, rockwool can be used for several growing cycles. To reuse it, rinse it in hydrogen peroxide to remove salt buildup.
Other than that, you can use the smaller cubes for germination or cloning and then move the plant to a cheaper medium such as coco coir or soil after this stage.
Peat moss is a natural matter that forms from sphagnum moss decomposing slowly over thousands of years. Because of its water retention, aeration, and potential to improve the soil structure, it's a valuable growing medium that is popular for the cultivation of cannabis, especially in soilless mixes or as a potting soil ingredient.
Advantages
Peat moss absorbs water well and can retain many times its weight in water, making sure that cannabis plants do not dry out. This is especially beneficial for dry areas or growers that cannot water their plants often. Cannabis plants need to be watered regularly as inconsistent watering can hamper the growth but since peat moss retains moisture and reduces the need for watering, your plants will receive water consistently and be happy.
Mixing peat moss with soil is a great idea, especially if the soil is too compact. This helps in better root growth and plants have more access to water and nutrients. Suffice it to say that peat moss helps cannabis plants by creating a growing environment that is draining yet moist.
Cannabis roots get ample oxygen as peat moss creates pockets of air in the growing medium. You can combine it with most growing mediums to improve aeration and prevent roots from choking or being starved of oxygen.
The pH of peat moss is slightly acidic and ranges between 3.5 to 4.5. Therefore, you can create a naturally superb growing medium by combining it with other alkaline mediums. The ideal pH for growing cannabis plants is between 6.0 to 7.0 in soil. However, don’t forget to check the pH, including the runoff water after mixing the mediums.
If you’re looking for an organic growing medium, peat moss is a natural product with no artificial chemicals or additives. Many organic cannabis growers love growing cannabis organically and peat moss serves as a good base. You can mix peat moss with other organic materials such as compost, vermiculite, or coco coir to get a good balanced rich mix.
Disadvantages
Peat moss is natural and organic as we mentioned above, but it’s not sustainable. It takes a long time for peat moss to form and it’s non-renewable. Harvesting peat moss can destroy these delicate ecosystems. Moreover, moss extraction also releases carbon dioxide into the air. Consequently, the use of peat moss has raised sustainability issues, so many growers look for other eco-friendly alternatives like coco coir.
While a slightly acidic pH can be beneficial for some types of soil, the acidic nature of peat moss can become a limitation if you don’t handle it carefully. For this reason, you cannot use peat moss as a stand-alone medium. Due to cannabis’s preference for a soil pH range between 6.0 and 7.0, you’ll need to adjust the pH by adding lime (calcium carbonate) to neutralize pH and avoid nutrient lockout. To ensure that the cannabis growing environment is suitable, you must monitor the pH levels regularly.
Peat moss can cost more than soil or coco coir since it is sometimes not sourced from a sustainable or eco-certified producer. However, despite being expensive initially, it can offer long-lasting benefits for soil structure and water retention. Plus, it’s reusable so you can save some money in the long run.
Soil is one of the easiest and cheapest growing mediums for cannabis, particularly recommended for beginners. It is a natural, well-balanced medium that supplies a steady amount of basic nutrients cannabis needs to grow without constant adjustments. As a result, soil is the top choice of budget cannabis growers.
Advantages
Soil is overall one of the cheapest growing mediums you can buy. Most garden centers will sell potting soils, which are pre-mixed soils suitable for planting cannabis, available at low prices.
Soil is made up of organic matter, unlike inert mediums such as perlite or Rockwool. Thus, it supplies nutrients gradually, decreasing the need for extra fertilizers.
Soil is forgiving and great for beginners. It acts as a buffer, meaning all is not lost if you make small mistakes while feeding or fertilizing the plant, unlike other growing mediums such as hydroponics which requires precise nutrient control.
Soil is a good option for those looking to grow cannabis organically. By reducing the need for synthetic chemicals, you save money and also reduce environmental impact.
Disadvantages
Soil tends to become compact over time. However, adding perlite or even vermiculite can improve the drainage.
Soil is a natural material that is likely to harbor some pests or pathogens unless it is properly sterilized.
Coco coir is a low-cost and common growing medium for cannabis plants made from coconut husk. It offers an impressive balance of cost, quality, and sustainability. As a result, it’s an excellent option for growers looking for a cheaper alternative to other growing mediums.
Coco coir is one of the cheapest and readily available growing mediums to grow cannabis.
Coco coir is a renewable resource, unlike peat moss which is a non-renewable resource. Because it comes from coconuts, it is a good option.
Coco coir is capable of absorbing and holding a large amount of water. Plus, it provides ample aeration and also drains well. Moreover, it prevents the soil from becoming too compact, keeping the medium light and airy for healthy root development.
One of the main money-saving benefits of coco coir is that, if appropriately treated and sterilized, you can use it for multiple grow cycles. Because you can reuse it, you do not need to buy a new growing medium.
After every cycle, you can flush the coco coir of any excess salts and nutrients, making it suitable for reuse. If taken care of, it can remain productive for several cycles, after which you can compost it.
Disadvantages
As coco coir is inert, it also does not possess any nutrients naturally like soil, which means you have to supply all the nutrients through fertilizers (which increases the cost slightly).
Coco coir can absorb minerals like magnesium and calcium, so you’ll have to supplement them with Cal-Mag additives. Though it adds a slight extra cost, this is minor, manageable, and predictable.
So, what’s the cheapest way to grow cannabis? Well, it depends. The growing medium can range in cost and quality, but we’ve got you covered with the most common options and how they compare.
In addition, rather than using a standalone growing medium, you can achieve a good balance between cost and quality by combining some growing mediums. For example, you can mix a costly medium with a cheaper one to get good results without spending too much. If you grow a lot of plants, you'll see that the cost goes down over time.
Here are a few options you can try:
If you’re a beginner, regular potting soil is often the go-to option. You can pick up a 50-liter bag of standard garden soil for next to nothing, or you can opt for cannabis-specific blends, which are a bit more expensive.
But here’s the thing: cheap doesn’t always mean bad, and expensive doesn’t always mean great results, as mentioned already. You might have to experiment a bit or ask local growers for recommendations based on your climate.
Some potting mixes come with nutrients already added, while others don’t, which affects how long they can feed your plants. For example, pre-fertilized soils can nourish your plants for 3-4 weeks before you need to start adding nutrients yourself.
A popular alternative is a coco coir and perlite mix. A single bag costs around $40 and fills about 15 gallons of pots, which is fairly economical. The main cost here is nutrients — you’ll spend around $100 upfront, but that will cover you for multiple grows.
Coco coir is great at retaining moisture, ensuring your plants stay hydrated without the risk of overwatering. It also allows for excellent drainage and aeration, preventing any potential root issues that can arise from soggy conditions.
On the flip side, perlite plays a crucial role by enhancing air circulation in the mix. This helps roots breathe better and absorb nutrients more efficiently, promoting healthier plant growth overall.
Additionally, this combination is lightweight, which makes it easy to handle and store, adding to its appeal for both novice and experienced growers. If you’re on the lookout for a growing medium that strikes a balance between cost-effectiveness and plant health, this coco coir and perlite mix might just be the perfect fit for your cannabis grow!
Composted super soil is also a fantastic option for growing high-quality cannabis plants with minimal effort once it's set up. However, it’s only an affordable choice if you’re able to create it yourself at home. If you buy it premade, super soil can turn out to be very pricey.
For instance, filling a 15-gallon pot requires around 15 pounds of super soil, and that alone can set you back over $100, while filling only a portion of the pot. When you factor in other additions like coco coir to help improve aeration and water retention, the cost can easily rise to $150 or more.
That said, super soil is a highly efficient growing method because it eliminates the need to worry about adding nutrients throughout the plant's life cycle. Everything the plant needs is already in the soil.
Peat moss is an excellent substrate as a base and is great for moisture retention too. You can combine this with perlite to provide the best properties for your plants since it’s perfect for aeration and drainage but not as expensive. You see where this is going? Combining the two mediums will produce excellent results. This mixture also prevents waterlogging while maintaining proper moisture in the root zone.
Nutrient-rich compost can enhance the water-retaining and aeration properties of coco coir. Together, they make for an affordable and profitable mix. It is good for the plants as well.
Many people love growing in soil but it tends to get hard over time. If you want to increase the fluffiness, you can add some coco coir that also introduces more aeration. You can also add perlite to the mix for the same purposes.
If you’re aiming to cut down on the cost of growing mediums entirely, a hydroponic setup might be a good option, too. Once your hydroponic system is in place, your ongoing costs are mainly for electricity and the nutrients you’ll need for each growth cycle.
Building a DIY hydroponic system can be fairly affordable, typically around $100, which makes it an economical option over time. With hydroponics, you bypass traditional soil and instead provide your plants with water and nutrients directly, which often results in higher yields and better resource efficiency.
That said, the savings depend on how simple your setup is. While a basic system can be inexpensive, more advanced hydroponic setups — like aeroponics or aquaponics — can cost upwards of a thousand dollars, so be mindful of that when planning your growing operation.
When it comes to choosing the most cost-effective growing medium, each option has its trade-offs. You must pick one that works best for you.
Soil and coco coir are both reasonably priced, though coco often requires nutrients from the get-go, making it slightly more expensive upfront. However, the cost decreases with subsequent growing operations as you don't need to replenish nutrients each time.
Super soil, while offering a hands-off approach by eliminating the need for extra nutrients, tends to be more expensive unless you compost it yourself.
Hydroponics can be a long-term budget-friendly choice, especially with a simple DIY setup, as it eliminates the need for traditional growing mediums and primarily incurs expenses for nutrients and electricity. However, more advanced hydroponic systems can be costly, so careful planning is required to keep costs low.
Ultimately, your choice depends on balancing initial expenses with long-term savings, factoring in nutrient needs, and how many grow cycles you plan to run.
In the search for the cheapest growing medium for cannabis, remember that it’s not just about the price tag — it’s about what works best for you and your plants in the long run.
Whether you go for soil, coco coir, super soil, or even hydroponics, each option has its pros and cons. By balancing upfront costs with potential savings down the line, you can set yourself up for success.
