We've become so immersed in indoor growing techniques that many have forgotten the benefits of soils. Soil is still widely used for cultivation, but most of it unfortunately does not have the brilliance like that of a super soil.
Bagged soils are indeed convenient and save a lot of work, however they do not usually contain enough nutrients to sustain a cannabis plant for long.
Making your own super soil creates a nutrient rich environment for roots that is full of beneficial microorganisms and bacteria. Cannabis grown in a proper organic soil can pay off with tastier bud and on top of that, it's better for you and the environment! It may take some preparation and patience, but we can assure you the results are worth it. This article teaches you the basics behind creating your very own super soil.
What is a Super Soil?
The issue with many of the soil nutrients on the market today is that they often contain high levels of heavy metals. These can eventually build up and contaminate the soil, potentially reducing the overall quality or yield of a harvest. With the right mix, organic soils can ensure your cannabis plants stay healthy, fertile and do not require constant maintenance like they do when grown with inorganic soils.
Super soils are a close imitation of the best soils found in nature. What makes super soil so super is the amount living microorganisms colonized within it. This is why it is commonly referred to as living soil. It contains millions of beneficial bacteria and fungi that work to feed and protect the roots, creating the ideal natural environment in which to grow. Amongst their many functions, these hard working organisms help to break down organic matter to make it readily available to the plant as food.
This organic substrate provides all the nutrition a plant needs for the duration of its life. Store bought soil contains the some of the right ingredients to keep a cannabis plant properly fed for the first few weeks of its life, but it generally lacks organic activity and vitality.
Once the nutrients in a standard potting soil have been used, growers tend to add chemical fertilizers as and when their plants need it. Super soils provide an ecosystem that feeds and regulates itself, saving you time in the long run.
Pros and Cons of Super Soils
As usual, there are always some benefits and drawbacks to using any material. Let's discuss the pros and cons of growing cannabis with super soils.
Pros
- Organic - The ingredients are natural, creating a more fertile environment for your cannabis plants.
- Easy Maintenance - A well balanced super soil means you won't have to constantly be adjusting pH or adding nutrients.
- Flavour & Aroma - Cannabis grown in nutrient rich living soils tend to have a fuller flavour that delivers a smoother smoke.
- Does Not Need Flushing - Not using chemical fertilizers to grow means no build up of inorganic material in the soil.
- Environmentally Friendly - Because it's organic, it isn't bad for the environment. It actually does the complete opposite.
Cons
- Takes Time To Make - Growing with super soils requires you to plan and prepare months in advance.
- Expensive - The cost of creating a proper soil is higher than buying a pre-made mix.
- Hard To Manage - Making soil often involves a lot of heavy lifting and can be tiring to deal with.
How To Make Super Soil For Cannabis
Making your own super soil isn't as difficult as it sounds and the mix can be prepared in many different ways. Usually, an organic soil is enriched with natural fertilizers and left to compost for a few months to allow the ingredients to break down.
Materials
To start with, you're going to need a decent amount of space in which to prepare your super soil. It can get fairly messy so preferably work outside as you'll save yourself some cleaning. The following materials can be used to get the process under way:
- Large mixing container
- Gardening fork
- Weighing Scales
- Containers with lids for composting
- Organic soil
- Fertilizers and supplements
- Water
Tip: If you don't have any large containers for mixing in, you can also work on a plastic sheeting like a tarp.
Prepare Base Mix
The base of your super soil should be a high quality organic soil that has a pH level of 6-7. Try to opt for one on the slightly more acidic side. It helps if you can find a mix that has supplements in it to help aeration and improve drainage, such as perlite or coco coir.
Breaking up the soil in a container first with a gardening fork will serve as base for you to add other ingredients to. Add 60% of your soil first and save the remaining 40% to add to the mix later. There are plenty of options when it comes to amending your soil, which we discuss below.
Enrich The Soil
Enriching your soil can be achieved using a variety of ingredients. Some organic soils may already contain one or more of these amendments, so make sure you check the mix of the soil you purchase before adding anything. How much of each depends on the base soil quality, so bear in mind this is just an example with approximations. Just divide the amount of soil you are using by the amount of litres listed to get a rough idea but also check the label for each ingredient for further information.
The following ingredients can be added to your organic soil mix:
| Ingredient |
Amount |
| Worm Castings |
1 pound per 2 litres of soil. |
| Bat Guano |
1 pound per 23 litres of soil. |
| Blood Meal |
1 pound per 19 litres of soil. |
| Bone Meal |
1 pound per 16 litres of soil. |
| Vegetable and Fruit Peels |
(optional) |
| Eggshells |
(optional) |
| Coffee Grindings and Tea |
(optional) |
| Epsom Salts |
1tsp per 8 litres of soil. |
| Dolomite |
1tsp per 5 litres of soil. |
| Perlite |
10% of the soil mix. |
| Coco Coir |
10-15% of the soil mix. |
| Sand |
2-5% of the soil mix. |
Other ingredients you can look into:
- Humic Acids
- Azomite
- Rock Phosphate
Try to avoid adding too many food wastes as they can turn the pH too acidic. This is why we add minerals like dolomite, which can help to stabilise the pH. These types of supplements are quite strong so be careful not to add too much. More can be added later on if it is necessary.
Add the ingredients together in the container with your soil, and mix thoroughly. Don't forget to add the remaining soil and do a final stir. Now comes the time consuming part; the composting stage.
Composting/Baking
Many of the ingredients listed above make the soil quite acidic and is the reason why it's best to leave them for some months stabilise and break down into a useable state. Once you have your mixed ingredients it is best to mix them each day for a week or two until everything is properly blended together.
Once all the ingredients have blended fully together, the super soil can be distributed into different containers with lids. Maintaining moisture inside the containers helps to speed up the breaking down process and the soil won't dry out, so water it if it needs moistening. Keeping the containers closed also prevents unwanted bacteria and bugs ruining the soil.
Pineapple Glue by MyStery21 from GrowDiaries.
Next, the containers can be left outside in a sunny area to 'bake' under the sun. This stage can range anywhere between 1 to 12 months depending on the mix. For example, if you decide to add vegetable peels, you may want to wait a few months for them to break down properly. Remember to add more water if necessary. When it's ready, give it a final stir. Voila! You now have a nutrient rich super soil to use in your garden.
Conclusion
If you have been wondering about super soils, this guide should give you a starting point. It may take some experimentation to find the perfect blend, but the sooner you get started, the sooner you will be able to see how super soils can deliver spectacular results. Just be sure to test your soil before using it so you know the mix isn't too 'hot' for your cannabis plants.
Have you made a super soil before? If you have any recommendations, feel free to share your ideas with the GrowDiaries community in the comments section below. Happy growing :)
External References
Micro-organisms, -biomes and -networks of Earth's living soils. Microbiology Today. - Sen, Robin. (2015).
The Living Soil: Biodiversity and Functions. - Schmidt, Olaf & Bolger, Thomas & Creamer, Rachel & Brennan, Fiona & W, Dobson. (2018).
This article was updated October 2020
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