Best substrate for growing weed

Choosing the best substrate for autoflowers is one of the most important and significant tasks that cannabis growers must undertake. Selecting the right substrate when growing autoflowering seeds is a decision that must be considered to maximize the results you want to achieve.

What is a substrate?

A substrate is a medium or material that provides the necessary support for plant growth, offering a suitable environment for root development and facilitating the absorption of essential water and nutrients. Substrates can vary widely in their composition, including mixes of soil, peat, perlite, vermiculite, coconut fiber, and other organic or inorganic materials. Each type of substrate is designed to meet the specific needs of different types of plants, adjusting factors such as moisture retention, aeration, pH, and nutrient availability.

What a good autoflower marijuana substrate needs

The best substrate for autoflowering marijuana must meet certain essential criteria to promote optimal growth and healthy flowering:

• It should be light and airy to allow good oxygenation of the roots, typically by adding perlite or vermiculite.
• It is also important that it has good drainage to prevent waterlogging and root rot, while maintaining adequate moisture retention to minimize watering frequency.
• The pH of the substrate should be adjusted between 6.0 and 7.0, which is the ideal range for nutrient absorption in cannabis.
• It should be enriched with moderate organic nutrients, as autoflowers have a shorter life cycle and do not require as many nutrients as photoperiod varieties.

Choosing the best substrate for autoflowering marijuana

When choosing the best substrate for autoflowering marijuana, it is crucial to consider various factors such as:

• It should be specifically formulated for cannabis, with a structure that facilitates excellent aeration and drainage.
• Elements such as perlite, coconut fiber, and vermiculite are common additives that improve the structure of the substrate, preventing compaction and promoting healthy root development.
• It should have a proper balance of moisture retention without becoming saturated, to support the rapid life cycle of autoflowering plants.
• Having a pH adjusted between 6.0 and 6.5, and being enriched with a moderate amount of organic nutrients.
• Opting for a light, airy, and nutrient-rich substrate specifically designed for cannabis can make a significant difference in the productivity and health of your autoflowering plants.

Top substrates for automatic plants

Here are the most recognized commercial light substrates (without additives) on the market, to help you choose the best substrate for marijuana:

Light Mix Boom Nutrients

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The Light Mix by Boom Nutrients is an excellent solution if you want a substrate that is of high quality, airy, and soft, perfect for autoflowering and feminized marijuana plants. Due to its moisture retention capacity, we recommend its use in rainy or very humid areas, and adding 5-10% more perlite or even coconut fiber. It has a perfect texture for root development.

Thanks to its intermediate water retention capacity, it is an ideal substrate for achieving great seed germination and the cultivation of young plants and cuttings. Since it contains hardly any nutrients, it allows you to regulate feeding according to your criteria from day one. Therefore, we can classify it as an excellent option to maximize the yield of our cannabis crops. This type of substrate is composed of blonde peat, black peat, coconut fiber, perlite, and worm humus. Its EC values are around 0.5-1 and the pH should be between 6.0 and 6.8.

Light Mix Plagron and Janeco Light Mix by Atami

This Plagron substrate is spongy to the touch, reminiscent of coconut substrate but with the consistency of soil. It is a mix of the best peats without any additives, allowing you to fertilize all your cannabis plants to your liking.

Light Mix (Plagron)

Light Mix (Plagron) is also notable for its effective nutrient retention, as with this substrate and an organic fertilizer (such as Plagron or Top Crop), you can achieve significantly higher yields. This product is composed of blonde peat, black peat, fibrous peat, and perlite, with pH levels between 5.5 and 6.9 and EC between 0.7 and 1.1. Additionally, its NPK mineral nutrient composition is 12/14/24.

We also need to be careful when using this type of product, as soil retains more nutrients and it is possible to over-fertilize the plant. In summary, with a plant in full bloom, in a 7-liter pot, I have watered with 1L per day, but only fertilized every 3 days.

Atami Janeco Light Mix 50L

The Janeco Light Mix by Atami can be considered the least light of all the products we have explained in this article. It contains nutrients for the plant’s initial phase, but we will always need the help of a growth liquid to avoid deficiencies.

Regarding moisture retention, it is a mix between some products, such as Canna Terra Professional, which is not too airy and does not have much retention. We can classify it as the intermediate option.

It can be considered the perfect soil for germinating our precious marijuana seeds, as the low EC levels favor the growth and development of the first roots without being excessively burned. This product is composed of Sphagnum peat, blonde sphagnum peat, perlite, and mineral lime.

This product is ideal for crops where the soil does not usually dry out excessively and where temperatures are lower, and the humidity in the air is higher. It is considered an ideal variety for autoflowering plants, as we will achieve healthy and strong roots without the soil becoming waterlogged due to water retention.

Additionally, this product is recommended for growers who like to check on their crops daily. You may need to water almost every day. With a well-formed plant in a 7-liter pot in full bloom, I have watered 1L of water every day and a half on average.

Basic tips for proper use of substrate

To make good use of the substrate and ensure optimal plant growth, it is essential to follow some basic tips:

• Make sure to choose a substrate suitable for the type of plant you want to grow, considering its specific needs for drainage, aeration, and pH.
• It is advisable to moisten the substrate properly to facilitate the uniform distribution of moisture. Avoid compacting the substrate when filling containers, as this can hinder the necessary air and water circulation for the roots.
• During cultivation, regularly monitor the substrate’s moisture and adjust watering as necessary to avoid both excess and lack of water.
• Enrich the substrate with nutrients according to the plant’s growth stages and consider the possibility of replacing or enriching it with new nutrients after each cultivation cycle to maintain its quality and effectiveness.

By following all these tips, you can achieve the best substrate for autoflowers and unique results in your cultivation.