A reported 160 million people from all around the world use marijuana whether it be to get high or for its strong medicinal properties.
As a result, it’s no surprise to see a lot of people wanting to grow it themselves. The fact you’re here would suggest you’re interested in growing it too.
While growing methods vary with many people having different preferred methods, growing marijuana always requires one thing.
That thing is good, reliable soil. Whether you’re growing an extensive crop or a small plant inside or outside the house, using proper soil will give you a fat crop with flavorful buds.
With this in mind, it is crucial to find the best-specialized cannabis soil.
Cannabis soils are fine-tuned to promote the healthy growth of marijuana, but with so many brands to choose from things can quickly get overwhelming.
To make the growing process easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best marijuana soils on the market right now. We’ll show you what each soil contains and how it can help you grow the best buds.
If this sounds like something that will benefit you, be sure to stick around!
OUR TOP PICK
The first soil on our list is the Happy Frog Organic Potting Soil Mix from Fox Farm. As far as cannabis soils go, this one is hard to beat.
The soil has had its pH rating cleverly adjusted so that it offers the most nutrients possible, giving your cannabis plant all the nutrient uptake it needs to thrive.
With 2 cubic feet of coverage, there’s no denying that this 100% organic pre-made soil will give you impressive results.
But you will have to pay a little extra than you do for other soils. In our opinion, the soil is definitely worth the extra money.
When we took a closer look at Fox Farms Happy Frog potting soil, we found that it delivered much more premium results compared to other low-end soil brands, making it our top choice.
Making plants feed more aggressively which causes them to grow taller and quicker, we were also impressed with what this soil contains.
This unique mix of live soil contains soil microbes and mycorrhizal fungi. These ingredients are extremely beneficial as they help the root develop and expand.
This again helps your cannabis plant thrive and produce the best buds.
Pros
- Organic - This soil is 100% organic.
- Adjusted pH - The adjusted pH in this soil helps provide maximum soil uptake.
- Usable indoors and out - You can plant this soil outdoors or inside.
Cons
- Costs more - This soil will cost you more than other brands.
Also available at: Groworganic.com
EDITORS CHOICE
While we’re on the topic of Fox Farm and their soils, it seems only right to also discuss their Ocean Forest potting soil.
There’s no denying that Fox Farms Happy Frog soil is the best.
But when it comes to trying to germinate and start growing new cannabis plants, the Ocean Forest potting mix is better.
This soil may not be 100% organic, but it is still rammed with an array of healthy nutrients.
Like the Happy Frog mix, Fox Farm has also altered the pH of this mix to help your plants grow effectively and thrive.
You can use this mix indoors and outdoors, but it is better suited to potted plants. This is fine though because any new cannabis plant has to be planted in a pot first anyway.
When we took a look at this soil, we found that it worked much better inside than out.
Having said that, we also found that it offered much better results outside than other low-end soils found on the market.
Offering optimized growth and tons of nutrients, overall, this soil is a great choice if you want to start growing a new plant or simply want a cheaper alternative to Fox Farm’s Happy Frog soil.
Pros
- Good value for money - Cheaper than other soils, Ocean Forest represents great value for money.
- Helps germinate plants - This soil will help your plants start to grow.
- Packed with nutrients - This soil is jam-packed with important nutrients.
Cons
- Not 100% organic - The only thing letting this soil down is that it isn’t 100% organic.
Also available at: Thegrowersdepot.com
BEST VALUE
Mother Earth Perlite is a popular product despite the fact it can’t be the only soil you use.
While it may not be the soil you thought you needed when looking for cannabis soils, it might be just what you need.
Mother Earth Perlite is a great product when it comes to adding porosity to your soil.
A single bag of this rock-like soil can cover up to 4 cubic feet ensuring your plants have enough coverage to grow successfully.
Since you need to mix this soil with another brand of soil, you are able to cover a much larger area with just one bag.
With a neutral pH of 7.0, you can also use this solution to grow your cannabis hydroponically.
However, this method of growing marijuana is a lot more complicated, so you might only want to attempt it if you already have plenty of experience.
Having said that, it’s a great option to have and if you’re looking to grow marijuana that way, this product is 100% your go-to option.
Pros
- Good coverage - This soil can cover 4 cubic feet. As a result of mixing it with other soils, you should be able to use it even further than that though.
- Offers porosity - The Mother Earth Perlite soil will provide your plant with plenty of porosity.
- Neutral pH - This soil has a pH of 7.0.
- Reasonably priced - For what you get in return, this soil is good value for money.
Cons
- Has to be mixed - The main disadvantage to using the Mother Earth Perlite soil is that it has to be mixed with other soils.
Also available at: Growershouse.com
RUNNER UP
The next soil on our list is the Coast of Maine Soil.
The Coast of Maine Soil is a solid potting soil aimed at cannabis growers that don’t want to spend any additional time or money on pH monitors or other products.
Considered a boutique soil mix brand, Coast of Maine Soil’s Stonnington Blend is a stand-alone, organic soil product consisting of fishbone meal, kelp meal, mycorrhizae, alfalfa meal, worm castings, and lobster compost.
This mix of ingredients is key because it is packed with all the nutrients your plants need to survive.
This mixture does come with a larger price tag, but from our experience, if you can afford it, the mix is very much worth it.
We found this soil mixture to be key to producing a hearty crop of buds and rich flowers that had a flavorful taste.
Performing exceptionally well, it is by far one of our favorite soils and one we often turn to.
Another thing we love about this soil is how it suits both beginners and more experienced growers.
No matter how you grow your marijuana or how much experience you have, the Coast of Maine Soil Stonington Blend is easy to use and gives impressive results.
What else could we ask for?
Pros
- High-quality ingredients - This soil is made of only the best ingredients that are all packed with nutrients.
- Helps new and old cannabis plants grow - The Coast of Maine Soil Stonington Blend helps cannabis plants from seedlings all the way to harvest.
- No supplements required - This soil mix gives us everything we need in one product.
Cons
- Pricey - This product is one of the more expensive products on the market.
Also available at: Coastofmaine.com
RUNNER UP
The final soil mix on our list that is perfect for growing cannabis plants is the Super Soil Organic Concentrate from Nature’s Living.
This soil mix was formulated to create the very best growing environment for your marijuana plants.
The mix contains a unique blend of very beneficial organic nutrients and microorganisms that work together to all but guarantee bountiful yields and extremely fast growth rates.
One of the best products on the market, this soil will set you back a bit but trust us, the results are well worth the extra commitment and money.
With one bag of this soil struggling to fill a 5-gallon pot, it may not be the best option for individuals wanting to grow a larger crop.
However, if you plan on only growing a few crops for your own personal use, Nature’s Living’s soil could be absolutely perfect.
While your bag won’t go very far, it should cover all your basic needs for growing a smaller crop.
The only downside we could find with this soil when we tried it out was its strong odor.
If you want to grow your crops discreetly, this definitely isn’t the soil for you. It has a very strong odor that everyone will pick up on.
Other than that, this soil mixture is perfect for beginners looking to get started with a small yield.
Pros
- 100% organic - Nature’s Living’s soil is 100% organic.
- Easy to use - This soil has been designed to be easy to use no matter how experienced you are.
- Suits all stages of growth - No matter what stage of growth your cannabis plant is at, this soil will suit it.
Cons
- Doesn’t suit larger crops - If you grow or plan on growing a larger crop, this soil won’t suit your needs.
Also available at: Natureslivingsoil.com
Buyer’s Guide
Before rushing into a decision, there are some key things you need to take into consideration. By considering these factors, you will be able to make a decision you don’t later regret.
General Characteristics
While different cannabis plants may have different needs and requirements, there are some general characteristics that are vital to successfully growing the best marijuana. Below you will find some main characteristics to think about.
Soil Texture
Soil textures are very important when it comes to growing any plant. Things are no different when it comes to growing cannabis plants.
The best soil types when it comes to growing a cannabis plant include silty, clay, and sandy. With this in mind, the best soil mixture to look out for is loamy soil.
Loamy soil is a mixture of all three textures and a variety of organic compounds. It is good for growing cannabis because it is loose, light, and has great water drainage capabilities.
Soil pH
To survive cannabis plants need acidic pH. When looking for soil that offers this acidic pH, we recommend looking for a mixture that has a pH of approximately 5.5 to 7.0.
These optimum levels of pH will help to increase the growth rate of your plant as well as the uptake of any essential nutrients.
Soil Nutrients
It is crucial that any soil used with a cannabis plant is full of nutrients so make sure you take a close look at any soil you plan on buying.
A well-balanced, high-quality soil will contain organic elements, minerals, and microorganisms. Common ones to look out for include worm castings, kelp meal, mycorrhizae, perlite, and lobster compost.
The Number Of Plants You’re Growing
Another very important thing to think about when buying soil for your cannabis plant is how many plants you plan on growing.
If you only plan on growing a small potting plant, you don’t need to buy a huge bag of soil. Instead, you can buy a smaller bag specifically designed to give smaller plants more success.
On the other hand, if you plan on growing a larger crop of cannabis plants, clearly you need a bigger bag of soil that offers you full coverage.
With soil bags coming in many sizes, this is something you should definitely take into consideration before diving in.
Organic Vs Inorganic Soil
When it comes to making a purchase, you need to decide whether you want organic soil or inorganic soil.
While both soils offer good results, we personally recommend choosing soil that has 100% organic ingredients.
Organic soil has properties that increase plant resistance and reduces the need for any pesticides. It also promotes the growth of cleanly grown marijuana through a more environmentally friendly method.
Having said this, inorganic soil is cheaper and comes with some other useful benefits, so if you want the cheapest option, inorganic soil could be the way forward.
Supplement Based
You also need to decide whether you want soil that acts as a stand-alone product or one that needs to be amended using natural supplements.
Stand-alone soils contain all the necessary nutrients a plant needs to grow, whereas supplement-based soils require you to purchase additional nutrients on the side.
While it may seem like an obvious choice, it is worth noting that some stand-alone soils contain so many nutrients that they are actually too strong for new seedlings.
Bearing this in mind, it might be a good idea for you to think about what plants you are growing and how many nutrients they need.
If your cannabis plant doesn’t need too many nutrients, you could always try supplement-based soil. This way you can have more control over how many nutrients the plants receive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Use Any General Purpose Soil To Grow Marijuana?
When growing cannabis, it is important to ensure the soil contains plenty of nutrients. It is likely that you will end up adding a nutrient base of fertilizer to your soil at some point.
As a result of this, you can use general-purpose soil to grow marijuana. As long as the soil is packed with nutrients and of high quality you should be fine.
Should I Mix Sand With My Marijuana Soil?
Adding some sand to your potting soil mix won’t cause any damage to your cannabis plants but if you have purchased high-quality soil there’s no need to.
Most high-quality soils already contain some form of loamy sand, so you don’t need to worry about adding anymore. In fact, all you will be doing by adding more sand to the mixture is reducing the plant's water holding capacity.
How Long Does It Take To Grow Marijuana?
How long it takes to grow marijuana depends on a number of factors. These factors include whether you're growing the plant indoors or outdoors, the climate you live in, and the overall quality of the plant.
On average a marijuana plant will take between 4 and 8 months to grow. However, a cannabis plant grown in a hot indoor grow room can feasibly take just a couple of weeks to flower.
To get a better idea of how long it will take you to grow a marijuana plant, you should first carry out detailed research, so you know exactly what to expect.
Final Thoughts
Now you’ve been through our list, buyer’s guide, and frequently asked questions section, you should have a much better understanding of which soils on the market offer the best performance when it comes to growing marijuana.
While soils vary in terms of ingredients and how they can be used, most of them are all capable of doing the same thing.
They all provide our plants with the essential nutrients they need to grow rapidly and effectively, producing fat crops with flavorsome buds.
Now we’ve done the hard part for you, it is time to do some research of your own. With all of our information at your fingertips, take some time to start narrowing down the options available to you, considering what you need and expect from a soil mixture.
By doing this, you should be able to narrow down the options until you find a soil that suits all of your needs and requirements.
Happy growing!
Here, we can learn together about cannabis, its uses, accessories, and more without having to feel shamed by people who are supposed to be informing us - not lecturing us.
So, come and enjoy my website for as long as you need, and feel free to keep coming back for more of the same non-judgmental information about a common interest of ours.
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