Growing In Coco Vs Soil | What’s The Difference?

When growing cannabis plants, there are several things to consider to have a successful growth cycle such as using the right medium for planting seeds. 

Whether you’re using coco or soil, they both provide good growing mediums to enhance your growth operation. 

The difference between coco vs soil is coco comes from the fibers of a coconut with an airy texture that’s great for watering and doesn’t have alot of nutrients packed in it. Soil is less airy and contains vital nutrients for plants to grow, but makes it harder to avoid waterlogging. 

These mediums offer many growers options to have the best growth cycle that they can test and have a fruitful harvest. 

In this brief guide, we’ll go over the differences and similarities of growing in coco vs soil, along with the advantages of growing your plants. 

Growing In Coco Vs Soil

Coco comes from the fibers of the coconut providing growers with an airy texture. The texture allows for water to penetrate the cannabis plant’s roots more easily without overwatering. 

With coco, it’s easier to water plants since it’s impossible to overwater them due to the airy texture. It is also a perfect choice for cultivators growing indoors. 

When growing in soil, it contains enough nutrients for the plants to grow well that can last for several weeks before you need to add more nutrients. It’s less airy than coco and can be bought anywhere. Soil is a denser consistency than coco making it easier to overwater your cannabis plants. 

Several cannabis growers enhance their cultivation practices by utilizing coco vs soil. These growing mediums work well for cultivating and harvesting healthy cannabis plants. It solely depends on what the cannabis grower needs to have a thriving garden all year round. 

Benefits Of Growing In Coco Vs Soil

There are several benefits of growing coco and soil that rely on what you need for your cannabis growth. 

Here are some benefits of growing in coco vs. soil: 

Aspect	Coco Coir (Coco)	Soil
Water Retention	– Excellent drainage, retains moisture well.	– Water retention varies depending on soil type; may require more frequent watering.
Nutrient Uptake	– Has limited nutrients in the medium and depletes after a few days.	– Has enough nutrients present in the soil and can last up to a few weeks.
Aeration	– Good aeration, roots have access to oxygen.	– Aeration varies by soil type; may require aeration amendments.
Disease Resistance	– Lower risk of soil-borne diseases.	– Soil can harbor pests and diseases; and may require more management.
Cost	– Coco may have higher upfront costs for setup.	– Soil is generally less expensive to start with.
Harvest Quality	– Cannabis grown in coco can have a clean, consistent flavor profile.	– Soil can influence flavor and aroma, which can be desirable for some strains.

Why Grow Cannabis Plants In Coco? 

Your cannabis plants have higher yields with coco due to the aeration quality of the element and it is disease or pest-resistant. 

Ideally, coco is an ideal choice for beginners looking to have a successful cultivation from seed to harvest. 

But it’s important to be wary of the pitfalls of coco by ensuring your cannabis plants receive enough nutrients. You should mix water with nutrients when feeding your plants to avoid nutrient deficiencies. 

The choice of growing in coco versus soil is up to the grower whether they’re a beginner or advanced grower. 

These two mediums offer unique advantages that are grown differently.

For more info on optimizing your cannabis grow space, check out, you can register for our free Ultimate Marijuana Home Growing webinar.  

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