While i'll def agree that I too have actually harvested with MG, it came with an abundance of pest's like gnats, aphids and other lil nasties...Not only that but MG is actually made on such a scale that proper mixing occurs in only 23% of the total mix produced...leaving pockets of less of one thing and more of another. A 1.5qft bag of Happy-Frog will cost you $9 and the same size bag of Ocean-Forrest is $14, the little bags of worm-castings are $1.29 & if you go to your local hydro shop and sweet-talk the guy there, he'll probably give you enough coco-coir samples to go an entire run. Most hydro shops are willing to work with you if you are genuine with them. I personally, don't condone MG unless thats your *ABSOLUTE* last option....(and even at that point, I'd probably still amend my own, lol.) MG just isn't made to grow cannabis....Its meant for ornamentals, landscape, flowers & house-plants....Good quality cannabis just won't hit its full potential using it as a medium..will it grow..? Of course. Will you harvest..? Of course. But for all the time, effort and risk you're putting into the entire operation that will take months, is it REALLY worth the difference of a couple bucks at the beginning of a grow..? Its not to me. Thats just IMHO. I used to think that $8 per Smart-Pot was rediculous untill I used them, hahahah...yeh, trust me when I tell you its worth the couple extra bucks. The quality differences you'll get with just MINOR tweaks will be incredible!
I'm a Pepsi-Challenge type of guy...I like to test the theories & myth's for myself. Right now i'm doing a run in soil and one in Sunshine Mix#4 using the same water, nutrient line, same size pots, etc just to see if the hydro route in coco will grow faster and larger then the soil, as the normal census says.
I give everyone the same advice when starting out: Gardening is what makes you comfortable and what works for you personally. If you ask 10 growers a question, you'll get 10 different answers....and to be honest, all 10 of those answers can be true or complete horse shit but if you don't research it and test it...it'll always just be hear-say. Forums like this one are great for information! When i started, information on growing cannabis was kept tighter then a nuns vag at the Vatican. Now, you have actual nutrient specific lines, super-soils, etc...its nuts! Take advantage of it!!!
Yer doing great man! keep it up!
CHEERS!