Why hydro?

Horselover fat

Well-Known Member
As thread title suggests, I'm just wondering why hydroponics seem so interesting to cannabis growers. Seems like they frequently talk about going to hydro stores or stuff pertaining to hydroponic growing.

Why not just grow in dirt like with any other plant?
Because it grows faster, bigger and with fewer resources. That's why most vegetables are grown in hydro too.
 

ComputerSaysNo

Well-Known Member
As thread title suggests, I'm just wondering why hydroponics seem so interesting to cannabis growers. Seems like they frequently talk about going to hydro stores or stuff pertaining to hydroponic growing.
One should point out what "hydroponics" could or should mean.

Strictly speaking, if the growing medium is inert, or if there is no medium at all, then it is a hydroponic setup. Growing in coco/perlite or vermiculite/perlite or rockwool with mineral fertilizers is all hydroponics.

If you hand water with Jack's 3-2-1 in coco/perlite it's a hydroponic grow.

The reason why it's appealing (not just for Cannabis, but also for regular cash crops), is the increased yield, vastly reduced water consumption, and improved control over the grow environment.

In my experience it's a lot less messy than a "traditional" soil grow, and it's also not difficult (if you have a pH test kit and a measuring cup for the nutrients).

Why not just grow in dirt like with any other plant?
As others have pointed out, a lot of plants are grown hydroponically at scale.
 

Lenin1917

Well-Known Member
Increased growth rate. Ease of scale and environmental management . It’s a whole lot less costly to setup a few flood tables and reservoirs than it is to get a building kitted out for soil. Managing humidity is gonna be way easier in hydro with sealed reservoirs instead of pots of soil off gassing water vapor 24/7. I love soil, it’s easy and pretty hassle free for the home grower and I grow better weed in it than I did hydro(think this actually has more to do with me improving as grower than efficacy of grow type but still)
 

MAGpie81

Well-Known Member
Mars doesn't really have a soil. Soil needs life and organic matter. I don't believe there's a lot of either, but it'll definitely be rich in mineral nutrient. We'll need to bring some peat and worms for castings and composting.
Bring GMO worms and recreate a Dune-like scenario- maybe giant sandworms are a valuable asset to starting diverse life-support on desert planets…
Only half-kidding, hahaha
 

potpimp

Sector 5 Moderator
As thread title suggests, I'm just wondering why hydroponics seem so interesting to cannabis growers. Seems like they frequently talk about going to hydro stores or stuff pertaining to hydroponic growing.

Why not just grow in dirt like with any other plant?
I've grown (and still do) many grows, both soil, and hydro. You can amend your soil and whip up a batch of "Super Soil" and hope for the best, or you can go hydro and have much, much more control over the root environment, and if you have a tent or grow room you control pests, mold & mildew, light type/quality/Wattage/Par value/schedule, and mostly what they uptake. You get to decide how simple you want it, or how complicated. Some are so complicated that you might as well get a lab coat because you'll be measuring discreet amounts with gram scales, and pipets, and spending hours monitoring and recording values. I use an extremely simple Veg formula and Bloom formula; ditched the chemistry lab years ago. Regardless of what method of hydro you use you'll have to keep an eye on the ph of the water. In soil that would mean top-dressing lime or potash but in hydro adding a few drops to make it acidic or alkali - and your "changes" take effect almost immediately, not days later as with soil. That also means that things can go to hell a lot faster than in soil, so it's a compromise. Personally, I just enjoy the extra effort hydro requires, and I admire the elegance and simplicity of the system. I mean, soil is amazing too but ...sorry for the run-on; I'm high AF.
 

Naddydasty214

Active Member
Hydro may produce bigger yields and easier to control but looks like the market prefers organic/veganic grown.

people argue the latter taste better and has better looking buds?

khash on ig grows strictly veganic and his stuff is known to sell for 11-1200 zip if you’re in his circle and most customers get it around 15-1800
 

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Hydro may produce bigger yields and easier to control but looks like the market prefers organic/veganic grown.

people argue the latter taste better and has better looking buds?

khash on ig grows strictly veganic and his stuff is known to sell for 11-1200 zip if you’re in his circle and most customers get it around 15-1800
Organic/veganic is a trend, just like anything else.
I remember when hydro was the trend. A bag of 'dro' was the best shit you could get.
 

ComputerSaysNo

Well-Known Member
khash on ig grows strictly veganic and his stuff is known to sell for 11-1200 zip if you’re in his circle and most customers get it around 15-1800
How does anybody know if he's full of shit or not? It might all be just marketing and BS.

You can sell hydro and claim it's 100% "vegan" or some other BS and nobody will be any the wiser. For the simple fact that it does not show in the weed quality. Obviously one would add some tasty carbs before harvest to give the weed a special character, and then claim the special taste is due to all the Vegan Fairies that have danced around the buds all year.
 

Naddydasty214

Active Member
How does anybody know if he's full of shit or not? It might all be just marketing and BS.

You can sell hydro and claim it's 100% "vegan" or some other BS and nobody will be any the wiser. For the simple fact that it does not show in the weed quality. Obviously one would add some tasty carbs before harvest to give the weed a special character, and then claim the special taste is due to all the Vegan Fairies that have danced around the buds all year.
do you know what Instagram is? He documents his grows
 

Thundercat

Well-Known Member
Hydro may produce bigger yields and easier to control but looks like the market prefers organic/veganic grown.

people argue the latter taste better and has better looking buds?

khash on ig grows strictly veganic and his stuff is known to sell for 11-1200 zip if you’re in his circle and most customers get it around 15-1800
A fool and his money are soon parted.
 
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