Understanding Living Soil & Its Benefits For Cannabis Grooming
This term is often used to refer to sustainable agriculture, as well as organic cannabis growing. While it is a new term, the concept of growing cannabis this way is not new. It has been cultivated naturally for thousands and years. Things changed when indoor cultivation, synthetic mediums (hydroponics), aeroponics, and other methods of industrial growing became more popular.
Nowadays, most commercial growers do not grow cannabis in living soil. It is preferred by those who are knowledgeable about their cannabis, such as connoisseurs of cannabis, mindful cultivators, and meticulous consumers. There is a reason. Let’s first discuss what living soil is.
What Is Living Soil?
The soil appears unassuming to the naked eye. It is not obvious what grows it. Under the microscope, you can see that the soil has a diverse and rich ecosystem that is teeming full of life. These microorganisms are made up of beneficial bacteria, and fungi. actinomycetes. protozoa. nematodes and other microbes. They then break down organic material, which, in turn, produces the nutrients that plants require to grow. This is how soil becomes a living, healthy ecosystem.
Isn’t All Soil Alive?
Yes, the soil is alive to some extent. However, soil can become less useful due to human activities like overgrazing, intensive farming, and other disturbances that can all leave the soil barren. Bare soil can’t retain moisture. Both plants and microorganisms won’t survive without moisture. Bare soil can also be more easily eroded, meaning that nutrients it may contain can be easily swept away. Overuse of chemicals can also lead to soil death. It’s important to remember that the soil it comes from may not have the right pH levels and nutrients to support a marijuana plant and make it thrive.
Can You Grow Marijuana On Living Soil?
Most commercial soils contain enough nutrients to support cannabis growth for at least three to four more weeks. However, most soils will be depleted before your plant flowers. Remember, the soil is just like any other living thing. It is a living, moving, changing, and sometimes the slow-growing living thing that requires water, nutrients, and air to survive and support plant life. This is possible only if the soil has microbes.
The Benefits Of Cannabis Greening In Living Soil
Living soil is rich in diversity, making it a great place to grow cannabis. Living soil is more diverse than other soils.
Living Soil Is Soil That Supports Root Development
The roots are the most beautiful part of any plant, including cannabis. It is crucial for their growth and flowering as well as for their yield. The root’s primary function is to supply the whole plant with nutrients and water. Roots will struggle to penetrate the soil and grow in it if the soil is too compact, as is the case with clay soils. The plant will not develop enough roots to allow it to absorb the nutrients and water required for growth. The result? It results in a lower yield and a less productive plant. Living soil is soil that is naturally loose and easy to penetrate by the roots. To ensure optimal growth, the roots must be adequately oxygenated.
From Where Is The Loose Structure In Living Soil?
Its “looseness,” can be attributed to the bacteria, microbes, and fungi present in the soil. While microorganisms work to break down plant debris and process organic matter, they also excrete dead cells that help build the soil’s structure. Cannabis grown in living soil yields healthier, more profitable crops.
There Is No Need To Use Organic Fertilizers
To grow, cannabis plants require nutrients like Nitrogen. While there is plenty of nitrogen in the air, it isn’t in a form that cannabis can use. It must undergo a chemical process called “fixation” to change its molecular structure so that it can be used by plants. Some cannabis growers use nitrogen fertilizers with nitrite, ammonia, and other toxic ingredients to supply the needed nitrogen to their plants.
Beneficial bacteria found in living soil can convert atmospheric nitrogen to fixed nitrogen. Also, microbes can consume and digest compounds to create bioavailable fertilizers. This eliminates the need to use synthetic nutrients. Living soil means cannabis that has been grown is safer and cleaner than cannabis that was grown in synthetic fertilizers.
