Selecting a Grow Medium

A Grow Medium refers to the various types of substrate for cultivating the roots of a plant in.  The term medium refers to both Soil that IS alive and Soilless Substrates that are NOT alive or are basically sterile or inert.  A Soilless Medium and its lack of any amendment or nutrient load means that any fertilization must be added to the medium to feed the plant. Some examples of Soilless Mediums are Peat, Coco Coir, Rockwool, Expanded Clay Pellets, Perlite, Vermiculite and even Water. A true living organic soil grow can produce some very tasty flower but it takes some know-how to pull off good yields of that quality flower.

There are some ready to add amendment kits, like Nature’s Living Soil, that can can be mixed in with a blend of of equal parts peat, perlite and compost.  

But for starters I’d recommend going with a Soilless Medium, something like Peat & Perlite or a Coco Coir & Perlite Mix. Like a ProMixHP for example, Fox Farm’s Lucky Dog, or Canna Coco.  A medium with 20-35% perlite holds more air and dries more quickly than peat or coco alone is also a good idea.  This can protect against overwatering and the soggy conditions and the plagues that brings.  Many have some Mycorrhiza (Beneficial Fungi) to help increase nutrient uptake and I would suggest adding some of your own microbial supplement like a Recharge, Great White or Mycos & Azos from Extreme to name a few.