What choices do I have for growing mediums for cannabis plants? First of all, always ask yourself these questions before using any product on your marijuana plant: Is the product safe for your plant? Will this product harm beneficial insects? Have organic gardening associations approved this product?
Organic Growing Mediums for Cannabis Plants

Ensure that it is always an organic growth, which means that you use as few non-organic chemicals as possible. This article will show you some good alternatives for your soil or other growing mediums.
Open your garden’s eyes to the world of organic growing – there are many different routes to take and factors to consider. We’ll go over the most important of them all: the soil.
Let’s start with a disclaimer: buying organic is expensive, and it does not mean that you’re getting a better product than anything else will give you. If money is no object to your garden, then go ahead and buy all organic. If you don’t want to leave money on the table but still want the benefits of organic plant food, try to buy as much organic as possible – limit your non-organic purchases.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s get on with it…
Soil
Allowing your soil to be vaccinated by beneficial fungi will prevent root disease, which might lead to tree death.
This is the organic way to do it, but not the only one. You can make an effective soil drench or liquid fertilizer by simply putting compost tea in your watering can and watering the plant. The fungi will spread exponentially, which will protect your plant as no other product can. Do this once a week, and you’re set.

If you do not know what compost tea is, ask yourself: where does all that material end up? It ends up in your garden’s soil! You can make your compost tea by simply putting stuff like dead leaves and eggshells in a bucket of water; after a few weeks, it will be the best stuff you’ve ever smelled.
Make sure to keep your compost pile hot; microorganisms need heat to survive.
Suppose it’s not that hot (above 135 degrees Fahrenheit). In that case, the soil drench or liquid fertilizer will not work as advertised, and you might end up polluting your environment with useless chemicals.
Please do some research on compost or compost tea before doing anything.
If you do not have a compost pile going, try to find some organic matter near your garden and use it – make sure that there are no chemicals in the materials you’re planning to use. On a side note: never burn natural products like dead leaves; this will pollute the air. If you can’t use it, put it away for a year or two until it’s not that flammable anymore.
Another great source of natural nitrogen is alfalfa pellets or powder. Dried fish will also work if you do not have them, but it’s harder to get the dosage right (for example, don’t use too much because this might burn your plant).

Alfalfa pellets or powder are usually utilized for gardeners who grow vegetables, but it does work for weeds.
This is one of the best organic fertilizers; you can use it with every growing medium and then re-apply it once or twice throughout the plant’s life cycle. You sprinkle some pellets around your weed, and that’s it!
If you’re not sure if alfalfa pellets or powder are suitable for you, then here’s a list of what you can use:
Paper and Cardboard
If there is anything in your garden that isn’t organic (if chemicals have vaccinated it), get rid of it. You can recycle paper and cardboard by ensuring that your weed doesn’t have access to them. Use polyethylene fabric or weed barrier to create edges that will keep your weeds away from any chemicals you might be using (if any).
This paper can also act as a good biofilter; help microbes come together by covering the soil. The paper (or whatever is on top of the earth) will make the environment suitable for the types of fungi that protect plants’ roots.
Aeration is essential!

Without it, your soil (and the weed) will become compacted and suffocated. Avoid this by covering the paper with material like dead leaves or other compostable stuff. You can also use straw or hay, but remove it before planting anything.
If you’re using cardboard, then make sure to mix this with organic material; otherwise, your weed might end up with nitrogen or salt deficiencies – these are easily solvable problems, but they can lead to diseases if ignored long enough (for example, yellow leaves).
Wood shaving works excellent because of its ability to retain water simultaneously; make sure to remove them if you’re planting anything else, though.
Anything that will keep your weed away from chemicals is suitable for aeration. The best method – you might have guessed it already – would be to get rid of weeds while giving their roots enough room to spread or at least not suffocate.
How to Make Your Nutrient Solution
If you cannot find organic materials or if they are too expensive, then try to make your nutrient solution. Just use the best mineral nutrients and mix them with whatever natural material you can get (if any). Soil drench is highly recommended for this fertilizing; if there’s something you need more information on, then do some research. On a side note: always check for nutrient deficiencies and solve them before anything serious happens (for example, yellow leaves).

Metal or Stone Containers
If you want to use plastic containers, try to stay away from BPA (or any other plasticizer). BPA is a xenoestrogen that will harm the growth of your weed. It might also interfere with hormonal processes and lead to various problems if not removed from the container or growing medium before planting anything inside it.
Paper, Cardboard, and Wood Shaving Containers
Just mix everything so you get friendly and even results; this will help your weed grow nicely and flower at the right time.
You can also use:
- Dried leaves (make sure that they’re organic and pesticide/fertilizer free)
- Grass clippings (make sure they don’t contain anything poisonous)
- Dolomite lime (make sure it’s food grade and not agricultural)
- Peat moss (preferably peat humus – soil conditioner by Scotts) or sphagnum peat
- Gypsum (calcium sulfate for plants, you can use the one from your garden store)
- Bracken fern (you can get this from the forest; make sure it hasn’t been sprayed with anything)
- Reishi mushroom substrate
You can also use worm castings, which you can buy at any garden store. If the brand offers different soil mixture ratios, just choose something that works for your purposes. You might have to experiment a bit before hitting the right one, but that’s part of the game.