🌱 Feeding the Soil or Feeding the Plant? Understanding Living Soil vs. Salt-Based Growing

When it comes to growing high-quality cannabis, one of the biggest decisions a cultivator must make is how to feed their plants. There are two dominant philosophies:

• Feed the soil with living microbes and organic matter
  
  

• Feed the plant directly with salt-based nutrients
  
  

Each approach has its pros, cons, and unique style. Whether you’re after terpene-rich buds, explosive growth, or a simple workflow—this post breaks down what you need to know.

 

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🧬 What’s the Difference?

🌿 Living Soil = Feeding the Soil Food Web

Living soil is a thriving underground ecosystem full of bacteria, fungi, nematodes, and micro-arthropods. These organisms break down organic matter, turning it into plant-available nutrients over time. The grower’s job is to feed the soil and let the biology do the rest.

🔁 “You don’t feed the plant—you feed the soil, and the soil feeds the plant.”

⚗️ Salt Nutrients = Feeding the Plant Directly

Salt-based nutrients contain ionized minerals (like calcium nitrate and potassium phosphate) that dissolve in water and are absorbed instantly through the root system. These synthetic or mined nutrients are precise, fast-acting, and used heavily in commercial grows.

🎯 “You feed the plant exactly what it needs, when it needs it.”

 

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🌱 Dry Amendments for Living Soil (Organic Inputs)

Living soil starts with a healthy base (compost, coco, peat, aeration) and is amended with slow-release nutrients. These feed the soil food web, which in turn feeds the plant.

 

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🧪 Salt-Based Nutrients: Precision Growing

Salt nutrients are popular in hydroponics, coco coir, and some soil systems for their speed and control. Properly applied, they can yield incredible results—but they require constant pH and EC monitoring.

🔥 Recommended Salt Brands:

• Athena – Clean and commercial-grade, optimized for cannabis
  
  

• General Hydroponics – Reliable and beginner-friendly
  
  

• Botanicare Hydroguard – Industry standard root inoculant
  
  

• Armor Si (Botanicare or GH) – Go-to silica for hydro and coco
  
  

 

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🧠 Choosing Between Living Soil & Salt Nutrients

 

Here’s a clear side-by-side breakdown to help you decide:

 

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⚠️ A Word of Caution for New Growers

🚨 Don’t be fooled by flashy nutrient bottles.
We’ve all seen them—bottles with neon colors, wild graphics, or even scantily clad models. Some brands sell hype over horticulture.

Truth bomb:

If it looks like it belongs on a T-shirt at a monster truck rally, it probably doesn't belong in your soil.

❌ Many “miracle” nutrient lines are overpriced and filled with unnecessary additives or cheap fillers. Some may even cause lockout or build-up issues down the line.

✅ Do your due diligence. Look for brands with consistent results, real grower testimonials, and transparent ingredients. Save your money for tools and amendments that actually improve your grow.

 

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💣 Bonus: Super Soil with TGA Subcool’s Recipe

If you're going all-in on organic, few mixes are as legendary as Subcool’s Super Soil—a "cook-it-yourself" powerhouse that turns your medium into a complete ecosystem.

🌋 Ingredients for 30 Gallons of Soil:

• 10 gallons base soil (peat moss, coco, compost, and aeration blend)
  
  

• 6.25 lbs Worm Castings
  
  

• 1.25 lbs Blood Meal
  
  

• 1.25 lbs Bone Meal
  
  

• 0.75 lbs Bat Guano (high P)
  
  

• 0.75 lbs Fish Bone Meal
  
  

• ¼ cup Epsom Salt
  
  

• 2 tsp Humic Acid Powder
  
  

• 1 tbsp Azomite or Rock Dust
  
  

• 1 tbsp Dolomite Lime
  
  

• Optional: ⅓ cup Kelp Meal or Alfalfa Meal
  
  

🔄 Mix thoroughly and moisten until it feels like a wrung-out sponge. Let it sit (aka “cook”) for 30–60 days in a covered bin or tote, stirring occasionally.

Pro Tip: Use this Super Soil mix at the bottom ⅓ of your pot, with lighter soil on top to protect seedlings and young roots.

Boost microbial activity by adding brewer’s yeast and mycorrhizae inoculant during mixing.

Once you see a white fungal web (mycelium) forming on the soil surface and the soil has cooled down from its initial microbial heat, it’s fully "cooked" and ready for planting. 🌱🔥🍄

 

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🏁 Final Thoughts: Grow What Fits You

There’s no universal “best” system—it all depends on your values, budget, and grow goals.

• 🌿 Choose Living Soil if you value sustainability, flavor, and long-term soil health.
  
  

• ⚗️ Choose Salt Nutrients if you want rapid growth, control, and commercial-style consistency.
  
  

Either way, Kolas Organics is here to guide you with real advice, not hype.

 

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🌿 Start Strong with the Right Tools

We stock high-quality dry amendments, compost gear, pots, and growing tools for both styles of cultivation. Check out our Tools Collection and don’t hesitate to DM us on Instagram for custom guidance.

 

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💬 Let’s Keep Growing Together

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