Substrates ~ Soil & Substrate for your hobby grow

Growing on Soil, Coco or Hydro substrate?

The substrate is the material in which seeds, flowers and plants are grown. EUGardencenter has a wide range of both organic and artificial substrates like soil, coco or hydro.

Soil substrate is most commonly used in hobby growing because it already contains the right amount of nutrients to promote the culture. Artificial substrates such as clay pebbles, coco, mapito or rock wool plugs; usually do not contain natural nutrients by themselves but do stimulate good germination. Growing on hydro is also becoming increasingly popular, here the roots dip into fertilizer rich water.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing on soil substrate?

Soil substrate has a good buffer, this means that a surplus or shortage of nutrients does not immediately lead to a ruined crop. Also, soil contains enough nutrients for the first 6 weeks of cultivation and is a cheap option, not only because of the price but also the money you save on plant food. However, soil is the least airy substrate and therefore needs more ventilation and disposing of the substrate after harvesting is seen as a hassle. Another disadvantage is that bad soil can contain insect larvae that attack your plants, so always buy good soil from one of the recognized brands:

  • Atami
  • BAC
  • Bio Nova
  • BioBizz
  • Jiffy
  • Plagron
  • Pokon

 

Soil substrate

 

What are the pros and cons of growing on coco substrate?

Coco is a biological substrate that retains water with nutrition for a long time, this retention ensures a constant moisture flow. Most coir contains enough nutrition for the vegetative period of your plant. However, it is important to add enzymes and amino acids, to create a stable buffer for the plant, and to keep it healthy. A nice extra benefit is that with coir your hands stay much cleaner.

Coco is susceptible to sciarid flies, but you can use the predatory bug to prevent this. Coir sinks less than soil so it stays airier and offers the plant more oxygen but it dries out more quickly. In general you pay the most for coco substrate compared to other growing media.

Coco substrate

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing on hydro substrate?

With hydro, dosing of nutrients is generally difficult, but this can vary from plant to plant. All the nutrition the plant receives you have to give yourself and the buffer is zero, therefore the fertilizer value fluctuates a lot if someone is not experienced with hydro. In addition, there is a high risk of leakage due to the large amount of water involved in hydro cultivation.

Besides being one of the cheapest substrates, hydro generally yields more and is less susceptible to insects and pests. Being in control of the complete nutrient supply in also a big advantage if you as a grower know what you are doing, this avoids a lot of unpredictability. With hydro you basically always grow on a growing system, this makes hydro growing a little more expensive because you have to buy one first.

Do pay attention to your light! The roots and the nutritional water of the plants should receive absolutely no light, this harms the roots and breaks down nutrients in the water which will cause algae growth.

Hydro substrate


Growing schedule

As a hobby grower you should always take care of the correct plant nutrition and the correct pH & EC level. This varies per substrate, soil has a completely different growing scheme than hydro/coco.

...Read more

Growing on Soil, Coco or Hydro substrate?

The substrate is the material in which seeds, flowers and plants are grown. EUGardencenter has a wide range of both organic and artificial substrates like soil, coco or hydro.

Soil substrate is most commonly used in hobby growing because it already contains the right amount of nutrients to promote the culture. Artificial substrates such as clay pebbles, coco, mapito or rock wool plugs; usually do not contain natural nutrients by themselves but do stimulate good germination. Growing on hydro is also becoming increasingly popular, here the roots dip into fertilizer rich water.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing on soil substrate?

Soil substrate has a good buffer, this means that a surplus or shortage of nutrients does not immediately lead to a ruined crop. Also, soil contains enough nutrients for the first 6 weeks of cultivation and is a cheap option, not only because of the price but also the money you save on plant food. However, soil is the least airy substrate and therefore needs more ventilation and disposing of the substrate after harvesting is seen as a hassle. Another disadvantage is that bad soil can contain insect larvae that attack your plants, so always buy good soil from one of the recognized brands:

  • Atami
  • BAC
  • Bio Nova
  • BioBizz
  • Jiffy
  • Plagron
  • Pokon

 

Soil substrate

 

What are the pros and cons of growing on coco substrate?

Coco is a biological substrate that retains water with nutrition for a long time, this retention ensures a constant moisture flow. Most coir contains enough nutrition for the vegetative period of your plant. However, it is important to add enzymes and amino acids, to create a stable buffer for the plant, and to keep it healthy. A nice extra benefit is that with coir your hands stay much cleaner.

Coco is susceptible to sciarid flies, but you can use the predatory bug to prevent this. Coir sinks less than soil so it stays airier and offers the plant more oxygen but it dries out more quickly. In general you pay the most for coco substrate compared to other growing media.

Coco substrate

 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing on hydro substrate?

With hydro, dosing of nutrients is generally difficult, but this can vary from plant to plant. All the nutrition the plant receives you have to give yourself and the buffer is zero, therefore the fertilizer value fluctuates a lot if someone is not experienced with hydro. In addition, there is a high risk of leakage due to the large amount of water involved in hydro cultivation.

Besides being one of the cheapest substrates, hydro generally yields more and is less susceptible to insects and pests. Being in control of the complete nutrient supply in also a big advantage if you as a grower know what you are doing, this avoids a lot of unpredictability. With hydro you basically always grow on a growing system, this makes hydro growing a little more expensive because you have to buy one first.

Do pay attention to your light! The roots and the nutritional water of the plants should receive absolutely no light, this harms the roots and breaks down nutrients in the water which will cause algae growth.

Hydro substrate


Growing schedule

As a hobby grower you should always take care of the correct plant nutrition and the correct pH & EC level. This varies per substrate, soil has a completely different growing scheme than hydro/coco.

...Read more
99 ProductsPage 1 of 5
Plagron Plagron Lightmix
    Plagron LightMix is made from carefully selected types of peat. To optimal balance the lightness and the oxygen level, different types of fiber are ad...
    Plagron Plagron Growmix
      Plagron Growmix is a combination of fertilizer that guarantee a high biological life. These fertilizers will meet all the plants needs for the first t...
      Eazyplug Eazy plug | Cutting plug tray CT
        An organic plug suitable for both cuttings and seeds.
        Because of the space setup the young crop has all the space it needs to develop.

        Available: ...
        Agra-Wool Agra-Wool Speedgrow Slab
          With the Agra-Wool Speedgrow slab, you have slabs made from volcanic igneous rock basalt....
          Plagron Plagron Perlite
            Perlite is puffed volcanic rock that creates a porous substrate and better drainage. Use Perlite to improve the structure of earth.

            Available in: 1...
            Jiffy Jiffy Lightmix
              With the Jiffy Lightmix you have a lightly fertilized soil mix with perlite with the RHP quality mark.

              Available in: 50 liters....
              Plagron Plagron Cocos Perlite 70/30
                With the Plagron Cocos Perlite 70/30 you have a combination of two high-quality Plagron products, namely Plagron Cocos Premium and Perlite....
                Grodan Grodan Plug Block ~ Starting Blocks
                  With the Grodan Cuttings blocks, you have a stone wool starter block with great water retention and plenty of air.

                  Available in: 40x40x40mm | 75x75...
                  BAC BAC Lava aarde
                    BAC Lava-earth is a mixture of earth and lava. Lava has many naturally useful nutrients. Also BAC Lava-soil is treated with THE FINAL SOLUTION to crea...
                    Atami Atami Cocos Substrate - 50ltr
                      Cocos Substrate contains an RHP quality brand that guarantees a coconut substrate of excellent quality. The coconut fibers are well washed, steamed an...
                      Plagron Plagron Batmix
                        Plagron Batmix is composed of the best and very carefully selected peat species. Due to the rich addition of worm manure and bat manure, this soil con...
                        BioBizz Biobizz Light·mix
                          Light·Mix is the ideal substrate for every grower who wants to control the process more by adding liquid fertilizer himself. Light·Mix offers the id...
                          BioBizz Biobizz Worm-Humus
                            With the Biobizz Worm-Humus, you have a soil improver made from the decomposed material excreted by the king of soil, namely the earthworm.

                            Availab...
                            Rogis Rogis Plan B
                              Rogis Plan B is a high quality soil improver. Supplemented with minerals and hormones to ensure an ideal cultivation and health of the plants during t...
                              Bio Nova Bio Nova Bio Soilmix
                                With Bio Nova Bio Soilmix, you have an excellent pre-fertilized organic lightmix that contains only vegan ingredients.

                                Available in: 50 liters....
                                Agra-Wool Agra-Wool Speedgrow Cuttings Block ~ Starting Blocks
                                  With the Agra-Wool Speedgrow cuttings blocks, you have starting blocks made from volcanic igneous rock basalt....
                                  Plagron Plagron Promix
                                    Plagron Promix is composed of the finest, carefully selected types of peat . By adding various types of fiber to achieve a lightness and oxygen level ...
                                    Plagron Plagron Cocos slab
                                      Cocos Slab represents the ideal substrate for the grower who prefers a natural and highly pure product....
                                      BioBizz Biobizz All·Mix
                                        All·Mix is a heavily pre-fertilized soil mixture. It has been designed to emulate rich outdoor soil with a full micro active eco system.

                                        Available...
                                        Cultilene Cultilene cutting block
                                          Cultilene Cutting block for the rooting of plants.

                                          Size: 40x40x40mm
                                          Sold per unit!...
                                          Plagron Plagron Cocos Premium
                                            Plagron Cocos Premium is a perfect basic substrate due to its ideal structure. It is fully buffered with a stable pH value. It is particularly suitabl...
                                            Paperbus Paperbus Rockwool Plugs Medium Box
                                              With the Paperbus Rockwool Plugs Medium you have a box of rockwool plugs that have a medium hardness, in each box there are 8 trays.

                                              Available in:
                                              ...
                                              Agra-Wool Agra-Wool SpeedGrow Plug Tray
                                                Speedgrow are natural products made from the volcanic igneous rock (solidification of lava) Basalt.

                                                Available:
                                                - 1 Tray - 84pcs
                                                - 1 Tray - 126pc...
                                                Cultilene Cultilene Mapito substrate
                                                  Mapito consists of rockwool flakes and PU flakes. This creates an airy combination which hold moisture very well....

                                                  Growing on Soil, Coco or Hydro substrate?

                                                  The substrate is the material in which seeds, flowers and plants are grown. EUGardencenter has a wide range of both organic and artificial substrates like soil, coco or hydro.

                                                  Soil substrate is most commonly used in hobby growing because it already contains the right amount of nutrients to promote the culture. Artificial substrates such as clay pebbles, coco, mapito or rock wool plugs; usually do not contain natural nutrients by themselves but do stimulate good germination. Growing on hydro is also becoming increasingly popular, here the roots dip into fertilizer rich water.

                                                  What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing on soil substrate?

                                                  Soil substrate has a good buffer, this means that a surplus or shortage of nutrients does not immediately lead to a ruined crop. Also, soil contains enough nutrients for the first 6 weeks of cultivation and is a cheap option, not only because of the price but also the money you save on plant food. However, soil is the least airy substrate and therefore needs more ventilation and disposing of the substrate after harvesting is seen as a hassle. Another disadvantage is that bad soil can contain insect larvae that attack your plants, so always buy good soil from one of the recognized brands:

                                                  • Atami
                                                  • BAC
                                                  • Bio Nova
                                                  • BioBizz
                                                  • Jiffy
                                                  • Plagron
                                                  • Pokon

                                                   

                                                  Soil substrate

                                                   

                                                  What are the pros and cons of growing on coco substrate?

                                                  Coco is a biological substrate that retains water with nutrition for a long time, this retention ensures a constant moisture flow. Most coir contains enough nutrition for the vegetative period of your plant. However, it is important to add enzymes and amino acids, to create a stable buffer for the plant, and to keep it healthy. A nice extra benefit is that with coir your hands stay much cleaner.

                                                  Coco is susceptible to sciarid flies, but you can use the predatory bug to prevent this. Coir sinks less than soil so it stays airier and offers the plant more oxygen but it dries out more quickly. In general you pay the most for coco substrate compared to other growing media.

                                                  Coco substrate

                                                   

                                                  What are the advantages and disadvantages of growing on hydro substrate?

                                                  With hydro, dosing of nutrients is generally difficult, but this can vary from plant to plant. All the nutrition the plant receives you have to give yourself and the buffer is zero, therefore the fertilizer value fluctuates a lot if someone is not experienced with hydro. In addition, there is a high risk of leakage due to the large amount of water involved in hydro cultivation.

                                                  Besides being one of the cheapest substrates, hydro generally yields more and is less susceptible to insects and pests. Being in control of the complete nutrient supply in also a big advantage if you as a grower know what you are doing, this avoids a lot of unpredictability. With hydro you basically always grow on a growing system, this makes hydro growing a little more expensive because you have to buy one first.

                                                  Do pay attention to your light! The roots and the nutritional water of the plants should receive absolutely no light, this harms the roots and breaks down nutrients in the water which will cause algae growth.

                                                  Hydro substrate


                                                  Growing schedule

                                                  As a hobby grower you should always take care of the correct plant nutrition and the correct pH & EC level. This varies per substrate, soil has a completely different growing scheme than hydro/coco.