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
95 ProductsPage 1 of 4
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...
    Grodan Grodan Rockwool tray
      Plastic sheet with rockwool plugs for rooting shoots.

      Available: 77 pcs tray | 150 pcs tray...
      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...
        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...
          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...
            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...
              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...
                Plagron Plagron Royalmix
                  Plagron Royalmix is composed of the finest, carefully selected types of peat. By adding various types of fiber and perlite reaches a lightness and oxy...
                  Plagron Plagron Pure Zym
                    With the Plagron Pure Enzym you have a soil improver based on natural enzymes....
                    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...
                      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: ...
                        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...
                          Plagron Plagron Mega Worm
                            Mega Worm is a natural soil improver based on composted plant residues. It ensures an optimal balance in the soil so that the plant can grow and flowe...
                            Pokon Pokon Potting Soil
                              With the Pokon Potting Soil you have a good nutritional soil for all types of plants.

                              Available in: 5L | 10L | 20L....
                              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...
                                Pokon Pokon Hydro Grain
                                  Pokon Hydro grains are ideal as a drainage layer at the bottom of flower pots and planters. Hydro grains ensure that plants grow better and give the r...
                                  Atami Atami Janeco Lightmix - 50ltr
                                    Janeco Lightmix is an ideal base substrate on which virtually any crop can be grown well. The lightly fertilized soil has the advantage that even the ...
                                    Grodan Grodan Slab - 100 x 15 x 7.5cm
                                      The advantage of stone wool is that it has a high water holding capacity and contains a lot of air. In addition, stone wool is light, compact and rela...
                                      Bio Nova Bio Nova Coco Bricks - Box 4x6 pieces
                                        With the Bio Nova Coco Bricks, you have a coco's substrate in compressed form where the volume increases up to ten times when adding water....
                                        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...
                                          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....
                                            Plagron Plagron Supermix
                                              Plagron Supermix is a complete natural fertilizer that includes living fungi and bacteria, vitamins and minerals, trace elements, worm humus and Guano...
                                              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....
                                                Clonex Clonex Root Riot Refill Bag
                                                  With the Root Riot Cubes, you have cutting plugs that are made from composted organic materials and recommended for their large spongy texture, which ...

                                                  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.