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 4 of 5
Aptus Aptus Substrate Buffer Liquid
    With the Aptus Substrate Buffer Liquid you can buffer your substrate to correct the pH or to keep it stable longer and provide your plants with extra ...
    Aptus Aptus Mycor Mix
      Enlarge your root system up to 700 times, improving nutrient uptake. Aptus Mycor Mix is 100% organic and consists of different types of Mycorrhiza fun...
      Pokon Pokon Bio Sowing & Cutting soil - 10 liters
        With the Pokon Bio Sowing & Cutting soil, you have soil that is specially designed for use with seeds or cuttings....
        Rogis Rogis Mycor
        Rogis Mycor
        €25,00
          With Rogis Mycor you have a natural mycorrhiza fungi that absorbs minerals from the soil, thus considerably increasing your root system.

          Available ...
          Woma Soil Clean
          Soil Clean
          €27,50
            With Soil Clean you have a natural soil conditioner based on probiotic rhizobacteria and fungi.

            Available in: 75ml & 425ml....
            Geni Geni Activator
              With the Geni Activator, you have a soil improver that allows you to upgrade your substrate for multiple uses.

              Available in: Bucket of 4 kilograms....
              Pokon Pokon Bio Perlite - 6Ltr
                Pokon Bio Perlite can be used to make potting soil lighter and airier, promoting root growth and enhancing the flowering of your crop....
                Atami Atami Kilomix - 50ltr
                  Kilomix is (much) more heavily fertilized compared to Janeco-Lightmix. Kilomix is therefore a heavenly substrate for any plant, as it contains a wealt...
                  Plagron Plagron Calcium Kick
                    Calcium Kick is a pH regulator that allows you to raise the pH level to the ideal range of 5.5 6.5. Calcium Kick also improves the soil structure and ...
                    Pokon Pokon Dried Fertilizer Pellets
                      With the Pokon Dried Fertilizer Pellets also known as cow fertilizer pellets, you have a natural fertilizer that improves the structure of the soil.
                      ...
                      Paperbus Paperbox Hole Puncher
                        The Paperbus Hole Puncher allows you to easily pick holes in your Paperbus Rockwool plugs.

                        Available in:
                        - 84 a tray
                        - 104 a tray...
                        Eazyplug Eazy plug - Eazy Mixx
                          Eazy Plug Eazy Mixx is a well-balanced topsoil substrate that prevents your seeds from drying out and ensures roots grow downward instead of pushing s...
                          Bio Nova Bio Nova Profimix
                            This refined organic mixture, which in a 2 kilo package contains the following ingredients: Bentonite, bone meal, feather meal, vinasse, magnesite, so...
                            Pokon Pokon Orchid Potting soil - 5 liters
                              With the Pokon Orchid Potting soil, you have potting soil that is specially designed to the needs of orchids....
                              Pokon Pokon Palms Potting Soil - 10 liter
                                With the Pokon Palms Potting Soil you have potting soil suitable for all types of houseplants....
                                I-Clone I-Clone | heating mat
                                  The 55x35cm and 35x20cm I-Clone heating mats for efficient plant growth. Read about safety precautions and applications in our comprehensive guide.
                                  A...
                                  Agra-Wool Agra-Wool KWX-1 | 2 bags - 160 liters
                                    The Agra-Wool KWX-1 can also be called Coconut Wool Mix, this substrate is made of Earthwool combined with 30% Coconut chips.

                                    Available in: 2 bags ...
                                    Pokon Pokon Potting Soil Long Lasting - 10 liter
                                      With the Pokon Potting soil Long Lasting you have a very good nutrient soil for all plants....
                                      Pokon Pokon Houseplants Potting Soil - 10 liter
                                        With Pokon Houseplants Potting soil, you have potting soil that is specially developed for houseplants, so for both flowering and green plants....
                                        Pokon Pokon Bonsai Potting Soil - 5 liters
                                          With Pokon Bonsai Potting soil, you have potting soil that is specially designed for the needs of bonsai trees....
                                          Pokon Pokon Bio Vermiculite 6L
                                            With the Pokon Bio Vermiculite, your seeds will germinate well and water and nutrients will be buffered....
                                            ECOstyle ECOstyle AZ-Lime
                                              With the ECOstyle AZ-Lime corrects the acidity of the soil of your lawn, ornamental garden or vegetable garden.

                                              Available in: 2kg | 5kg | 10kg....
                                              Geni Geni Lime
                                              Geni Lime
                                              €19,49
                                                With the Geni Lime you have a high quality and pure lime addition in powder form.

                                                Available in: Bucket of 5 kilograms....
                                                Pokon Pokon Cactus Potting Soil - 5 liter
                                                  With the Pokon Cactus Potting soil, you have a potting soil specially developed for cactus and succulents....

                                                  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.