Using soil with the right composition is key in producing a good crop of any plant – including cannabis. As soil composition provides plants with most of their essential vitamins and minerals, many growers (new and experienced) turn to premade soil.
Premade soil mixtures (sometimes called ‘premixed’ soil) are fortified to provide your plants with the ideal mixture of macronutrients, micronutrients, vitamins, fungi, and beneficial bacteria.
In this article, we’ll dive into the market of premade soils to find the best soil for weed.
Purple Cow IndiCanja Soil
Purple Cow IndiCanja Soil is a compost-based soil specifically formulated for growing cannabis. A Michigan-based cannabis grower originally developed this soil as an easy, simple soil for hobby gardeners. It is nutrient-dense, increases water uptake in your plants, and supports cannabis crops throughout their growth. The IndiCanja soil is also ‘water only soil,’ meaning you do not need to use fertilizer to get a good crop yield. This soil is suitable for indoor and outdoor crops.
Pros:
- Specifically-formulated for cannabis
- It can be used without a fertilizer
- Made by a US-based company
- Organic
Cons:
- Some reviewers received fungus gnats in their soil
Super Soil Autoflower Concentrate
Super Soil Autoflower Concentrate isn’t your standard premade soil, but it’s definitely worth your money. Super Soil Autoflower Concentrate is fully organic and contains nutrient-dense ingredients like earthworm casings, azomite, kelp meal, dolomite line, Epsom salt, fishbone meal, bone meal, guano, aloe vera, and coconut water powder. To use this concentrate, you mix each 5 lb container with 20 lbs of regular potting soil. This concentrate is a great solution for growers who want the benefits of high-quality soil on a budget.
Pros:
- It contains many high-quality ingredients
- Organic
- Contains nutrient-rich fungi
- Shelf life of one year
Cons:
- Must be mixed with a general potting mix
- Slightly expensive
Big Rootz All Purpose Soil
Big Rootz All Purpose soil is another premade soil mixture designed for cannabis crops. This soil comes well recommended, as it won the 2015 Emerald Cups Soil of the Year award.
Big Rootz soil is pH balanced and gets its nutrients from compost, triple-washed coir, worm casing, and peat. It’s suited for both indoor and outdoor plants. As the name suggests, it’s good at growing strong roots. While many hobbyists love this soil, it won’t suit everyone’s budget. If you want to use this soil but can’t justify the price tag, you can try mixing it with a more budget-conscious soil to get more mileage per bag.
Pros:
- pH balanced
- Designed for cannabis crops
- Great for root development
- Highly recommended
- Organic
Cons:
- Expensive
Mother Earth Groundswell Soil
Mother Earth Groundswell soil is a unique general soil for indoor and outdoor cannabis crops. This soil includes several unusual ingredients that give it a rich nutrient profile, including perlite, pumice, worm casings, guano, peat moss, and aged forest products. It’s also perfectly formulated for cannabis crops, with an NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium) ratio of 0.12-0.06-0.09. Ultimately, this soil is perfect for growing cannabis plants with strong roots and a decent yield. While you could enhance it with fertilizer, Groundswell soil also a great water-only soil.
Pros:
- Suited for indoor and outdoor crops
- NPK ratio of 0.12-0.06-0.09
- Enhances root growth
- Unique ingredients
Cons:
- Not specifically formulated for cannabis
FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil
FoxFarm Happy Frog Potting Soil is the best buy for a cannabis garden on a budget. This organic soil comes well recommended by many seasoned cannabis gardeners, and for a good reason. It contains guano, mycorrhizal fungi, forest byproducts (like mulch and woodchips), and earthworm casings as nutrient sources. It also retains water for several hours at a time, making it perfect for dry climates. As this soil isn’t formulated specifically for cannabis, you could increase the soil’s nutrient profile by pairing it with one of FoxFarm’s fertilizers
Pros:
- Rich in nutrients
- Very affordable
- Insect free
- Slow-draining
Cons:
- Nutrient-profile is not cannabis-specific
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best store-bought soil for weed?
The best soil for weed is Purple Cow IndiCanja potting soil. IndiCanja potting soil is ‘water only soil’, meaning you don’t need to use fertilizer to get a great crop yield. It’s also specifically formulated for cannabis, fully organic, and made by a US-based company.
Can you use regular dirt to plant weed?
Cannabis plants require a specific mixture of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron, and copper to grow healthily. While your regular dirt may contain these nutrients, your cannabis plants will give you a better yield if you use specialized soil or fertilizer.
What size pots should I use for weed?
As cannabis plants bloom in just twelve short weeks, it can be tempting to plant your seedlings into large pots. However, to get the best yield, experts recommend starting your seedlings in a 1.5-gallon pot. You can then transfer them to a 3-gallon or 5-gallon pot after a month.
Takeaway
Your best soil for weed will depend on your budget. If you can afford a soil specifically formulated for cannabis, we recommend the Purple Cow IndiCanja potting soil. Alternatively, Super Soil Autoflower Concentrate and the Big Rootz soils are great options. However, if you are looking for a budget-friendly buy, you won’t go wrong with FoxFarm Happy Frog potting soil.
