There are many elements that go into producing exceptional quality cannabis plants. Quality genetics is the first “must have” of any top shelf commercial cultivation operation, but one of the most important, yet often overlooked of those factors is the soil medium selected to grow the genetics chosen. In recent years, the cannabis industry has seen an increased emphasis in producing greener, more sustainable, eco-friendlier products, all of which can be done when growing in living soil.
What is Living Soil?
According to the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), the definition of living soil is the community of microbes working together breaking down organic matter which, in turn, provides valuable nutrition to the plants.
Soil microbes are essential for decomposing organic matter and recycling old plant material. Microorganisms are the unseen majority in soil and make up a huge part of soil’s genetic diversity. This means easier absorption of nutrients by plant roots, reduced need for watering, limited erosion, and improved aeration. A combination of organic materials such as compost, coco coir, peat moss, aged tree bark, manure, worm castings, and more can be used to make a base for living soil. Like all living things, soil needs water, and flows water along the path of least resistance to bring hydration and nutrients to plant roots. Water remains in the soil by storing itself in porous minerals for later use.
Living soil embodies a holistic approach to the cultivation of your plants. It contains billions of microorganisms that mimic an outdoor ecosystem and improve the soil’s ability to provide the nutrients each plant needs.
In order to deliver the proper nutrients, living soil contains a curated blend of:
- Bacteria
- Protozoa
- Arthropods
- Nematodes
- Fungi
These microorganisms, along with earthworms, beetles and other insects present in the soil, work to decompose dead organic matter supplied by compost, topsoil, peat moss and leaf mold. In addition, the earthworms, arthropods and nematodes help to till the soil as they move through it, ensuring the nutrients produced by the decomposed dead organic matter are more evenly dispersed throughout the soil, allowing the best possible nutrient absorption by each plant’s roots.
While soil alternatives used in hydroponic grow operations are typically discarded after each harvest, living soil can be supplemented with compost and other natural additives so that it can be reused for additional grows. This gives you the ability to get multiple harvests out of the same soil, making it a more efficient, affordable and sustainable solution.
Benefits of Living Soil
If you are looking to achieve healthy, high quality cannabis plants while using a truly natural organic growing process (also known as TLO or True Living Organics), living soil will deliver the results you desire. You’ll experience the following benefits when you use living soil:
- Just Add Water: Eliminates the need for additional inputs fertilizers, pesticides and other chemicals during the cultivation process
- Promotes exceptional tap and feeder root growth throughout veg and bloom cycles
- Elimination of additional inputs reduces labor costs which improves profit margins
- Improves each plant’s ability to fight off pests and pathogens
- Improves the quality of your harvest with enhanced cannabinoid and terpene profiles
- Market segmentation by creating new top shelf “organically grown” cannabis category
- NO FLUSHING IS REQUIRED – With no harmful synthetic based nutrients added, none have to be flushed out, saving growers time and money while providing peace of mind they grew organically.
SoHum Living Soils® Provides the Nutrients Your Plants Need to Thrive
At SoHum Living Soils®, our team of growers, horticulturalists and soil scientists have invested an enormous amount of time refining the cannabis cultivation process in order to ensure our soil delivers the nutrient-rich environment your plants need to thrive in a true living organic method. Our living soil formula was created specifically for use in cannabis cultivation, and it provides an ideal blend of organic nutrients during the vegetative stage and reproductive/flowering stage of the plant.
Get Started Today
SoHum Living Soils® makes it easy to grow the highest quality cannabis plants. You can use our store locator tool to find a retailer near you. For a deeper dive into cannabis cultivation using living soil, check out “True Living Organics” 2nd Edition by The Rev.
