When it comes to growing cannabis in soil, it’s imperative to choose or create a blend that will allow your plants to perform their best. Soil, at a basic level, is defined as the topmost layer of earth in which plants grow, a mixture comprised of organic remains, clay, and rock particles.
But when perfecting an environment for high-quality cannabis, there is much to consider. Soil varies in a number of common ways, such as:
- pH level
- Water retention
- Texture
- Nutrient makeup
- Drainage
In this article, we’ll look at what traits make up the best soil for cannabis to help support a healthy garden.
Check out these additional resources on soil and planting:
- How and when to transplant cannabis plants
- How to choose the right container for your cannabis plant
- How to make organic soil for your weed
Traits of quality soil for cannabis
Soil is generally described as having a mixture of sandy, silt, or clay textures. The texture directs the overall structure of the soil, so when it comes time to put your cannabis seeds in the ground, be mindful of its attributes.
Sandy soils
(photka/iStock)
- Large granular size
- Low pH
- Pros: Good drainage, prevents compaction, easy to work with, high oxygen levels
- Cons: Poor water retention, dries out quickly, nutrients get washed away
Silt soils
(sbayram/iStock)
- Medium granular size
- Pros: Naturally fertile (contains nutrients), retains water, stabilizes plants
- Cons: Poor drainage and easily compacted
Clay soils
(dszc/iStock)
- Small granular size
- High pH
- Pros: Provides minerals, retains water, stabilizes plants
- Cons: Poor drainage, heavy soil, hard to work with
Loam soils
(Chet_W/iStock)
While some plants thrive in their native soils, which are dominated by one of the compositions listed above, cannabis plants are best grown in soil that includes a combination of those three textures and properties. This mixture is known as loam.
What does loam soil look like?
The best way to identify loamy soil is by touching it. How does it feel? Sandy soil should be difficult to compact while clay should compact into a tight ball that won’t crumble. When squeezed, loamy soils should form a loose ball that will hold its structure momentarily before breaking apart in large chunks.
Here are some qualities of loam soil:
- Mixture of sand, silt, and clay
- Near neutral pH
- Pros: Drainage, water retention, naturally fertile, easy to work with, nutrient retention, supports microorganisms, high oxygen levels
- Cons: Can be costly
Most potting soils used in gardening are loam soils. If you’ve ever worked with potting soil, you’ll know that its composition is rich and diverse, and it looks dark and hearty. Beyond texture and color, the soil should smell rich and alive.
Buying the right soil for cannabis
While shopping for soil, you might be overwhelmed by the options available at your local garden store. You now know that most of these soils will be loamy, but why are there so many different types?
Consider the soil type as the basic structure of your soil. From there, look at nutrients, microorganisms, and other amendments that improve your soil. Your choices will be flooded with words like:
- Perlite
- Worm castings
- Bat guano
- Biochar
- Peat moss
- Compost
- Fish meal
- Bone meal
- Glacier rock dust
- Plant food
These are just some examples of amendments that are commonly listed on different types of soils. Heavily amended soils will have long lists that break down all organic nutrients they contain. Some companies create soils that offer a great structure with base nutrients, but allow you to fill in the gaps as you desire.
For most first-time gardeners, we recommend buying a quality potting soil that will provide your plants with enough nutrients to get them through most of their growth cycle without having to add many amendments or liquid nutrients.
This post was originally published on January 10, 2018. It was most recently updated on June 29, 2020.
Trevor is a freelance writer and photographer. He has spent years in California working in the cannabis industry.
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