Determining The Best Soil or Medium for Indoor Growing
Determining The Best Soil or Medium for Indoor Growing
The two most important decisions you will make when you begin the growing process are the right lighting to install in your grow room. And the best soil, or media, that you will use for your plants to grow in. Both decisions are going to be key in determining the success or failure of your project. So make sure you do the research and get started with the right plan.
Content
Where does the word media come from? We are using that name to make sure there is no confusion as to what people normally think of as soil or dirt. Media is the material that your plants will root in and grow from. It may be a mix of dirt or soil, but it does not have to include either. Therefore we are calling it media so there is no confusion and to make it clear there are several options for growing your plants that do not include any dirt or soil.
Selection of the best soil
Selecting the best media type both for germination and marijuana seedlings is a critical phase for growers. It can be the tipping point of failure vs triumph. Germinating marijuana seeds is possible with or without soil. There are various growing mediums to choose from and there are both advantages and disadvantages as well as opponents and proponents for every option. With this in mind, you must first know the basic info on the important aspects of each of the media options. And then review several soils and later tackle several soilless options. So you can make the right decision as to which one is the best growing medium for your plants.
The Important Factors For The Right Growth
There are three factors that you need to consider when choosing the right media: nutrients, pH, and drainage.
Best Soil : Nutrients
Knowing the nutrients needed by the plants and the nutrients present in each potting soil is a must in determining the best plan for germination and marijuana seedlings. The main advantage of using soil against a soilless medium is the fact that the former already contains nutrients that cannabis (or any other plant for that matter) needs. The main disadvantage is that the grower does not really know or control the contents. And most commercially available soils have pre-fertilization at some level. Whether the potting soil you are using is non-organic or organic.
Best Soil : Light formulas
During the first week above ground, your seeds will already sprout with sufficient energy to survive. However, marijuana seedlings are sensitive in this state, thus making them vulnerable to nutrient burn. If you are going to use a soil mix In this case. It is recommended you purchase potting soils labeled with “lightweight formula” or simply “light”.
Soils with lightweight formula doesn’t contain excessive nutrient levels, thus making them acceptable for the first seedling phase of growth. The key is to buy a soil that allows you to enrich the plant by fertilizing from week-one and adjust the formula and strength of the nutrients to fit the phase of growth of the plants.
Best Soil : pH
The ideal pH is within 5.5 to 6.5 as this range of pH will allow your marijuana plants to flourish. Any pH level outside the range, both lower and higher, will result to poor or insufficient growth. The further the soil gets away from the recommended pH levels, the plant will struggle more. It makes marijuana plants unable to absorb essential nutrients.
Best Soil : Drainage
Proper drainage enables the plant to experience excellent moisture and air mix. Equal and constant moisture is important for successful growth of marijuana seedlings and so it is vital that you are able to manage this sensitive area. The reason is simple: it is inevitable that even the best expert growers tend to over-water the seedlings.
Having good drainage as an element of your media plays a big role in reducing failure and risks and preventing problems that will develop if you are not able to control the moisture in your plants soil.
Some Recommendations to consider in determining the best medium or soil for indoor growing:
• Avoid potting soils with high NPK values
• Do not use outdoor garden soil for your indoor needs. Pests that grew outside will further thrive if the soil they live in is put inside where humidity and temperature is perfect for their rapid growth.
• Avoid using potting soils having huge amounts of wood chips and other non-composted materials.
• Never use soils containing guano especially for germination. It can burn young plants with its powerful properties.
The best dirt mix available is Fox Farms Ocean Forest (FFOF), but consider using a non -soil (Soilless) media mix and adding the necessary nutrients, which will be discussed in another article
Our selection of the best soils on Amazon.
California Lightworks SolarStorm 440 LED Grow Light Review
California Lightworks Solarstorm 440 Review
California Lightworks SolarStorm 440 Review – LED Grow Light
The Brand
Yet another California Lightworks grow lamp is up for review and yet again they have knocked it out of the park! The California Lightworks Solarstorm 440 review LED grow is the best grow light available in the $500-$1,000 price range
California Lightworks SolarStorm 440 Review
Firstly, the SolarStorm 440 features 88 high power 5 watt US made LED emitters for a total nominal power of 440 watts (88 x 5). The SolarStorm 440 also features a unique supplemental UV-B mode which is essential to develop higher potency. The sun also naturally contains large amounts of UVB. HID lights do not deliver any significant levels of UVB and no other LED grow light in the market covers that UVB spectrum adaquately, because LED diodes are narrow band and focus their light in a narrow spectrum.
California Lightworks SolarStorm 440 Review : Bulbs
The SolarStorm also employs unique T8 fluorescent UVB bulbs integrated into the fixture with a separate control. The UVB bulbs are typically turned on during final few weeks or “finishing” phase of the grow cycle to boost the potency of the final harvest. Lastly, the SolarStorm 440 replaces a 600W HPS or Metal Halide system. It is great for medium size or home grow operations. It can be used on light movers to cover larger areas and get even better results.
California Lightworks SolarStorm 440 Review : Features
The California Lightworks Solarstorm 440 review has two unique features: A switch to change the light spectrum from Veg to Bloom and supplemental built-in UV-B bulbs with their own switch. Lastly, having the ability to switch your light fixture between Veg and Bloom allows for lush vegetative growth and power savings in Veg mode while maximizing intensity and delivering the best yield in Bloom mode.
California Lightworks SolarStorm 440 Review : Technical Specs
* 88 Super High Flux US made 5 Watt LED emitter diodes
* Switchable, optimized color spectrum for both vegetative and flowering phases of plant growth
* Built-in 2 X 15 Watt UV-B T8 tubes with a separate switch
* High efficiency universal voltage power supplies
* Uniform 90 degree jewel quality glass primary optics, no secondary optics
Benefits of the California Lightworks Solarstorm 440:
* High photo-synthetic photon flux (PPF) to penetrate canopy and deliver unparalleled yield results
* Lush vegetative growth and power savings in Veg mode, maximum intensity and best yield in Bloom mode
* Further enhance final plant product quality and boost potency during finishing phase
* Worldwide power support
* Uniform, 3′ x 3′ core coverage area, no wasted light
Key Features:
* Firstly, eighty-eight high power 5 watt US made LED emitters
* Supplemental built in UV-B bulbs with separate switch
* Lastly, a switch to change the spectrum from Veg to Bloom
Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Full Spectrum 180W LED Grow Light Review
Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Review Full Spectrum 180W
Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Review – Full Spectrum 180W
You will find below our Apollo Horticulture GL60LED review. This GL60LED grow light from Apollo contains 60 diodes of 3W LED grow light chips. Apollo Horticulture has designed the GL60LED with 5 grow light bands ranging from 430 to 730 nm in wavelength. Thus ensuring that no matter the plant growth stage, the plant can get the necessary light energy.
Interestingly, this seemingly low power grow light can cover an astounding 5 square feet. And in doing so, penetrate the canopy to sufficient levels as well. Apollo has also provided stainless steel clips that are custom-made for the product. Helping you achieve the needed canopy penetration by facilitating the light suspension and adjustment. Apollo Horticulture’s products remain cool even when running continuously. Which makes the product ideal for small grow rooms capable of accommodating only one grow light.
Apollo horticulture appreciates the role played by lighting in plant growth and that is precisely why it has designed the Apollo Horticulture GL60LED Full Spectrum 180W LED Grow Light. This is a special LED lighting system which acts as a perfect substitute for natural lighting in areas where necessary levels of illumination are not available for optimal plant growth. It comes with a host of exciting features that make it easy to install and use.
Apollo horticulture GL60LED Review – Full spectrum 180W LED Grow Light
Features
There are several features that make this product appropriate for plant growth in different settings. Each of these features is aimed at enhancing the growth and flowering process at every stage. Some of the top features include:
Decent temperature endurance and quiet cooling fan
Given the long running hours of typical grow lights, it is not surprising that they get quite hot. However, these lights produce little heat and have been specially designed to withstand grow room temperatures of up to 131 degrees Fahrenheit. This LED lighting system also comes with an internal cooling fan. It operates quietly and does not disrupt other activities. This cooling system makes ballasts and other complex cooling systems unnecessary and thus saves the grower a lot of precious money.
Stainless steel hanging kit
Made of stainless steel, the hanging kit is well protected against corrosive effects arising from the moisture generated by the plant’s transpiration process. Furthermore, it enables the lights to function in a wide humidity range of 0-95%.
Wide area coverage
This Apollo Horticulture GL60LED has wide area coverage, which makes it appropriate for use for lighting a multitude of plants. For the vegetative stage, its coverage spans 5 Square Feet while for the Flowering stage, its coverage is still at 4 Square Feet. It also enjoys a LED view angle of 120 degrees, which is sufficient for ensuring a wide expanse of lighting for your plants. Last but not least, the lights’ wide area coverage ensures that you can use it in a wide range of situations, including grow tents, H2O systems, in large commercial greenhouses and all other possible varieties of hydroponics based cultivation.
Longer Lifespan
The Apollo Horticulture GL60LED review full spectrum 180w led grow light has a longer lifespan that stretches to 50,000 hours, thus allowing the grower to enjoy the benefits of this product over an extended period of time
Disadvantages
Whereas most plants are grown in enclosed spaces, there are those that are grown outdoors. You can only use this LED grow light indoors.
California Light Works Solar Flare 220w LED Full Cycle Grow Light Review
California Light Works SolarFlare Review
California Light Works Solar Flare 220w LED Full Cycle Grow Light Review
The California Light Works SolarFlare Review 220w LED Full Cycle Grow Light is one of the brightest in its class. The SolarFlare grow light series feature 40 high quality, high power 5 watt LEDs for a total nominal power of 200 watts (40 x 5). However, in order to maintain the long life of their LED emitters (80,000+ hours) they don’t drive them to their absolute maximum 5W power. The actual power consumption of a SolarFlare unit is typically around 165 Watts.
Power
For Vegetative growth, the SolarStorm 220 can cover an area of up to 5’ x 5’. In this case you want to position the light about 4’ above your plants. The SolarFlare 220 is designed to replace a 400W HPS or Metal Halide system. It is great for small size closet type home grow setups where quiet operation is essential. Multiple units can also be chained together to cover larger areas.
Daisy Chain
One unique design aspect of these LED grow lights is that you can chain them together with other LED grow lights. They can also all use the same outlet and can all use the same timer. This is perfect for larger grows that need several grow lights to function. While also saving you the effort of having to use multiple timers and multiple power cords that can clog up your grow room. This makes your grow easier than ever to manage. And easier than ever to move around in without having to worry about any excess wiring laying around.
Light Efficiency
Many other LED grow lights are missing something when it comes to keeping your plants healthy on a long term basis. The high PAR light output means that your plants will have powerful photosynthesis reactions all through their body. Which is easy when you have this kind of light. That can reach down through the canopy and stay stronger than ever. This makes it perfect for vegetation and flowering stages of growth, while other people might be having to change their lights out between stages of growth.
G8LED 240 Watt LED Grow Light with Optimal 8-Band Plus Review
G8LED 240 Watt Review with Optimal 8 Band Plus
G8LED 240 Watt review LED Grow Light with Optimal 8-Band Plus
Developed for medium size indoor gardening applications, the G8LED 240 Watt review with 8-Band spectrum uses the 240W lighting power available to reach up to 60 inches deep into the plant canopy. Thus making it ideal for gardens with a lot of dense vegetation. The manufacturer maintains that this penetration is true for both periods of plant growth. They also state that when used with a 90W red UFO or more, it can increase the growth area remarkably through cross-lighting.
G8LED 240 Watt Review : Configuration
Along with the good penetration comes the equally good parallel configuration and zener capacitor protection. Thus ensuring that there are never any health hazards. Surprisingly, despite providing all of these excellent features, the product never requires the use of a ballast. Thus allowing users to “plug and grow green” quickly.
G8LED 240 Watt Review : Our Verdict
Just like any other product in the market, the G8LED 240 Watt Grow light has its positive and negative aspects that users need to evaluate before purchasing it. As we shall see however, the benefits outnumber the shortcomings by a large margin.
It has a long lifespan
Sales volumes of this product may be low because its users hardly ever need to replace it. . When installation is taken care of, the lights can service you for many years without need of replacement. Many customers replace it after using it for a minimum of five years. Though even this is not necessary in a number of cases.
High power efficiency
Unlike other forms of (non LED) lighting, the G8LED 240 Watt LED review Grow Light is both powerful and power efficient. Its low energy power consumption saves money that can be used to improve the plant environment in other ways.
Low running temperatures
As with most LED lights, the G8LED 240 Watt review LED Grow Light has the advantage of producing very low amounts of heat when in use. Unlike other lights that result in temperatures often approaching 200 degrees. It actually produces temperatures that feel lukewarm to the human touch. The temperatures of any growing room are important as high temperatures can reduce humidity and adversely affect the uptake of nutrients by your plants. The G8LED light eliminates temperatures management issues because it is manufactured in a way that produces minimal heat.
Using the G8LED grow light provides extra space
LED Grow lights are small and do not need external equipment to run. Unlike the majority of the other lights, which are large and require extra equipment. Such as cooling systems and electronic ballast. This additional equipment ends up occupying a large space in the growing room which makes it difficult to monitor the progress of the crops.
Now, some of the concerns about the G8LED 240 Watt Grow Light.
High preliminary costs
Like any LED the G8LED is more expensive than traditional sources of light. Its cost is comparable to purchasing the HID or HPS light together with its cooling system, though of course the clutter produced by such an assortment of lights and cooling systems is far worse than any problem the LED lights can pose.
Replacement of the bulbs
Replacing any dead LED chips would give a headache to most users. Unlike the other lights that allow users to replace any bulb that has a problem, if a considerable number of the G8LED chips tun off, the only realistic solution is to replace the whole unit. The good news is that LEDs that you install properly usually last for years.
The 240 has excellent design architecture, coupled with the fact that the product uses the tried and proven 3W LED chips that typically provide 50,000 hours (15 years) of steady lighting.
Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 LED Grow Light Review
Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 Review
Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 Review
Unlike most LED grow light manufacturers, the Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 review uses new 10 watt Cree brand chips combined with Bridgelux 3 watt red and white LED Grow light chips for the best lighting possible. These USA made 10 watt Cree chips, feature the largest single chip LED of any other grow light available. The Advanced Diamond is equipped with both 10 W chips and also an array of 64 different 3w Bridgelux chips. This is said to offer a bit more variety of lighting bands, which is effective for proper growth. The DS XML 350 is equipped with 10 of these 10w Cree chips. And 144 x 3w Bridgelux chips as well. Their largest and most powerful panel, the DS XML 650 has 24 x 10w Cree chips. And 256 3w Bridgelux chips.
The Diamond Series XML 150, 350, and 650 use a specific spectrum to properly grow plants through any stage of development. Whether you’re just starting seedlings, cloning a mother plant, vegging, or blooming, the spectrum provides the proper array of light that you’ll need for exceptional results. Specifically, there are 11+ Wavelengths of Color Output that include the following. 760nm, 740nm, 720nm, 660nm, 630nm, 615nm-480nm, 460nm, 440nm, 415nm, 380nm.
Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 Review : Switchable Modes
The Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 review provides a variety of modes for specific stages of growth. Select between clone, veg, and flower modes, all with a simple switch located on the top of the panel. Lastly, the clone mode offers less light output that veg, but the blooming mode exceeds both modes for insanely nice flowering.
Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 Review : Reduced Heat
In the pre LED Grow light era, heat has always be a huge factor when growing indoors. Internally, there are dual heat sinks. And also an assortment of quietly operating cooling fans that make sure heat never becomes an issue.
The Advanced Diamond Series XML 350 provides a total coverage of 4.5′ x 4.5′. This size of panel is also ideal for those who want to replace a 600 watt HID and see improved results over their final product and yield. Lastly, the average power consumption for the Diamond Series XML 350 is around 330 watts.
Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300w LED Grow Light Review
Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300w Review
Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300W Review
The Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300w LED Grow Light comes with a 9 band spectrum including infrared and ultraviolet LEDs. You will find all the details below in our Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300w review. This spectrum is important for purposes of catalyzing cell division. It enhances plant flowering and TCH content during the final phase of growth. It also sterilizes the plant surfaces of certain strains of bacteria. The LED also comes with a revolutionary PCB system that allows the fan to run 80% cooler compared to other products. Thus ensuring that the product can run for long periods without overheating in small spaces.
Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300W Review : Zener Technology
This Led grow light system comes with what the manufacturer calls a unique Zener protection system. Which reportedly allows the capacitor circuits to continue working even if or when one LED chip stops working. While this seems like a great advantage, there have been several reports that the LED light panel has failed. In all the reports, the manufacturer replaced the light immediately under warranty.
Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300W Review : Color Efficiency
This LED provides excellent Spectrum With Powerful EpiLED lights. Delivering the colors that are needed by the plant to grow well in both its vegetative and flowering stages. Furthermore, the products EpiLED lighting is reportedly superior to ordinary LEDs. And with each EpiLED rated at 3W and better focused to diffuse the light needed for the plants to grow.
This light does come with a wide Dimming Capacity. While most of the affordable lights offer only one or two dimming levels, plants often require multiple levels for realistic light-day or the change of season replication. This product allows for just such a gradual change in light intensity via the dimmer. Which has a large number of dimming levels at its disposal.
Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300W Review : Light Efficiency
As reported on other sites and the manufacturers spec sheet this LED comes with a number of UV and IR LEDs, which enable the Galaxyhydro product to help sterilize and also promote specific types of flowering and growth. Several of the other LED manufacturing companies emphasize the importance of these light spectrum. However, they also believe that additional lighting to create UV/IR rays is necessary during the lowering stage. It is too early to determine whether the EpiLED chips really deliver the UV/IR light levels reported and the plant growth results desired.
Our Verdict
The Galaxthydro does have excellent fans and blades – which allows the product to remain cool and hence work more efficiently and for longer periods of time.
Lastly, the Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300w review LED Grow Light comes with a zener capacitor configuration. Which allows the product to run even when one or more of the LEDs have stopped working for whatever reason.
Some Problems to take note of. While the dimmer is excellent, some users have noted that it lacks the automatic or timed dimming features that are present in some of the costlier options. While this shortcoming is compensated for by the low price, those seeking to carry out round the clock growing would need to explore additional options.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the availability and range of growing options makes this product part of an elite group of led grow lights. Most of whose members are far costlier. Further, the Galaxyhydro Full Spectrum 300w LED Grow Light comes with good light spectrum distribution and sterilizing options. Which allow it to be used in a wide variety of situations and with a wide range of plants.
Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun Review – COB Full Spectrum 300W
Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun Review – COB Full Spectrum 300W
Apollo Horticulture has long been a trusted name to go by when it comes to LED grow lights. Read below our Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun review. They’ve been in the horticulture business for some time now and recently released one of their latest and greatest technologies that consumers can now own and operate in their garden. Introducing the Purple Sun COB Full Spectrum 300W LED Grow Light. It’s an affordable and effective unit that boasts power and performance.
Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun Review : Product Line
Coming with patented LED technology meant especially for growing, the Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun review COB Full Spectrum 300W LED Grow Light (made by Kessil) comes with a penta-band spectrum. Meaning that five different arrangements of blue and red LEDs combine to ensure that the plants are well-cared for at all stages of their growth. Further, the product comes with an extremely efficient electricity-to-light energy conversion system that allows the whole unit to run on less than 36W.
Lastly, the Purple Sun LED light penetrates into the canopy efficiently. And the light frame also remains cool to the touch even after hours of functioning. Offering a long lifespan without appreciable lighting quality degradation, this product is ideal for small to medium grow rooms housing a variety of plants.
Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun Review : Key Features
- Uses COB technology. There are four 75 watt COB pieces per panel. Providing plenty of light for both vegging and flowering all kinds of indoor plants.
- Incredible lifespan of 50,000 hours. Much longer than your typical metal halide or high pressure sodium lamp.
- Multiple light spectrum of 440nm, 465nm, 510nm, 635nm, 660nm. Which covers a wide array of light that plants utilize to grow healthy and flourish.
- Comes included with a 6 foot power cord and a set of stainless steel hanging clips. To suspend your panel from the grow tent or greenhouse ceiling.
- Small size of 12.25 inches x 12.25 inches x 3.62 inches takes up little area. You won’t need any additional cooling. Which makes it an excellent option for those with a small closet or stealth grow.
- Working voltage of 85 ~ 265V. So you can use it in multiple countries without discrepancy.
- Working environment of -20C ~ +40C. You can use it in virtually all indoor conditions.
Runs Cool
In many scenarios, especially in small grow rooms, heat can be a very devastating issue to have to deal with on a constant basis. With the Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun COB, it runs at such a cool temperature that you won’t need to spend more money on air conditioning, excessive fans, etc. Expect big changes in your growing environment when you add this to your arsenal.
Coverage and Hanging Height
A top priority for most before making the ultimate decision to grow with LED lighting is the amount of effective coverage they can expect with the panel. This 300W panel covers an area of approximately 3 x 3 feet. While vegging plants and 2 x 2 feet for powerful flowering if you want a large harvest with a quality outcome. Buying multiple panels or upgrading to Apollo Horticultures 768W panel may be something of interest if you are planning on needing light coverage for a larger square footage.
The manufacturer recommends to hang the 300W panel 0.5m to 1.5m away from the plants for best results. It’s important to listen to their recommendations. Since having the light too close or too far away may cause issues with proper growth and development.
Optical Reflectors
Each COB is equipped with a optical reflector that maximizes the amount of PAR (Photosynthetic Active Radiation) available for the plants to use.
Incredible Heat Dissipation
When selecting which LED grow light panel to invest in, it’s important to make certain that the panel has proper heat dissipation. The Apollo Purple Sun COB 300w panel is also built to combat heat in the best way possible. Although it runs very quietly, it has the proper heatsinks and fans to keep it operating efficiently.
You can expect the Purple Sun 300w LED grow light to perform compared to a 400w metal halide or high pressure sodium light system. But use much less electricity in the process. You won’t need anything additional. No bulbs. No ballasts. Everything to get started growing with LED is included.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Apollo Horticulture Purple Sun review COB Full Spectrum 300W LED Grow Light is a great, budget-friendly product that is designed for increasing efficiency and providing the results you want. Lastly, we think it’s perfect for small to mid-size grows. For larger results, see their 768w version.
Top Rated 2020 LED Light
