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
98 ProductsPage 3 of 5
BioTabs BioTabs  STARTREX
    Increase your garden performance with Startrex: the organic soil conditioner rich in beneficial bacteria. Encourage explosive growth, enrich potting s...
    BioTabs BioTabs PK Booster Compost Tee
      Discover the benefits of BioTabs PK Booster Compost Tea: a natural elixir for rich soil life and healthy plant growth. Improve plant yield with our un...
      Atami Atami High Porosity Cocos
        With the Atami High Porosity Cocos you have a coconut substrate that has extra airiness due to the added perlite.

        Available in: 50 liters....
        BAC BAC  Yuccah
        BAC Yuccah
        €14,80
          With the BAC Yuccah you have a natural wetting agent and a soil conditioner based on the Yucca extract Schidigera.

          Available in: 250ml, 500ml and...
          Terra Aquatica (T.A) ~ GHE Terra Aquatica - GroRox
            GroRox clay granules are a lightweight and completely reusable substrate for hydroponic gardening and food production. Made up of safe materials, GroR...
            BioBizz Biobizz Pre·Mix
              Biobizz Pre·Mix combines the qualities of many different organic fertilizers, rock meals, trace elements, and fungi in such quantities that optimum g...
              Grodan Grodan Slab - 100 x 15 x 7.5cm
                The advantage of stone wool is that it has a high water holding capacity and contains a lot of air. In addition, stone wool is light, compact and rela...
                BioTabs BioTabs BACTREX
                  Increase plant health with Biotabs Bactrex, the secret weapon against pathogens such as pythium. Rich in beneficial microbes for optimal soil structur...
                  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 ...
                    Rogis Rogis Plan B
                      Rogis Plan B is a high quality soil improver. Supplemented with minerals and hormones to ensure an ideal cultivation and health of the plants during t...
                      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...
                        Clonex Clonex Root Riot Tray
                          With the Clonex Root Riot Tray, you have a tray of cutting plugs that are made from composted organic materials and are recommended for their large sp...
                          BioTabs BioTabs MYCOTREX
                            Boost your plant growth naturally with Mycotrex, a unique blend of Mycorrhizal spores. Improves nutrient uptake and resistance, for strong and healthy...
                            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...
                                Geni Geni Enzym
                                Geni Enzym
                                €26,17
                                  With the Geni Enzym you have an enzyme preparation based on 15 different enzymes.

                                  Available in: 1 liter | 5 liters....
                                  Bio Nova Bio Nova CocoMix Plus
                                    With the Bio Nova CocoMix Plus, you have a 100% natural coconut substrate that consists of ground and sifted coconut grit sourced from coconut poles i...
                                    Aptus Aptus Substrate Buffer Powder
                                      Aptus Substrate Buffer Powder allows you to buffer your substrate to keep the pH stable longer and provide your plants with extra Calcium.

                                      Availabl...
                                      UGro UGro plug
                                      UGro plug
                                      €5,75
                                        The ecological CocoPellet is a compact pellet which consists of ground coconut fiber. This ground coconut fiber is enveloped in a bag of cotton. This ...
                                        Atami Atami Worm Delight - 20ltr
                                          One of the most important fertilizers for cultivation is worm manure. It ensures a good and fast growth of the plant and greatly increases the yield (...
                                          Agra-Wool Agra-Wool Hydro-X | 80 liters
                                            With Agra-Wool Hydro-X you have a modern and more environmentally friendly alternative to Mapito, this mix is composed of Earthwool flakes, Coconut fl...
                                            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...
                                              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....
                                                Bio Nova Bio Nova Microlife
                                                  With the Bio Nova Microlife you have a Mycorrhiza soil improver with micro-organisms.

                                                  Available in: 2kg bucket....

                                                  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.