What Does Soilless Mix Mean?
A soilless mix is a medium that contains a mixture of substrates but does not contain any soil. Soilless mixes generally contain a mixture of organic and inorganic materials, such as coco coir and perlite, that serve individual purposes.
Soilless mixes are a common medium of choice for growing cannabis in containers.
Soilless mix is sometimes referred to as “sterile mix” because they do not contain the bacteria and fungi usually found in soil. Soilless mixes may also refer to soilless grow media, which is anything that can be used to anchor a plant in its grow bed. Rockwool (stonewool) and clay pebbles, for example, are two popular soilless grow mediums used in hydroponic gardens.
Maximum Yield Explains Soilless Mix
Soilless mixes are made up of a number of organic and inorganic materials. Some of the most widely used materials are bark, coconut coir, perlite, and vermiculite. Bark improves drainage and air space within the mix, coconut coir provides good drainage while retaining water, and perlite and vermiculite provide additional water and nutrient retention. However, most soilless mixes are predominantly sphagnum peat moss as it is lightweight and inexpensive. Additionally, some mixes will contain a fertilizer or additional trace elements to boost nutrients.
One of the most popular aspects of soilless mixes is that they give gardeners, particularly container gardeners, more control. Using soilless mixes can prevent houseplants or seedlings from being contaminated by soil-borne pests, diseases, and fungi.
Growers often create their own soilless mixes to have differing desired effects. For example, ingredients can be blended to create a particular amount of drainage, air space, or water retention. Another benefit of soilless mixes is that they are do not compact as much as soil does over time. This is handy when planting seedlings, as their roots do not thrive well in heavily compacted soil.
