Pots vs. Soil: the decisive factors for growing Cannabis

06. 11. 2023

Growing cannabis outdoors is, according to many growers, the most environmentally friendly way to grow cannabis, because the plant grows in its natural environment. Outdoor cultivation can be approached in different ways, while some growers prefer to simply sow seeds or plant seedlings directly into the soil, others prefer to plant the plants in pots or boxes. Both of these methods produce good quality buds and healthy plants. The decision of whether to plant in the ground or in a pot is entirely up to you. Therefore, below you will find the advantages and disadvantages of both methods.

Growing cannabis in pots

Read below to find out the main reasons for growing cannabis in pots and why some growers choose not to grow cannabis in pots.

Advantages of pots

They are easily portable

The advantage of growing cannabis in pots is that you can move them around freely. This gives growers some flexibility that planting directly in the ground does not allow. You can rotate and move the plants due to the presence of harmful bugs or heavy rains. This allows growers to easily protect their potted plants from inclement weather. They can simply pick them up and move them.

Plant size control

Pots are also ideal because you can have better control over the growth of the plant. The bigger the pots, the more the plants will grow. Growing plants in pots will ensure that once they run out of root space, their vegetative growth will stop.

Choosing your own pots

There are many different options to choose from when buying pots. You can choose from cheaper plastic pots to the most modern ones made of textiles, which improve aeration and moisture retention in the substrate.

Disadvantages

Limited growth

Growing plants in pots can be disadvantageous, for example because it limits growth and reduces the potential yield of the plant. If you choose a pot that is too small, the crop will be much poorer than you had planned. If you want to make the most of the potential of a large-growing cannabis plant, it simply won't fit in a pot.

High maintenance

Potted plants usually require more care than their soil-based counterparts. They usually need to be watered by hand, because although pots are able to catch water from rain, they do not have access to groundwater. The pH also needs to be carefully monitored to ensure that it is between 6.0 and 7.0 for best nutrient absorption.

Growing cannabis in soil

Whether you are considering growing directly in the ground for the first time or have had experience with it for some time, it is worth considering the advantages and disadvantages of this method. Read about them below.

Advantages

It is cheaper

Planting plants directly into the soil does not require as many accessories. You don't have to buy pots. Since potting usually requires repotting into larger and larger pots throughout the life of the plant, the cost of these pots can run into the thousands.

Low maintenance

Due to the natural amount of nutrients and moisture in the soil and the unlimited space available for the cannabis plant to grow, it will not need to befertilised as often . Plants grown in soil have plenty of space. Their roots have access to more nutrients and water in the soil, which means less watering.

Soil microorganisms

The biggest advantage of sowing seeds or planting seedlings in soil is that they have full and unrestricted access to the nutrients and moisture their roots need. A healthy soil is characterised by the existence of a soil food web - a network of micro-organisms that feed on certain species and in turn provide food for others. If the soil in your garden is healthy, you will benefit from the presence of soil micro-organisms.

Disadvantages

Impossible to relocate

The downside of planting cannabis directly in the ground is that once you plant it, you cannot move it without digging it up and causing it stress. Once you've made the decision, there's no turning back, regardless of the heatwave, floods, storms and early morning frosts. This means that your cannabis plants have to withstand all the elements, including hail and downpours, which can have a negative impact on your crop.

Uncontrolled growth

There are some varieties that take full advantage of the huge space available to them while growing in the ground. While some vigorous varieties are usually seen as a positive, they can get out of control very quickly.

Soil quality

By planting plants directly into the ground you have limited control over the quality of the soil. Most growers who opt for this method try to ensure that the soil has the correct drainage, moisture and pH levels, often adding additives such as lime (to increase pH), sand (to improve drainage) or manure (to increase nutrients).

If you have poor quality soil in your garden, you need to start composting and adding nutrients and other additives to improve the quality of the soil.

To plant in a pot or in the ground?

There are advantages and disadvantages to both ways of growing, in the ground or in pots. There is no right or wrong choice. It all depends on what is best for you and what suits your requirements. If you are still unsure, there is a simple solution - try it half and half and by harvest time you will certainly have a clearer idea of which method suits you best.

Now you know the pros and cons of growing cannabis in pots or in soil. Do you know which method to choose? Get cannabis seeds with up to 1% THC and try out which method suits you best!