Cannabis roots hold the plants up and supply them with water and dissolved nutrients. Also, they maintain a relationship with other organisms to form a symbiotic community. For roots to thrive, they need to have access to oxygen, water, and nutrients as well as require suitable conditions. A well-draining fertile soil high in nutrients can meet these requirements. A good Cannabis soil mix offers roots a healthier environment that promotes a healthy, vigorous plant.

The following are the things that make good soil mixes for growing cannabis that offer the perfect conditions for roots to thrive:

Porosity and Stability

The roots of cannabis plants require loose soil so they can grow through and form a network to hold the stem upright. Soil that is too lose can injure the roots by letting them break free from their bonds. The community of organisms that colonize the soil form a glue that holds the particles together.

Drainage

The soil must drain well. Soils that become soggy or compacted prevents air from getting to the roots because of a lack of space between particles. It has to do with its inability to hold enough air. Roots require oxygen for survival and can be injured and can die under anaerobic conditions.

Adding water to the top of a well-drained soil mix, the latter begins to percolate down. The particles grab the water to the point of saturation before they allow the rest to continue down. If water flows from the bottom holes of the container, the venturi effect draws down the air, creating a vacuum that starts at the top of the container. The water pulls air into the container as it flows down.

Sandy and loamy outdoor soils with only small amounts of clay tend to drain well and offer a great place for cannabis roots to grow. Clay contains tiny, closely connected molecules of mostly silica and aluminum that create dense sheets. Sandy or loamy soil with small amounts of clay will hold water well and maintain a stable texture that resists erosion.

Soil Nutrients

Soil mixes for growing cannabis must be enriched to contain nutrients.  But, you can also grow cannabis in a medium without nutrient value like peat moss, bark, coir, perlite, or vermiculite. These media support microbial growth when irrigated with a water-nutrient solution. But, cannabis plants do better when the soil mix itself contains nutrients. Opt for a mix enriched with compost and added nutrients.