What Is Nature’s Living Soil & Why Should You Be Using It

If you grow medicinal cannabis, you may have heard that you should be using “living soil.” What is living soil, and why is it superior? In this guide, we are going to tell you all you need to know.

What is Living Soil?

First of all, we sometimes hear the terms “living soil” and “Nature’s Living Soil” used interchangeably.

Some related terms include “real organic living soil,” “organic cannabis,” and “true living organics.”

To clarify, “living soil” is a general term, and “Nature’s Living Soil” is a popular brand of living soil products.

Indeed, we recommend Nature’s Living Soil, but right now, we just want to talk about what living soil is in general.

Living soil refers to two things:

• Soil that contains a balanced microbe ecology that helps to break down compost, worm castings, peat moss, or other organic substances

• A growing method that utilizes living soil. Contrast this with other growing techniques that involve, say, the user of fertilizers.

Indeed, in some respects, living soil is an entire philosophy. It is an approach to cultivation that works great not only for cannabis, but for other plants as well.

What Does Living Soil Contain?

The microbes in living soil include bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes.

You probably are familiar already with bacteria and fungi. Both help to break down organic materials and play additional roles as well.

Fungi, for example, can play an incredible symbiotic role with respect to plant roots (more on that shortly).

So, what are actinomycetes? These are actually classified as a type of bacteria, specifically an order of Actinobacteria.

The most important thing to know about them is that if they are in your living soil, it is less likely you will have issues with mold and mildew.

Along with these microbes, living soil may also contain arthropods, protozoa, nematodes, and other residents.

What are the Benefits of Living Soil?

Here are some of the reasons living soil is amazing:

• Living soil is the process by which nature has grown plants without our help for hundreds of millions of years. Simply put, it works.

• Soil that is living is soil that is healthy, balanced, thriving, and sustainable. It contains a healthy ecology with mutual relationships that benefit the plant and the microorganisms with which it shares its home. Together, they flourish.

• When we allow plants to take care of themselves through this network of organic relationships, we do not need to introduce fertilizers and pesticides. This saves us money. It also gets us away from products that kill helpful microbes and ruin soil quality.

• Beneficial microbes can help kill unwelcome life forms like mold and mildew.

• Mycorrhizal fungi can supercharge plant roots. As explained here, ‘Myco’ – ‘rhizal’ literally means ‘fungus’ – ‘root’ and describes the mutually beneficial relationship between plants’ root systems and these beneficial fungi. These specialized fungi colonize plant roots and extend far into the soil to acquire resources that plants can’t access alone, beyond the nutrient depletion zone, and in forms that are tightly bound and not available to the plant. Mycorrhizal fungal filaments (known as “hyphae,” and collectively as “mycelium”) in the soil are truly living extensions of plants’ root systems and are more effective in nutrient and water absorption than the roots themselves.

• Since we are not as involved in trying to modify conditions on a continual basis, we are less likely to push them out of balance.

• Because you will not be harming the soil with chemical additives, you will not deplete its usefulness. You can reuse it time and again.

Additionally, when we choose living soil, we help fight climate change. MIT explains that ammonia is one of the most common fertilizers, and that, “Ammonia manufacturing today contributes between one and two percent of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions.”

MIT continues, “Fertilizers also produce greenhouse gases after farmers apply them to their fields. Crops only take up, on average, about half of the nitrogen they get from fertilizers.⁴ Much of the applied fertilizer runs off into waterways, or gets broken down by microbes in the soil, releasing the potent greenhouse gas nitrous oxide into the atmosphere. Although nitrous oxide accounts for only a small fraction of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions,⁵ pound for pound, nitrous oxide warms the planet 300 times as much as carbon dioxide.⁶”

So, living soil helps to prevent global warming through multiple pathways. You’ll not only be growing better cannabis, but you will also be doing your small part to help save the planet.

Why Choose Living Soil for Growing Medical Cannabis?

Now you know some general reasons why you should consider using living soil. But why use it specifically for your medical cannabis?

• Your cannabis plants will be able to develop healthy root systems that are highly efficient with nutrient uptake.

• Keep away pink rot, gray mold, and other forms of mold and mildew that might otherwise harm your plants.

• Your soil will be able to more effectively retain moisture. This may help you to keep your cannabis healthy during a drought.

• The aroma and taste of your cannabis will improve thanks to the better nutritional profile of the soil.

• You may get better psychoactive effects from your cannabis.

• Just as the aroma, taste, and effects of your cannabis may improve with living soil, the medicinal properties of your crop may also be more potent. The cannabinoid profile may include a more complete spectrum, providing you with more comprehensive health benefits.

• Since you do not need to use fertilizers and pesticides, you do not need to worry about removing chemical byproducts from your medicinal cannabis before selling or using it.

• You will not need to work nearly as hard to keep your cannabis healthy. The entire process will be more enjoyable and relaxing.

So, the next time someone asks you, “What is the best soil for medical cannabis?” you will know what to say. Living soil is by far superior to regular cannabis soil with chemical fertilizers and pesticides.

What Brand of Living Soil Do We Recommend?

Excited to try living soil for medical cannabis cultivation, but not sure what product to choose?

Our recommendation is Super Soil Organic Concentrate from the brand Nature’s Living Soil.

This product is highly concentrated, and contains an abundance of healthy ingredients that are great for your cannabis plants.

These include organic matter like earthworm castings, bat guano, and bone meal, as well as an abundance of beneficial microorganisms.

When you get it, you mix it in with your soil media. 5 pounds of Super Soil Organic Concentrate is enough to amend 25 gallons.

You should find that the quality of your cannabis yield increases considerably when using this concentrate.

One word of warning—it smells awful. But that’s okay! In fact, it just means that the bag contains what it says it does: rich organic material.

Don’t worry—the smell only sticks around for the first few days. After that, it dissipates.

When you use Super Soil Organic Concentrate, not only will you find yourself with fuller, happier plants, but you’ll spend less time and effort maintaining your crop. Growing may never be a “set and forget” prospect, but doing it with this product from Nature’s Living Soil is the closest thing.

Get Super Soil Organic Concentrate

Grow Your Cannabis in Living Soil for the Best Results

Ready to enjoy growing high quality medical cannabis with more ease than ever before?

With the living soil approach, you leverage the power of natural soil ecosystems to nourish your crop.

At the same time, you help to preserve the soil itself and combat global warming.

To order now, click the link below.