While cannabis plants have been growing on the earth for millennia, modern techniques have propelled cannabis cultivation into a new era of efficiency, accuracy, and yields.
At first glance, hydroponic grows may look like ultra-modern and complex systems, but the earliest uses of this method date back centuries. There's also ongoing debate in growing communities about the superiority of hydroponic growing and the weed it produces.
If you're interested in trying to grow weed this way, here's a quick overview of hydro growing, the pros and cons, and seven strains that are well-equipped for hydroponics to get you started.
What is hydroponic growing?
Hydroponic growing involves growing cannabis — along with many other agricultural crops — without soil.
When growing plants in soil, the root systems acquire both water and nutrients from the surrounding soil. With a hydroponic setup, the plants' root systems are nourished exclusively with a water-based solution.
Under the hydroponic umbrella, there are several commonly used techniques for growing:
- Wick system: The plant's root system has access to a wick that is submerged in a solution to passively supply plants with the water and nutrients they need.
- Deep water culture: The plant's root system is continuously submerged in a nutrient-rich aerated water bath.
- Nutrient film technique: Rather than completely submerging the root systems, they are exposed to a shallow stream of a constantly recirculating nutrient solution.
- Drip system: The nutrient solution is delivered to each individual plant from a reservoir, slowly releasing small amounts of solution on a timed schedule.
- Ebb and flow: Also known as "flood and drain," this system periodically floods the roots with the water solution, allows them to drain and become oxygenated by the air, and then repeats.
Pros and cons of hydroponic growing
Hydroponic growing offers several distinct advantages and disadvantages over soil-based growing.
Pros
- Space efficient: Hydroponic growing can be more space efficient than soil-based growing, and it requires significantly less water. In dry and arid climates or locations that are consistently rain deprived, this is a major benefit.
- Efficient growth: Plants grown hydroponically tend to experience quicker, more consistent, and more efficient growth. Growers have total control over the nutrients the plants receive, and when they receive them.
- Pest control: Common soil-based pests like caterpillars, leafhoppers, and slugs can be avoided, but you won't be totally immune to pests. Common cannabis pests such as aphids, spider mites, whiteflies, and thrips can infest hydro grows.
Cons
- Expensive: These systems are generally more expensive to set up and maintain than some soil-based growing operations, especially when comparing indoor to outdoor grows.
- Complex to operate: Hydroponic systems tend to be more complex and therefore labor intensive since variables like nutrient levels and pH levels must be monitored closely. These grows are also at risk for the development of harmful microbes and bacteria such as salmonella, listeria, and E.coli.
- Higher risk of failure: Hydroponic systems often rely on electricity and other components that have a higher risk for failure, which can have drastic impacts on the crop.
What makes a strain good for hydro?
Hydroponic systems offer a reliable way of cultivating cannabis and other crops, and they have been growing in popularity over the last several decades. Are there certain strains that are better suited to hydroponics than others?
While virtually any cannabis cultivar can be grown hydroponically, the cultivation experts that weighed in on this question generally agreed that there are a few traits to look for when growing cannabis with this method, especially if you are new to hydro.
General hardiness will make growing easier for both soil-based and hydroponic grows. “When selecting strains for a hydro grow, look for those that are known for their resilience and fast growth rates," said Mike Biggio, co-owner and cultivator of Area 420.
And since nutrient levels and pH can change on a dime in hydro grows — especially when you're learning the ropes — you'll want strains that won't freak out in the face of these changes. “When growing without soil, pH fluctuations are common so you'll want to choose strains that are not too sensitive to this," advised Halle Pennington, Products Executive at Humboldt Seed Company.
Finally, hydroponic grows can be more susceptible to mold and fungi, so choose strains that are known to be disease and mold-resistant.
7 strains for hydroponic growing
Based on the above guidelines, here are seven strains that are popular in hydroponic grows.
GG4
This strain is known to be resilient and easy to grow, making it ideal for new hydroponic growers. It's also known to be a thirsty and hungry strain, which could make hydroponics ideal since you can offer plants exactly what they need in the water and nutrient department.
- Genetics: Balanced to sativa-dominant hybrid
- THC: 25%+
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Caryophyllene, myrcene, limonene
Purple Queen
Purple Queen is a Kush descendant that is both compact and fast-growing. Thanks to its genetics from Hindu Kush and Purple Afghani, it's known to be resilient in a variety of climates and can tolerate pH fluctuations well.
- Genetics: Indica-dominant hybrid
- THC: 20-25%
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Caryophyllene, limonene, humulene
Bubba Kush
Bubba Kush is known to be a relatively easy strain to grow, and it's resilient to pests and diseases. It's also known to be well-suited to hydroponics since the plants stay short and dense, but make sure it gets adequate light and the humidity is kept moderate. This strain can fall prey to bud rot in moist conditions.
- Genetics: Indica-dominant hybrid
- THC: 17-25%
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Terpinolene, myrcene, caryophyllene
Blue Dream
Widely known to be a great beginner's strain for growers, Blue Dream is one of the most popular strains in recent cannabis history and is loved for its gentle but stimulating effects. It's sensitive to climate changes, so consider this one for indoor grows but be ready for training and staking. It's also a hungry strain, so dial in your hydroponic grow to give it all the nutrients it needs.
- Genetics: Sativa-dominant hybrid
- THC: 18-25%
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Myrcene, caryophyllene, pinene
Amnesia Haze
This strain is best suited to more experienced hydro growers, since it is known to be a needy strain that benefits from a lot of attention. The flipside is that it can flourish in hydro when growers can dial in to provide just what it needs.
- Genetics: Sativa-dominant hybrid
- THC: 20–25%
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Myrcene, caryophyllene, limonene
White Widow
Spinning a web that spans the globe, this Dutch-born strain is one of the all-time greats and its popularity has been going strong for decades. White Widow is a hardy and resilient cultivar that is generally resistant to mold, mildew, and other common diseases.
- Genetics: Balanced or slightly sativa-dominant hybrid
- THC: 17-25%
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Caryophyllene, pinene, terpinolene, limonene
Northern Lights
The greats are the greats for a reason, and Northern Lights is yet another strain that's well-loved the world over. This strain descends from the stable genetics of two landraces, Afghani and Thai, giving it resilience and vigor that makes it well-suited to a hydroponic setup. It's also resistant to diseases, pests, bugs, powdery mildew, and mold.
- Genetics: Indica-dominant hybrid
- THC: 16-25%
- CBD: >1%
- Terpenes: Terpinolene, caryophyllene, limonene, myrcene
Bottom line
Whether you're experienced with soil-based cannabis cultivation or not, hydroponics offers a new and more hands-on way to coax the most out of your cannabis plants. When you're ready to grow, do some research to find the technique that makes the most sense for your physical space and budget, then look for hardy strains that are resistant to mold and disease. Balance that with strains that may have specific needs that could be addressed with the advantages of hydroponic growing and you'll be enjoying your first buds in no time.
