Pick your medium
The medium is what the roots live in. Each one trades forgiveness against control and speed.
- Soil / living soil: most forgiving, feeds early growth on its own, slower. A good first choice.
- Coco coir: soilless, fast and high-yielding, but you feed every watering and watch pH closely.
- Hydro (DWC and similar): roots in nutrient water, fastest growth, the least margin for error.
Choosing a pot
Fabric pots are a reliable default. They let air reach the roots ("air-pruning") and drain freely, which makes overwatering harder. Match the pot to the plant: too large a pot for a small plant stays wet and can lead to root problems.
- Seedling: 1 gal or a solo cup
- Veg: 3 gal
- Full photoperiod plant: 5 to 7 gal
Watering without drowning
Overwatering accounts for more first-grow losses than underwatering. Water thoroughly, then wait until the pot feels light and the top inch is dry before watering again. Lifting the pot to judge its weight is the most reliable gauge. In soil this is often every 2 to 4 days, more frequently as the plant gets large.