# Soil

> In cannabis growing, soil means a living, organic-rich growing medium, either natural earth or a bagged mix, that supplies some nutrients and buffers pH and feeding mistakes.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/soil.html
- Also written: dirt, garden soil, topsoil, soil grow, native soil
- Glossary category: Systems and media · Evidence: Established
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Soil, in the strict sense, is natural earth: mineral particles (sand, silt, clay) plus organic matter, water, air and living organisms. In indoor cannabis growing, "soil" is used loosely for bagged [potting mixes](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/potting-mix.md) and composts as well, most of which are actually [soilless](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/soilless.md) peat- or coco-based blends with added nutrients.

## In practice

Soil and soil-like mixes hold nutrients on their exchange sites and in organic matter, buffer [pH](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ph.md) changes, and host microbes that release nutrients over time. That makes them forgiving for beginners: missing a feed or a small pH error does less damage than in hydro. The typical target [pH range](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/ph-scale.md) is about 6.0-7.0. Growth is generally a little slower than in well-run hydro or [coco](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/coco-coir.md), and feeding is less precise.

Garden soil on its own compacts in containers and [drains](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/runoff.md) poorly; mix it with compost and aeration ([perlite](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/perlite.md), pumice) or use a purpose-made potting mix.

## Don't confuse with

- **Soilless mix**: peat, coco or bark based, no mineral soil; often called "soil" on the bag.
- **Living soil**: soil managed specifically for biology, usually reused over many cycles.

## Related terms

[Potting mix](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/potting-mix.md), [Living soil](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/living-soil.md), [Super soil](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/super-soil.md), [Cation exchange capacity](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/cation-exchange-capacity.md), [Soilless](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/soilless.md)

## Read more

- [Growing in soil (potting mix with bottled feed)](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/systems/soil.md)
- [Choosing your growing system: soil, coco, rockwool or hydro](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/systems/choosing-a-system.md)

## Sources

1. Brady NC, Weil RR, 2017. The Nature and Properties of Soils, 15th ed. Pearson.