Growing Microgreens in SOIL vs. HYDROPONICS with ONLY WATER

[@MyWaterPonics]

Can you tell the difference in flavor?

[@OnTheGrow]

In my (mandi) opinion, I didn't taste a difference between all three groups. The soil did have a slightly cruncher texture. But the flavors were the same to me. 🌱🌱

[@michalniesner9198]

You guys are amazing, thank you so much=)! I compared few types of soil, but I would say in all cases coconut coir seemed slightly more efficient for most plants, I harvested few grams more, but the difference in roots thickness is real yeah. But it cannot be applied to all of them, for example sorrel seemed like it struggled in coconut coir a lot, I believe beet and yellow mangold grow more comfortably in soil than in coco coir as well. Hydro is perfect for it allows you to keep the space clean, but again, some plants seem to prefer coco/soil... Cannot imagine growing amaranth on hydro, I would love to do so though... xD, I assume it's because humidity in soil feels lot different, but that's just my guess, I don't know this for fact. Also I have to recommend your small trays, the ones with cute multi-color pack, they are super effective when you want to do experiments and you need many many trays =)!...

[@OnTheGrow]

Thank you so much for the kind words! 😊 Totally agree-coco coir can be super efficient, but some plants definitely have their preferences. Sorrel and beets do seem to thrive better in soil, while hydro is great for cleanliness and control. And yes, amaranth can be tricky! 😂 Glad you're enjoying the small trays for your experiments-they're perfect for that! Keep up the awesome growing! If you ever feel like sharing photos of your grows with us on Instagram or facebook tag @onthegrowfarms !

[@Heroitch52]

I've been watching these videos for a while now and I keep learning more, thank you for continuing!

[@OnTheGrow]

yay! Thank you for watching them!!

[@NatureZone101]

Seems like the weight difference is mostly stems. Also is we are growing for our own personal eating then the cost of soil / coir comes into play.

[@OnTheGrow]

Great point! The stems can definitely make a difference when comparing weights, especially with certain varieties of microgreens. And yes, when you're growing for personal use, the cost of the growing medium like soil or coir really does matter. It’s all about finding the balance between cost and yield, especially when growing for your own meals.

[@danielluera3583]

I really miss doing this at my house. I know how to do it all watching your video’s. And others. But after losing my home I ended up homeless because of the economy and lost my house cleaning business due to Covid. I wish I could find a place soon to start my micro green business. I’m in California right now but it really sucks here as far as jobs go. I’m hoping to find a backer to help me start this business again. I was growing micro greens to my neighbors and some stores and restaurants very cheap to keep a steady income coming in. And I miss doing this passion.

[@OnTheGrow]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. I’m truly sorry to hear about the hardships you’ve been through. Starting over can be tough, but your determination to keep going speaks volumes. I really hope you can find a space and a backer soon to get your microgreen business up and running again. Wishing you all the best!

[@danielluera3583]

@@OnTheGrow thank you both. I wasn’t expecting a response but thank you for that. 😊 I really enjoy and learned a lot from you both. Great info.

[@hotdogsarepropaganda]

hydro absolutely. less waste product and reusable. I'm transitioning my garden set up into Kratky + reservoir systems as well because it creates less waste. I'm going to use the water anyway, and if I use rainwater when the seasons are able it even less of an impact because less energy went into purifying and transporting it to me.

[@OnTheGrow]

That’s awesome to hear! Transitioning to Kratky and reservoir systems is a great way to reduce waste, and using rainwater really takes it to the next level in terms of sustainability. Hydro setups like these can be so efficient, and I love how you’re thinking about the long-term environmental impact. It’s all about working smarter and getting the most out of your resources! Keep up the great work, and feel free to share your progress - I’d love to hear how your setup continues to evolve. The Kratky Tray setup for growing microgreens has been our favorite lately!

[@mirasusanto8167]

Beautiful microgreens, so fresh and delicious

[@OnTheGrow]

Thank you! And yes, they are 🌱🌱✨️✨️✨️

[@sciencesaves]

Don’t use soil, it gets all over your harvest. Use coconut coir or plastic grow trays

[@OnTheGrow]

True, and technically coco-coir has the same chance of getting all over your harvest since they are both "soil-like" in texture. We think use whichever medium you enjoy best! Personally, I've (mandi) been loving the mats since I don't have to deal with any debris. However, from time to time, I'll still use soil or coco-coir when I want to grow crops like Swiss Chard, which can't be grown with the mats ✨️✨️

[@sciencesaves]

@@OnTheGrow cococoir is nothing like soil as far as getting on your harvest. That simply isn’t true. Soil will much more easily get into your harvest than the tighter packed, longer fiber coir. Also, cococoir is sterile, so if it gets on your harvest it’s no big deal and is easier to spray off, however with soil it could contain any number of contaminants and also soil hosts pests at a much higher rate than cococoir. I love cococoir :)