What each medium is
Soil is the traditional choice: a living mix that holds water and nutrients and releases them gradually, which gives it a natural buffer against small feeding mistakes.
Coco coir is made from coconut husk. It is an inert, fast-draining medium: it holds air and water well but brings very little nutrition of its own, so the plant depends on what you feed. Growing in coco therefore means using a complete nutrient feed from the start.
Hydroponics, including deep water culture (DWC), grows roots in or above a nutrient solution rather than in soil. The solution is how the plant receives its mineral elements, so growing hydroponics gives the fastest response to changes, good or bad.
How the three compare
The table below is a simple, qualitative comparison rather than a set of measurements. Soil is the most forgiving, coco sits in the middle, and hydro or DWC gives the most control while asking for the closest attention.
| Soil | Coco coir | Hydro / DWC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forgiveness | Most forgiving; buffers mistakes | Moderate | Least forgiving |
| Watering and feeding frequency | Less frequent | More frequent | Continuous nutrient solution |
| How much you control | Least | More | Most |
| Typical beginner suitability | Good starting point | Suits growers ready to feed every watering | Suits growers ready to manage a reservoir |
Feeding coco
Because coco is inert, coco nutrients need to be a complete feed from the very first watering. Monkey Grow A+B and Bloom A+B supply all 17 essential macro and micro nutrients and are designed for coco, soil and hydroponic systems, so the same base feeds work as coco coir nutrients.
Coco has a high cation exchange capacity and can bind calcium and magnesium, which is why the Monkey feeding chart calls for Cal-Mag in coco. Monkey Mag Cal is used at 1–2 ml per litre in coco, and it is particularly relevant with soft or RO water. Do not add Mag Cal in the flush week.
Feeding soil
Soil offers more buffering than coco or hydro, so it is the most forgiving place to learn. Existing fertility varies from one mix to another, so start from the Monkey feed chart and follow it week by week rather than improvising. The base feeds are the same Grow A+B and Bloom A+B used in coco and hydro.
Feeding hydro and DWC
In hydro and DWC the reservoir is the root zone, so its condition matters most. Change the nutrient solution in the reservoir weekly and keep a close eye on root health; our root rot guide explains what to look for. Feeding is the same in DWC and hydro.
Ultra Zyme is an enzyme supplement used for root-zone health and appears in the feed chart alongside the base feeds. Hydroponic nutrients still follow the same chart as the other media.
Mixing coco with soil
Some growers blend coco into soil to change how the mix holds water and air. Mixing coco with soil gives a medium that behaves somewhere between the two, so watch how it drains and dries back, and feed according to how the mix behaves. This is a general explanation, not a recommended ratio.
EC and pH across media
The Monkey feed EC targets are the same across media: the chart does not give separate EC rows for coco, soil or hydro. The Monkey chart gives a pH range of 5.5–6.5. As general guidance only, not label or chart figures, coco and hydro or DWC typically sit around 5.5–6.2 and soil a little higher at about 6.0–6.5.
Flushing
Whatever the medium, flush for at least 1 week before harvest. Mag Cal is not added in the flush week.
Boosters are the same in every medium
Boosters follow the same timetable in coco, soil and hydro. Boost starts from day 5 of flower. Resin starts in bloom week 3. PK 9/18 is used at 2.5 ml per 10 L in flowering weeks 4–6. PK 9/18 and Resin are alternative programmes, so choose one in the feed chart or calculator.
Good questions
Is coco better than soil for beginners?
Soil is the most forgiving medium because it buffers feeding mistakes. Coco is inert and relies on a complete feed from the start, so it asks for a little more attention.
Do I need Cal-Mag in coco?
Usually, yes. Coco can bind calcium and magnesium, so the Monkey feeding chart calls for Mag Cal in coco at 1–2 ml per litre, especially with soft or RO water. Do not add it in the flush week.
Can I use the same nutrients in coco, soil and hydro?
Yes. Monkey Grow A+B and Bloom A+B are designed for coco, soil and hydroponic systems, and the boosters follow the same timetable in every medium.
How often should I change a hydro reservoir?
Change the nutrient solution in the reservoir weekly.
Can I mix coco with soil?
Yes, some growers blend coco into soil. The mix behaves somewhere between the two media, so watch how it drains and feed according to how it behaves.
Is the EC the same in coco and soil?
Yes. The Monkey feed EC targets are the same across media. pH differs: as general guidance, coco and hydro sit around 5.5–6.2 and soil about 6.0–6.5.
