Soilless Growing Media for Cannabis Cultivation

Matěj Malík () and Pavel Tlustoš
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Matěj Malík: Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha-Suchdol, Czech Republic
Pavel Tlustoš: Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha-Suchdol, Czech Republic

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-31

Abstract: Standardized pharmaceutical-grade cultivation of Cannabis sativa L. increasingly relies on soilless systems for precision, reproducibility, and regulatory compliance. This review examines the role of inert and semi-inert growing media in indoor cannabis production, focusing on their physical properties, agronomic performance, and sustainability. A systematic literature search was conducted using databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, emphasizing peer-reviewed original research, experimental trials, and relevant review articles. Evaluated substrates include rockwool, coconut coir, peat-based blends, perlite, vermiculite, expanded clay, foamed glass, phenolic foam, and biochar. Findings show that substrate selection strongly affects vegetative growth, rooting, and flower yield, while cannabinoid concentrations remain primarily genotype-driven under stable environmental and nutritional conditions. Substrate-specific traits such as aeration, water-holding capacity, and nutrient buffering significantly influence biomass production and resource-use efficiency. Rockwool remains the industry standard due to its uniformity and compatibility with fertigation systems, but renewable alternatives like coconut coir and biochar are gaining traction. This review underscores the importance of substrate selection in cannabis cultivation and identifies research gaps in genotype-specific responses and the development of sustainable growing media.

Keywords: Cannabis sativa L.; soilless cultivation; phytocannabinoids; inert media; THC; hydroponics; coconut coir; CBD; medicinal plants; sustainability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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