In your words (Organics(

[HBZ]

My cuz finally retired and is getting back in action.. Try explaining the difference between Organics and salts....Be surprised how many ppl just don't know...This was my half ass answer....What's yours?

 

[BH]

organic vs synthetic growing


1. The Core Difference

Organic Growing

You feed the soil → the soil organisms break down the inputs → the microbes feed the plant

Mode of action: Biological

• Nutrients are locked in complex organic molecules (proteins, sugars, plant residues, manures, meals, etc.).
• Soil microbes decompose these materials using enzymes.
• As they break them down, microbes release nutrients in plant-available forms (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻, K⁺).
• Microbial cycling continues, improving soil health and structure.

The plant receives nutrients at the speed microbes work.

Synthetic / Mineral Growing

You feed the plant directly using chemically available ions.

Mode of action: Chemical

• Nutrients are already in ionic form (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, PO₄³⁻).
• When applied, the plant absorbs nutrients instantly through osmosis.
• No decomposition required.
• Works the same in soil, coco, rockwool, DWC, etc.

The plant receives nutrients at the speed the grower delivers them.


2. Where Each Nutrient Comes From

Organic sources

• Kelp meal
• Alfalfa meal
• Compost / worm castings
• Molasses
• Bone meal
• Fish hydrolysate
• Manures
• Ferments (FPJ, KNF inputs)
• Microbial inoculants (Tribus, OG Biowar, EM-1)

These all require microbes to unlock nutrients.

Synthetic sources

• Calcium nitrate
• MAP / MKP
• Potassium sulfate
• Magnesium sulfate (Epsom)
• Urea
• Chelated micros (EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA)
• Controlled-release fertilizers
• Liquid NPK salts

These dissolve into water and become immediately usable.

3. Scientific Modes of Action

Organic = microbial enzymatic release

Microbes

• Mineralize organic nitrogen into ammonium
• Nitrify ammonium into nitrate
• Solubilize phosphorus and potassium
• Excrete acids and enzymes that break down complex molecules
• Buffer pH and bind excess salts
• Create humic substances which feed the soil structure

Plants indirectly benefit from:

• Increased CEC
• Better water retention
• Disease suppression
• Mycorrhizal symbiosis (more P, micronutrients, drought protection)

Synthetic = ionic osmosis + plant signaling

Mineral fertigation affects plants by:

• Immediate availability of ions
• Predictable uptake based on EC
• Direct influence on osmotic pressure
• Stronger modulation of plant hormones (via nitrate/ammonium ratios)
• Faster response to deficiencies or excesses
• No need for microbial cycling

This is why hydro and coco are so responsive and high-yielding.


4. Soil Biology Differences

Organic growing

• Creates a full living ecosystem
• High microbial diversity
• High fungal presence (especially mycorrhizae)
• Builds soil over time
• Lower risk of nutrient burn
• More disease suppression through competition
• More terpene expression through secondary metabolites

Synthetic growing

• Works with low microbe counts (especially in sterile systems)
• Predictable, measurable nutrient levels
• Allows extremely high oxygen availability (hydro, coco)
• Faster growth due to direct uptake
• Can accumulate salts requiring flushes
• Less natural disease suppression

5. Speed, Yield, and Quality Differences

Organic
✔ Rich flavor, smell, terpene complexity
✔ More forgiving to mistakes
✔ Soil improves every cycle
✔ Plants are less stressed
✘ Slower response time
✘ Less control over exact nutrient profiles
✘ Heavy inputs may attract pests (if not managed right)


Synthetic
✔ Fastest growth
✔ Highest potential yields
✔ Immediate correction of deficiencies
✔ Perfect for hydroponic or coco
✘ Salt buildup
✘ Requires exact pH/EC control
✘ Sterile systems can be disease-prone
✘ Some people feel organic tastes better (subjective but common)



6. How Each Produces Nutrients for the Plant
Organic nutrients require:

• Microbial enzymes → break down proteins
• Fungi → deliver phosphorus
• Bacteria → convert N
• Earthworms → castings rich in chitinase, auxins, GA, cytokinins
• Humic substances → chelate nutrients naturally

This is a slow-release, buffered, living system.


Synthetic nutrients require:

• Proper EC
• Proper pH
• Proper ratios based on plant stage
• Adequate irrigation
• No need for microbes

This is a precision feeding system.

7. The Hybrid Method

Many growers run:

• ORGANIC base (compost teas, meals, microbe cycling)
  • MINERAL add-ons (silica, phosphorus, supplemental micros)
  • BIOLOGICALS (OG Biowar, Tribus, SABF, Cease, Bacillus, Regalia)

This is called Biologically Active Mineral (BAM) Growing

or

Bio-Organic Synthetic Hybrid

You get:

• The power and speed of mineral ions
• The flavor, disease resistance, and buffer of organics
• A living soil that can correct small mistakes
• Better terpenes
• Faster veg and thick stems
• Stronger IPM resistance due to a diverse microbiome

It’s honestly the best of both worlds if you do it right.

 

[HBZ]

organic vs synthetic growing


1. The Core Difference

Organic Growing

You feed the soil → the soil organisms break down the inputs → the microbes feed the plant

Mode of action: Biological

• Nutrients are locked in complex organic molecules (proteins, sugars, plant residues, manures, meals, etc.).
• Soil microbes decompose these materials using enzymes.
• As they break them down, microbes release nutrients in plant-available forms (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻, K⁺).
• Microbial cycling continues, improving soil health and structure.

The plant receives nutrients at the speed microbes work.

Synthetic / Mineral Growing

You feed the plant directly using chemically available ions.

Mode of action: Chemical

• Nutrients are already in ionic form (NO₃⁻, NH₄⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, PO₄³⁻).
• When applied, the plant absorbs nutrients instantly through osmosis.
• No decomposition required.
• Works the same in soil, coco, rockwool, DWC, etc.

The plant receives nutrients at the speed the grower delivers them.


2. Where Each Nutrient Comes From

Organic sources

• Kelp meal
• Alfalfa meal
• Compost / worm castings
• Molasses
• Bone meal
• Fish hydrolysate
• Manures
• Ferments (FPJ, KNF inputs)
• Microbial inoculants (Tribus, OG Biowar, EM-1)

These all require microbes to unlock nutrients.

Synthetic sources

• Calcium nitrate
• MAP / MKP
• Potassium sulfate
• Magnesium sulfate (Epsom)
• Urea
• Chelated micros (EDTA, DTPA, EDDHA)
• Controlled-release fertilizers
• Liquid NPK salts

These dissolve into water and become immediately usable.

3. Scientific Modes of Action

Organic = microbial enzymatic release

Microbes

• Mineralize organic nitrogen into ammonium
• Nitrify ammonium into nitrate
• Solubilize phosphorus and potassium
• Excrete acids and enzymes that break down complex molecules
• Buffer pH and bind excess salts
• Create humic substances which feed the soil structure

Plants indirectly benefit from:

• Increased CEC
• Better water retention
• Disease suppression
• Mycorrhizal symbiosis (more P, micronutrients, drought protection)

Synthetic = ionic osmosis + plant signaling

Mineral fertigation affects plants by:

• Immediate availability of ions
• Predictable uptake based on EC
• Direct influence on osmotic pressure
• Stronger modulation of plant hormones (via nitrate/ammonium ratios)
• Faster response to deficiencies or excesses
• No need for microbial cycling

This is why hydro and coco are so responsive and high-yielding.


4. Soil Biology Differences

Organic growing

• Creates a full living ecosystem
• High microbial diversity
• High fungal presence (especially mycorrhizae)
• Builds soil over time
• Lower risk of nutrient burn
• More disease suppression through competition
• More terpene expression through secondary metabolites

Synthetic growing

• Works with low microbe counts (especially in sterile systems)
• Predictable, measurable nutrient levels
• Allows extremely high oxygen availability (hydro, coco)
• Faster growth due to direct uptake
• Can accumulate salts requiring flushes
• Less natural disease suppression

5. Speed, Yield, and Quality Differences

Organic
✔ Rich flavor, smell, terpene complexity
✔ More forgiving to mistakes
✔ Soil improves every cycle
✔ Plants are less stressed
✘ Slower response time
✘ Less control over exact nutrient profiles
✘ Heavy inputs may attract pests (if not managed right)


Synthetic
✔ Fastest growth
✔ Highest potential yields
✔ Immediate correction of deficiencies
✔ Perfect for hydroponic or coco
✘ Salt buildup
✘ Requires exact pH/EC control
✘ Sterile systems can be disease-prone
✘ Some people feel organic tastes better (subjective but common)



6. How Each Produces Nutrients for the Plant
Organic nutrients require:

• Microbial enzymes → break down proteins
• Fungi → deliver phosphorus
• Bacteria → convert N
• Earthworms → castings rich in chitinase, auxins, GA, cytokinins
• Humic substances → chelate nutrients naturally

This is a slow-release, buffered, living system.


Synthetic nutrients require:

• Proper EC
• Proper pH
• Proper ratios based on plant stage
• Adequate irrigation
• No need for microbes

This is a precision feeding system.

7. The Hybrid Method

Many growers run:

• ORGANIC base (compost teas, meals, microbe cycling)
  • MINERAL add-ons (silica, phosphorus, supplemental micros)
  • BIOLOGICALS (OG Biowar, Tribus, SABF, Cease, Bacillus, Regalia)

This is called Biologically Active Mineral (BAM) Growing

or

Bio-Organic Synthetic Hybrid

You get:

• The power and speed of mineral ions
• The flavor, disease resistance, and buffer of organics
• A living soil that can correct small mistakes
• Better terpenes
• Faster veg and thick stems
• Stronger IPM resistance due to a diverse microbiome

It’s honestly the best of both worlds if you do it right.

Awesome @BH ..This all makes perfect sense to me.. Hopefully it does to him. I remember being so damn confused about organic Grows once I went away from hydro...I read that book teaming with microbes about 4 times before I fully understood..Such a great book btw..Thanks BH. Be hard to top this reply...For someone just trying to grasp the basic concept it's hard to explain.....They need to write the book Organics for dummies...I would have bought it. Imagine trying to text someone in a paragraph how YOU do things.... I've been watching ya for awhile and learned a lot from you alone...But nobody could just pick up doing what you do from scratch

 

[rkymtnman]

i'd ask him if hes' willing/able to visit the plant daily and do more science stuff (hydro/coco/etc) or just water dirt every few days?

 

[HBZ]

i'd ask him if hes' willing/able to visit the plant daily and do more science stuff (hydro/coco/etc) or just water dirt every few days?

Well i do know he's had multiple very successful grows...BUT mostly outdoors where mother nature did her thing..Also multiple indoor grows thru the years but nothing real serious...(Drop em in Ocean forest soil. Pop em with some miracle grow type shit. Of course ya can make that work...Did it Alot as a teen... however we all know basic grows gets ya basic weed... especially basic terps..I do know he's already stocked on some happy frog and ocean forest and has ordered the same liquid I use which is Blue planet organic line...I don't want to overwhelm him with all the amendments I use cause that would definitely turn 99% of the ppl away based solely on confusion..It would be impossible for me to explain my methods to anyone...I could only mention the basics and base practices

 

[Frimpong]

Well i do know he's had multiple very successful grows...BUT mostly outdoors where mother nature did her thing..Also multiple indoor grows thru the years but nothing real serious...(Drop em in Ocean forest soil. Pop em with some miracle grow type shit. Of course ya can make that work...Did it Alot as a teen... however we all know basic grows gets ya basic weed... especially basic terps..I do know he's already stocked on some happy frog and ocean forest and has ordered the same liquid I use which is Blue planet organic line...I don't want to overwhelm him with all the amendments I use cause that would definitely turn 99% of the ppl away based solely on confusion..It would be impossible for me to explain my methods to anyone...I could only mention the basics and base practices

Tell him to keep it simple . Organic ftw!