Score: 4/5
Introduction
FoxFarm is a US-based soil mix and fertilizer company that has been around for more than 30 years now, so you can be sure that it’s reputable and its products are of high quality. The Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil, which is recommended for use in both indoor and outdoor hanging baskets, container gardens, and seedling trays, is no exception.
Even though the main base is coco coir, it contains an impressive mix of premium natural ingredients likened by the company to those found on the fertile jungle floor—all of which provide all of the natural fertilizers and organic material necessary to grow healthy, productive marijuana plants in your own home.
As a result, plants growing in this soil require watering less frequently—according to FoxFarm, every two to three days should be enough. Plus, it’s been triple-washed to remove as much salt as possible. The Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil is pre-mixed and ready to use straight out of the bag, so there’s no need to waste time measuring and mixing yourself. This also makes it perfect for first-time growers to use. It comes in a 56.6-liter bag priced at a little more than $40, which is fairly reasonable for a product containing a multitude of high-quality, premium—and, therefore, relatively expensive—ingredients.
Ingredients
Base and Composts
The Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil contains an excellent blend of natural ingredients that make up the base. The main one is coco coir, which enables nutrients to get to the roots of the plant easily, thereby improving overall drainage and aeration. It is a fairly recent, but increasingly popular, ingredient in pre-mixed marijuana soils, with many growers using it to replace peat. This is because coco coir takes a lot longer to break down naturally, meaning less maintenance is required as it doesn’t have to be replaced as quickly or as often—plus, it helps to keep growing costs down, which is always great.
Another innovative ingredient included in this soil mix is composted forest humus—a natural compost found on a forest floor that is collected and included in potting mixes in order to be used as a soil conditioner. It holds nutrients that can help plants to grow, so it’s an extremely effective natural fertilizer. However, unlike synthetic fertilizers, the nutrients are released over a period of time, as and when they are required by the plant—almost like a drip-feed. Another advantage of forest humus is that it encourages the proliferation of the soil organisms that continually provide the plant with nutrients. It also helps aeration, water retention, and drainage. Composted forest humus is a relatively rare ingredient in many pre-mixed marijuana soils, so it puts the Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil above some similar products on the market.
Aeration and Drainage
To improve water drainage and aeration by providing spacing between particles of soil, perlite has been included in this mix. Originating from volcanic glass, perlite is a coarse substance that is ground down and mixed with soil to help to create an environment that is optimal for growing plants in general. It effectively makes it very difficult to overwater the plant—consequently, the risk of the soil or the roots rotting is minimal. As overwatering is a quick and easy way to kill any plant and ruin its overall yield, perlite is a great addition to any soil mix.
Mineral Additions
FoxFarm has included dolomite lime—an effective ingredient used to help regulate pH levels—in the Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil. Its high levels of calcium and micronutrients contribute to plant development and general health, as well as encouraging a high-quality yield.
Soil Amendments
This product also contains an excellent blend of natural soil amendments to fertilize and deliver nutrients to plants, some of which are relatively innovative. A prime example is bat guano, which is essentially bat faeces; however, it’s a vital ingredient that provides nutrients and beneficial bacteria that are present as a result of the bats’ diet of fruit and insects. It acts as not only a natural fertilizer but also a fungicide and an inoculant, thereby making it a fantastic ingredient that contributed to the effectiveness and overall quality of the Bush Doctor Coco Loco Potting Soil.
It’s worth noting that different types of bat guano should be used at different stages of a plant’s growth cycle. However, the exact type included in this potting soil is not specified. Even so, as it only makes up a small portion of the soil, this shouldn’t be a problem, even if used all year round.
Quick Summary—Pros and Cons
Pros
- Made by a reputable company known for its high-quality products
- Contains a range of innovative ingredients that help water retention, drainage, aeration, and growth
- Ready to use straight out of the bag
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Some of the company’s alternative potting soil products contain a more extensive mix of ingredients
