Been seeing all the hype around hydro and coco lately, and yeah they’re cool — but there’s something about a simple soil grow that just feels right. Running a mix of organic soil, perlite, worm castings and compost for my current girls. No bottled nutes, just teas and top-dressing when needed.

They might not bulk up like some hydro setups, but they’re healthy, smell amazing, and I’m not chasing numbers anymore. Just enjoying the process and watching them thrive.

Curious — any other dirt growers still out here keeping it old school? What’s your go-to mix or must-know tip?

I’ve had big yield phases, but these days I’m more about healthy, happy plants. Watching them thrive without stressing over every gram is just a better vibe. Still, not gonna lie — pulling a fat harvest never gets old either.

Hey mate, sounds like you’ve got a solid base mix going — that combo should treat your plants well for a first run. Dirt is forgiving, especially when you're still learning. You don’t have to be exact every time, which helps.

Started my first indoor grow — just two plants under LEDs. Learned quick not to overwater and to stick to the light schedule (18/6 veg, 12/12 flower). They’re in flower now and smelling strong.

Biggest tip so far: airflow matters way more than I thought. Anyone got good advice for curing once harvest hits?

Headed out around 6:30am — surf was pretty clean. Waist to chest high sets coming through, nothing huge but super fun. Light offshore winds made for smooth faces and easier take-offs. Water temp’s still decent, just wore a spring suit and was sweet.

Crowd was mellow too. Maybe 5–6 people out when I paddled in, mostly longboarders. Caught a few nice runners on the inside and a couple punchy ones out the back. Good mix of sections for both turns and cruising.

If you’re thinking of heading out, defs worth it. Just don’t forget wax

If you’re like me and checking Surfline after a sesh , here’s how to decode the basics:

3–4 ft = wave face height, not Hawaiian scale. Think chest to head-high.

10s = swell period — anything over 10 seconds usually means cleaner, more powerful waves. Under 8s? Wind mush.

WNW = swell direction. West/northwest swells hit different depending on your local spot’s angle. Know your beach.

Fun fact: higher period swells feel punchier even if they’re the same size like the difference between a mellow puff and that one cone that catches you off guard