Farming, whether at home or on a larger scale, is full of decisions, from planning the growing cycle to selecting the right seeds.
But one of the most crucial choices every cultivator face is deciding on the cultivation system itself: should I grow in soil-based substrates or switch to a hydroponic grow system?
Well, as you may know, each method has its loyal advocates, its unique benefits, and its challenges. But as we move into 2025, the conversation has shifted. Factors like sustainability, control, scalability, and precision are now at the heart of decision-making for modern growers.
Soil growing offers a more traditional and forgiving environment, especially when working with high-quality substrate soils. On the other hand, hydroponic grow systems are gaining popularity for their speed, water efficiency, and space-saving potential — especially when paired with the right nutrients and tools.
In this updated guide, we’ll explore the strengths and limitations of both systems. This article is here to help you decide what’s best for your crop, your environment, and your goals in 2025.
INDEX OF CONTENTS
1. Understanding Your Options: Hydroponics and Soil-Based Substrates
2. What Is Hydroponics and How Does It Work?
a. Common Types of Hydroponic Systems
b. Why Choose Hydroponics?
3. What About Soil-Based Substrates?
a. What Are Soil-Based Substrates?
b. Why Choose Soil?
4. Soil vs. Hydroponics: The Key Differences in 2025
5. Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Each System
6. What Should You Choose in 2025?
7. Explore Our B’cuzz Range
Understanding Your Options: Hydroponics and Soil-Based Substrates
Before jumping into the comparison, let’s take a closer look at both systems. Knowing how each one works — and what makes them unique — is the first step to making the right choice for your growing needs.
We’ll start with hydroponics, then explore soil-based substrates, so you can feel confident in choosing the setup that matches your goals, your environment, and your crop.
Let’s dive (😉) in.
What Is Hydroponics and How Does It Work?
Hydroponics is a method of growing plants without soil, using a nutrient-rich water solution to deliver everything the plant needs directly to its roots.
Instead of drawing nutrients from the ground, plants in a hydroponic grow system absorb minerals dissolved in water, allowing for precise control over their feeding and environment.
Common Types of Hydroponic Systems
There isn’t just one way to grow hydroponically. Several systems have been developed to suit different scales, crops, and grower preferences:
• Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) – A shallow stream of nutrient solution continuously flows over the roots, ideal for lightweight crops like leafy greens.
• Deep Water Culture (DWC) – Plants are suspended in a nutrient-rich, oxygenated water reservoir, offering explosive growth potential.
• Recirculating systems – These systems collect, filter, and reuse hydroponics water, reducing waste and increasing efficiency.
• Hydroponics towers – Vertical hydroponic planters that maximize space by stacking plants in columns, perfect for urban or indoor growers.
Whether you are thinking about starting a hydroponic cultivation or want to upgrade your professional equipment, understanding these types will help you tailor your system to your goals.
Why Choose Hydroponics?
The appeal of hydroponics lies in its precision and efficiency. When managed well, it offers:
• Faster growth rates thanks to direct nutrient uptake.
• Higher yields in smaller spaces, especially with hydroponics towers.
• Water efficiency, as closed systems recycle water.
• Clean cultivation, reducing pests and diseases linked to soil.
It’s no wonder that crops like hydroponic lettuce and hydroponic tomatoes are increasingly common in both small and commercial setups.
In fact, seed planting using hydroponics allows for more uniform germination and easier early-stage monitoring, giving your grow a strong, healthy start.
What About Soil-Based Substrates?
While hydroponics is on the rise, many experienced cultivators still prefer the familiarity and flexibility of soil growing systems, especially when using high-quality substrate soils designed specifically for cultivation.
What Are Soil-Based Substrates?
Unlike native soil from your garden or field, substrate soil is a carefully composed growing medium made from components like peat, coco coir, perlite, and compost.
These blends offer consistency in structure, drainage, and nutrient retention, essential for predictable, productive crops.
You’ll often hear terms like substrate soil, universal substrate or potting mix, especially when referring to professional mixes tailored for different stages or types of cultivation.
At Atami, for example, our B’cuzz Soil A&B nutrient line is developed specifically for use with high-performing substrates to deliver balanced nutrition throughout the plant’s life cycle.
Why Choose Soil?
Soil cultivation has its own strengths:
• Forgiveness and buffer – Substrates offer a natural buffer for water and nutrients, making them more forgiving to beginner mistakes or environmental shifts.
• Microbial life – Healthy substrate supports beneficial microbes that can enhance root health and nutrient uptake.
• Rich flavor and complexity – Many growers believe soil-grown plants produce better aromas and taste, especially in fruiting or flowering crops.
Soil can also be more accessible for growers who want a more “hands-on” connection with their cultivation — mixing their own blends, adjusting watering cycles, or working with organic inputs.
Soil vs. Hydroponics: The Key Differences in 2025
Choosing between soil and hydroponics isn’t just about your preferences: it’s about performance, resources, and results.
Whether you’re scaling up your set-up or fine-tuning an existing one, understanding the key differences between these two systems is essential for making the right decision.
To help you compare them at a glance, we’ve put together a clear, up-to-date breakdown of what each method offers.
| Aspect | Soil-Based Substrates | Hydroponic Grow Systems |
| System Type | Traditional cultivation using substrate soil (peat, coco, compost, etc.) | Soilless systems using nutrient-rich water to feed plant roots directly |
| Control Level | Moderate – nutrients and water uptake depend on soil structure and microbial activity | High – precise control of nutrients, pH, and EC at every stage |
| Water Use Efficiency | Lower – more runoff and evaporation | Higher – recirculating systems reduce waste significantly (see hydroponics water) |
| Space Efficiency | Requires more horizontal space and larger containers | Vertical options like hydroponics towers optimize space |
| Learning Curve | Gentler – forgiving medium with natural buffers | Steeper – requires monitoring and adjustment |
| Initial Setup Cost | Lower upfront – especially for small-scale or outdoor grows | Higher upfront – especially for automated hydroponic planter or DWC/NFT systems |
| Growth Speed | Slower – depends on soil conditions and root development | Faster – direct access to oxygen and nutrients accelerates growth |
| Common Crops | Ideal for herbs, flowers, fruiting vegetables, and deep-rooted plants | Great for hydroponic lettuce, tomatoes, leafy greens, and compact crops |
| Maintenance Needs | Lower – fewer mechanical components, easier for organic growers | Higher – pumps, reservoirs, and regular water checks needed |
| Taste & Aroma | Often more complex – many growers favor soil for flavor development | Clean and consistent – especially with quality hydroponic fertilizers |
Choosing the Right Fertilizer for Each System
No matter how advanced your grow setup is, one thing remains essential to see good, consistent results: nutrition.
Here’s the key — hydroponic and soil-based crops don’t speak the same nutritional language.
In hydroponic systems, where plants grow without soil, precision is everything. You need a hydroponic fertilizer that’s fully water-soluble, stable, and instantly available to your plants.
That’s where Atami’s hydroponic range B’cuzz Hydro comes in.
• B’cuzz Hydro A&B a professional two-part nutrient tailored specifically for soilless cultivation. It ensures balanced feeding and optimal absorption, making it ideal for systems like NFT, DWC, or hydroponic towers.
• B’cuzz Hydro Booster Uni consist of two important components: A natural plant extract and a combination of nitrogen, magnesium, and iron. This solution is ideal for relieving stress and support the plant during the growth phase after using Root Stimulator and prepares it for the addition of Bloom Stimulator when it is about to start flowering.
In substrate soil cultivation, things work differently.
The substrate acts as a buffer and a biological system in itself. Here, nutrients must respect the natural pace of the plant and support soil health. The B’cuzz line also contains specific nutrients for soil cultivation:
• B’cuzz Soil A&B is specially designed for this — providing professional-grade nutrition that nourish the substrate delivering consistent results.
• B’cuzz Soil Booster Uni that works essentially as Hydro Booster Uni but tailored for this kind of growing method.
When it comes to additives and enhancers, Atami’s ones are suitable for all types of cultivation methods. So, if you want to switch from soil cultivation to hydroponics or vice versa, you can continue to rely on your favourite rooting or flowering additives!
✅ Now you know whether you’re working with a hydroponic grow system or planting in substrate soil, Atami has the right tools to power your crops.
What Should You Choose in 2025?
So… hydroponics or substrate soil?
There’s no universal answer.
The best system for you depends on your goals, available space, level of experience, and crop type.
Hydroponics might offer more control, yield and speed.
Soil-based substrates can offer you a more forgiving and intuitive experience, but one that is just as productive.
Whatever your choice, one thing is clear: understanding the system is the first step to mastering it.
At Atami, we don’t believe in shortcuts, we believe in giving cultivators, gardeners and producers the knowledge and tools they need to thrive. So, you can grow smarter, better, and on your own terms.
Explore Our B’cuzz Range
Ready to take your grow to the next level?
Explore the B’cuzz range from Atami —mineral nutrients tailored for hydroponic and substrate-based systems (and coco-based crops!), trusted by growers across the globe.
Need help deciding which products are right for you? Our team is here to offer expert advice and personalized recommendations.
👉 Discover all the solutions offered by the B’cuzz range
And remember, Atami helps you to maximise YIELD & TASTE!
