More growers than ever are switching to organic methods, and living soil is at the heart of it. If you’re looking for a clean, sustainable, and flavour-packed way to grow, Ecothrive’s living soil system is one of the best places to start.
This guide breaks down exactly how to get the best results using Ecothrive products, from soil and amendments to moisture control and top-dressing. Whether you're new to organic growing or looking to refine your method, this one’s for you.
Why Choose Living Soil?
Living soil mimics nature by relying on a thriving ecosystem of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nematodes, and micro-arthropods to feed your plants through organic processes. Rather than dosing synthetic nutrients directly to the plant, you feed the soil and let nature handle the rest.
The goal of a living soil system is to establish a healthy soil food web where microbes break down organic material, cycling nutrients in a form that plants can absorb. Fungi form symbiotic relationships with roots, improving nutrient uptake and drought resistance. Insects like springtails and predatory mites regulate populations. It’s a natural balance that replicates how plants grow in undisturbed environments.
The benefits?
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Enhanced flavour, aroma, and terpene content
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Better plant health and pest resistance
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No bottle feeds or flushing required
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Reusable soil with minimal input cost
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Great for no-till and regenerative setups
Start with Ecothrive Living Soil
Ecothrive Living Soil is a premium, peat-free blend designed for water-only growing. It uses coco coir as a base, which offers excellent aeration and moisture retention, and is pre-loaded with slow-release nutrition, worm castings, organic fertilisers, and beneficial microbes.
This means your plant is fed from day one by the living biology in the soil. Over time, those microbes continue breaking down the organic matter and mineralising nutrients into plant-available forms.
Why coco-based matters: With peat-based soils on their way out due to environmental regulation, Ecothrive’s coco-based system is a sustainable alternative. Coco allows for excellent drainage and root development while holding onto enough moisture to support microbial activity.
Watering in Living Soil (and Why It Matters)
Keeping the substrate at the right moisture level is critical in living soil systems. If the soil dries out too much, microbial life becomes dormant or dies off. If it stays too wet, oxygen levels drop and anaerobic conditions take over — which can lead to pathogens and poor nutrient cycling.
The sweet spot? Maintain soil moisture at 50–70% field capacity, which typically equates to 100–200 mbar on the Blumat Digital Pro Plus Soil Sensor. This keeps biology active while allowing airflow to the root zone.
Tips for watering right:
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Use dechlorinated water. Tap water contains chlorine and chloramine, which can wipe out beneficial microbes. Ecothrive Neutralise instantly neutralises both.
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Water slowly and evenly, ensuring full pot saturation without runoff.
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Avoid watering on a strict schedule. Let the soil guide you — monitor tension with a Blumat sensor.
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Use a mulch layer (straw, shredded leaves, or Ecothrive Charge) to reduce evaporation and support surface microbial life.
Feeding the Microbes, Not the Plant
In a living soil system, the microbes do the heavy lifting. That means your job is to support the microbial population through organic matter and correct environmental conditions.
How Ecothrive Soil Foods Help:
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Soil Food Grow: Provides nitrogen, calcium, and micronutrients from organic sources like alfalfa and kelp, supporting leafy growth in veg.
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Soil Food Bloom: Adds phosphorus and potassium from sources like rock phosphate and sulphate of potash, fuelling bud development.
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Soil Food Re-Gen: A tailored blend to re-amend used soil and restore microbial activity post-harvest.
Top-dress these at key growth stages and water them in. They slowly break down, feeding microbes and releasing nutrients over time. There’s no risk of overfeeding or salt build-up — it’s all part of the cycle.
Reinoculating Your Soil: When & Why
Even with the best practices, your microbial population may dip after transplant shock, environmental stress, or multiple cycles of use. This is where microbial inoculants come in.
Ecothrive Biosys is a powerful, fast-acting blend of beneficial bacteria, fungi (including Trichoderma), enzymes, humic acid, and plant root extracts. Think of it as an instant brew for your root zone. Use it:
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At the start of veg
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After repotting
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Following pest or watering issues
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Between runs when recycling soil
This kickstarts biological activity and helps re-establish balance in the root zone.
Top Tips for Organic Success
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Use Grassroots Living Soil Fabric Pots with moisture-locking liners (e.g., Grassroots) for even moisture distribution.
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Avoid synthetic fertilisers or pH adjusters – they kill beneficial microbes and disrupt the soil web.
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Keep your soil surface covered to support fungi and moisture retention.
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Avoid excessive root disturbance or tilling; let the network develop.
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Always dechlorinate tap water. Ecothrive Neutralise works instantly and protects your microbial population.
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Use Blumat Auto Watering Systems or sensors to maintain the perfect moisture level effortlessly.
The Full Organic Ecosystem Setup
For a complete living soil setup, we recommend:
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Ecothrive Living Soil (40L bags)
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Organic living soil growing isn’t about perfection — it’s about creating an environment where plants and microbes work together, much like the benefits of organic soil. Once your system is dialled in, you’ll spend less time mixing feeds and more time observing healthy, vigorous plants doing their thing naturally.
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Ecothrive Biosys (microbial tea)
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Ecothrive Neutralise (chlorine remover)
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Blumat Digital Pro Plus (moisture monitoring)
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Grassroots Living Soil Pots (56L with moisture lock)
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Straw mulch or Ecothrive Charge (as top layer)
This setup allows you to grow organically from seed to harvest with minimal intervention, while maintaining high yields, rich aroma, and flavour.
We've also made it really easy for you and made two custom kits using the Ecothrive living soil - click here.
Final Thoughts
Organic living soil growing isn’t about perfection; it’s about creating an environment where plants and microbes work together. Once your system is dialled in, you’ll spend less time mixing feeds and more time observing healthy, vigorous plants doing their thing naturally.
With Ecothrive, the guesswork is removed. The soil, microbes, and amendments are all carefully balanced to support optimal plant health. Whether you’re doing your first grow or cycling soil for the third time, this is one of the most rewarding (and sustainable) ways to grow.
Ready to go full circle? Explore the Ecothrive living soil range online or speak to our team in-store.
