Simple Outdoor Growing Recipe

This guide is provided for educational purposes only and is intended for adults 21 years of age or older who are growing legally in their jurisdiction. Following this recipe does not guarantee success. Growing plants involves many variables outside of your control, and issues can arise even when best practices are followed. This guide is meant to set you on the right track and improve your chances of success, not to replace experience, observation, or local knowledge.

A low-input, soil-based outdoor growing method for people who want healthy plants with minimal intervention. This recipe uses Nature’s Living Soil, larger containers or ground planting, natural sunlight, and simple observation.

1. Choose your location.
   Pick a spot with full sun (at least 6 to 8 hours per day), good airflow, and protection from standing water.
2. Confirm daylight hours if growing photoperiodic plants outdoors.
   Before you plant photoperiodic genetics outside, check how many daylight hours you have in your area. Photoperiodic plants need about 13.5 hours of daylight or more to stay in vegetative growth. If daylight is consistently below 13.5 hours, plants can begin flowering early.

   Practical tip: if you are planting early in the season, verify day length for your exact location and date range, not just your state.

3. Select container size or grow directly in the ground with good quality soil amended with compost or fertilizer.
   Container size depends on plant type, automated water or not, and level of intense sun you are getting each day. Choose a bigger pot if you do not plan to water much and will get lots of direct sun.
   • Autoflowers: 5 to 10 gallon fabric pots.
   • Photoperiods: 15 to 30+ gallon fabric pots (or ground planting)
   Bigger containers mean more stable moisture and nutrient availability, especially for long-season photoperiod plants.
4. Prepare your soil mix.
   Use organic potting soil as the base. You may blend in native soil if it is clean and well-structured.
5. Mix in Nature’s Living Soil.
   Follow the recommended rate: 3.2 ounces per gallon of container volume. Mix thoroughly so nutrients are evenly distributed.
6. Create a buffer zone.
   This is important for seedlings. Create a small pocket in the center of the container using plain potting soil with no concentrate. Plant your seed or transplant into this buffer zone.
7. Plant and water in.
   Water gently to settle the soil. Do not flood the container on day one.
8. Add a plant cage early.
   Install a cage or support structure while the plant is small. This provides:
   • Support for heavy flowers later
   • Protection from wind and storms
   • Better airflow and structure
9. Watering routine.
   Outdoor watering depends on weather. Water when the top few inches of soil are dry and the container feels lighter. Mulch the surface to reduce evaporation and stabilize moisture.
10. Top dress only if needed.
    If plants slow down later in the season, lightly top dress with Nature’s Living Soil concentrate or follow their compost tea guidance. Do not panic-feed.

• Mulch heavily to protect soil biology and reduce watering frequency
• Watch weather forecasts and secure plants before storms
• Expect insects; healthy outdoor plants can tolerate some pressure
• Do not spray unnecessarily; identify pests before acting
• Prune lightly for airflow, especially in humid climates

Outdoor plants thrive when given space, soil volume, and stability. Large containers, living soil fertility, and structural support allow plants to handle weather and finish strong.

If you want to understand the why behind each step, visit the Growing Guide and deep-dive reference pages.

Go to the Growing Guide

Back to top