Amount exceeded
The RQS Blog
.
News and Industry
RQS News
Cannabis Culture
Cannabis Use
Cannabis How To
Gadgets and Accessories
Canna-recipes
Legalization
Cannabis Around The World
Gaia F1 Case Study: Cultivation Trial in Coco vs Rockwool
Discover the Gaia F1 hybrid cannabis trial at Vertify, comparing rockwool and coco substrates. Learn how substrate, nutrients, and irrigation affect yields and plant stability, with practical insights to maximise the potential of F1 cannabis seeds.
Contents:
- Trial design and methodology: inside the gaia f1 hybrid trial
- Rockwool cannabis growing: stable yields and compact plants
- Coco cannabis growing: higher potential but greater variability
- Comparative insights: rockwool vs coco for cannabis yield and stability
- Choosing the best substrate for cannabis f1 hybrids (rockwool vs coco)
The rise of stable F1 cannabis seeds has transformed cultivation across the world, from large commercial operations to small indoor tents and domestic gardens. For the first time, growers can access vigorous, uniform, and predictable plants when starting from seed. However, despite the hard work we’ve carried out here at RQS to create our line of F1 hybrids, we realise that genetics are only half of the equation. Substrate choice, irrigation, lighting, and nutrition can shift the way plants express their traits, directly affecting growth and yield.
To help home growers unlock the best results possible, we’ve conducted rigorous cultivation trials at Vertify to develop clear, evidence-based standard operating procedures (SOPs) that can be replicated in your grow tent or garden. These trials identify which environmental factors push our F1 hybrids to their productive limits, from different types of water and media to nutrient levels, plant spacing, and organic conditions.
Below, we’re going to introduce you to Vertify and the F1 hybrid variety we tested, and then walk you through the trial results, substrate comparisons, and recommendations to help you get bigger yields every harvest.
Key Takeaway
- F1 hybrid trials performance: Gaia F1 demonstrated remarkable uniformity and compact growth across both rockwool and coco, confirming that F1 seeds are stable under well-managed conditions.
- Substrate trade-offs: Rockwool provided predictable, consistent yields ideal for reliable production, while coco offered slightly higher potential yields but with greater variability.
- Treatment impacts: Rainwater and low WC treatments performed poorly, highlighting the importance of controlled irrigation and nutrient regimes for commercial cultivation.
- Optimising yields: Harvest indices ranged from 54%–69%, generally higher in rockwool. Future trials with denser planting (up to 8–9 plants/m²) could push yields toward 1.5 kg/m², particularly under optimised conditions at CRIC Labs.
Vertify Trials: A Trusted Hub for Plant Innovation
To get the best data, we partnered with Vertify, one of Europe’s top applied horticultural research centres. Founded in 1986, Vertify now runs advanced greenhouses and trial fields at Zwaagdijk and the World Horti Center. With decades of experience and 25+ projects a year, Vertify is the ideal partner for rigorous cannabis testing.
(g/plant) and kilograms per square metre (kg/m²).
Introducing Gaia F1
Among the cannabis F1 hybrids available, Gaia F1 has secured a place at the forefront of popularity and performance. Created from a carefully selected genetic pool that includes New Breed Auto, Black Domina, and Sin Tra Bajo, Gaia F1 is the culmination of a multi-year breeding program focused on stability, uniformity, and improved pest tolerance.
Packed with relaxing terpenes and plenty of THC, Gaia F1 exerts a deeply relaxing effect and offers notes of sweetness, mint, and citrus. From a cultivation standpoint, Gaia F1 was specifically designed for quick, compact, and consistent growth, typically reaching 50–70 cm and arriving at harvest just 65–70 days after germination. Despite her small footprint, she produces satisfying yields of dense and resinous flowers.
Overall, Gaia F1 possesses a unique and impressive genetic profile that made her a prime pick for substrate testing at Vertify. So, if you’re still wondering ‘how stable are F1 hybrid cannabis seeds?’, let’s dive into the trial and fill you in on the details!
Gaia F1
|
New Breed Auto x Black Domina x Sin Tra bajo |
|
40 - 45 days |
|
THC: Very high |
|
Physically Relaxing, Sleepy, Stoned |
|
65 - 70 days after germination |
Trial Design and Methodology: Inside the Gaia F1 Hybrid Trial
Vertify designed the Gaia F1 study to go beyond a simple side-by-side substrate comparison. Conducted from December 2024 to February 2025, the trial was structured to reveal how water quality, nutrient intensity, and delivery methods interact with F1 hybrid cannabis stability across 384 individual plants. Each substrate, rockwool and coco, was placed under near-identical conditions for light (800 µmol/m²/s across an 18-hour photoperiod), temperature, and humidity, isolating the effects of substrate and input regimes. Plants in all groups were spaced at 6 plants/m² to replicate both home cultivation and intensive commercial cultivation.
Researchers recorded irrigation frequency and plant height every week. At harvest, inflorescences were weighed fresh and dry, and yields were converted to grams per plant (g/plant) and kilograms per square metre (kg/m²).
Control
This baseline treatment delivered a balanced NPK solution at moderate EC and standard irrigation intervals. By setting this as the “zero point,” Vertify could measure the impact of all other interventions on yield, F1 hybrid stability, and overall plant vigour and performance.
Enhanced Nutrients
The enhanced nutrients group in the cannabis substrate trials pushed Gaia F1 toward more intensive feeding. Interestingly, previous research has shown that higher nitrogen and potassium during flowering can increase biomass, but sometimes dilute cannabinoid concentrations [1]. By establishing this group, Vertify sought to find the sweet spot between flower density and reduced potency.
Reduced Nutrients
Reducing total nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium (NPK) at all stages simulated a low-input regime. Studies on both hemp and cannabis suggest that moderate nutrient stress, although counterintuitive, can trigger secondary metabolite production, potentially boosting levels of terpenes including myrcene and caryophyllene [1]. However, prolonged deficiency may also reduce both yields and potency.
Rainwater
In this treatment, researchers replaced mineralised irrigation water with collected rainwater, which has very low EC. In horticulture, rainwater’s lack of dissolved salts allows precise nutrient dosing but also increases the risk of pH instability. Rainwater may reduce salt stress but could lead to micronutrient deficiencies if not supplemented correctly. Data from this group is significant to outdoor growers of F1 hybrids, especially those who are more self-sufficient and make an effort to harvest rainwater.
Low WC (Water Content)
Restricted irrigation frequency created a controlled drought-like environment. Previous studies have shown that water stress can modulate the levels of cannabinoids at different periods of growth, including THC, CBD, and CBN [2]. This treatment tested Gaia F1’s resilience, root zone efficiency, and overall response to water stress.
Mineral
Researchers designed the mineral treatment to test Gaia F1’s response to a nutrient-rich substrate with enhanced macro- and micronutrients. Researchers increased EC and supplied additional elements to stimulate metabolic activity, aiming to evaluate effects on different parameters.
Organic
This blend of slow-release organic nutrients mimicked living-soil or bio-amended systems. Organic regimes can influence the microbial population in the root zone, which in turn affects nutrient availability and secondary metabolite production. Testing Gaia F1 in this environment provided insight into how stable F1 cannabis seeds perform in lower-input, sustainability-oriented systems.
Rockwool Cannabis Growing: Stable Yields and Compact Plants
In rockwool conditions, Gaia F1 maintained exceptional consistency. Heights clustered tightly between 49–56 cm, demonstrating the variety’s stability. Yield per plant ranged from 116–133 g, with a mean area yield of about 0.80 kg/m² at 6 plants/m².
| Treatment | Yield (g/plant) | Yield (kg/m²) | Height (cm) |
| Control | 133 | 0.80 | 56 |
| Enhanced Nutrients | 129 | 0.78 | 55 |
| Reduced Nutrients | 121 | 0.75 | 53 |
| Rainwater | 116 | 0.70 | 52 |
| Low WC | 118 | 0.72 | 49 |
| Mineral | 130 | 0.79 | 55 |
| Organic | 122 | 0.75 | 53 |
| Control | |
|---|---|
| Yield (g/plant) | 133 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.80 |
| Height (cm) | 56 |
| Enhanced Nutrients | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 129 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.78 |
| Height (cm) | 55 |
| Reduced Nutrients | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 121 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.75 |
| Height (cm) | 53 |
| Rainwater | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 116 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.70 |
| Height (cm) | 52 |
| Low WC | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 118 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.72 |
| Height (cm) | 49 |
| Mineral | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 130 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.79 |
| Height (cm) | 55 |
| Organic | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 122 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.75 |
| Height (cm) | 53 |
Research findings:
- Rockwool produced narrow variance in both height and yield.
- Even stress treatments (rainwater, low WC) did not drastically disrupt morphology, confirming F1 hybrid stability.
- The harvest index averaged 61%, with peaks at 69% under control conditions.
Coco Cannabis Growing: Higher Potential but Greater Variability
Coco cannabis growing showed Gaia F1’s capacity for higher single-plant yields but also revealed greater spread between treatments. Plant height varied from 40–58 cm, and yields spanned from 57–136 g per plant. Average area yield reached 0.82 kg/m², slightly higher than rockwool’s but with larger swings.
| Treatment | Yield (g/plant) | Yield (kg/m²) | Height (cm) |
| Control | 128 | 0.77 | 55 |
| Enhanced Nutrients | 132 | 0.80 | 56 |
| Reduced Nutrients | 105 | 0.64 | 50 |
| Rainwater | 57 | 0.34 | 40 |
| Low WC | 89 | 0.54 | 48 |
| Mineral | 136 | 0.82 | 58 |
| Organic | 118 | 0.71 | 52 |
| Control | |
|---|---|
| Yield (g/plant) | 128 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.77 |
| Height (cm) | 55 |
| Enhanced Nutrients | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 132 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.80 |
| Height (cm) | 56 |
| Reduced Nutrients | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 105 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.64 |
| Height (cm) | 50 |
| Rainwater | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 57 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.34 |
| Height (cm) | 40 |
| Low WC | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 89 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.54 |
| Height (cm) | 48 |
| Mineral | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 136 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.82 |
| Height (cm) | 58 |
| Organic | |
| Yield (g/plant) | 118 |
| Yield (kg/m²) | 0.71 |
| Height (cm) | 52 |
Research findings:
- Coco achieved the highest single-plant yield (mineral: 136 g/plant).
- Rainwater and low WC treatments performed poorly, underscoring the importance of consistent irrigation.
- Greater variability may appeal to advanced growers seeking to fine-tune conditions, but it’s riskier for scaled operations.
Comparative Insights: Rockwool vs Coco for Cannabis Yield and Stability
These cannabis substrate comparison results highlight the trade-offs between variables. Rockwool delivered predictable results, making it a potential preferred option for consistent production and showing how stable F1 hybrid cannabis seeds can be. In contrast, coco cannabis growing offered slightly higher potential yields but at the cost of stability.
The overall key patterns from this trial include:
- Compact plants across both substrates confirm consistent morphology under varying conditions.
- Poor performance with rainwater and WC suggests avoiding these treatments and prompts outdoor growers to develop holistic nutrient regimes.
- Harvest index ranged from 54% to 69%, higher in rockwool than coco on average.
- Under optimal conditions, pushing plant density could help growers achieve higher yields per area.
Choosing the Best Substrate for Cannabis F1 Hybrids (Rockwool vs Coco)
These Gaia F1 hybrid trial results provide a clear framework for substrate choice depending on grower experience. For growers aiming at predictable yields with minimal risk, rockwool cannabis growing remains the top choice. Its tight performance band reflects strong F1 hybrid stability and makes it easy to forecast output.
For more experienced growers seeking higher peaks, cultivating in coco can deliver, but only under carefully managed conditions. Your choice of substrate for cannabis F1 hybrids should depend on your skill level, facility controls, and tolerance for variability.
Practical tips:
- Maintain consistent irrigation and nutrient regimes.
- Avoid low water content or rainwater treatments for Gaia F1.
- Increase plant density gradually to maximise the compact structure of Gaia F1.
- Track EC and pH closely, especially in coco systems.
By aligning substrate choice with your operational goals, you can unlock the full potential of reliable F1 cannabis seeds like Gaia F1.
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.
Grow Cannabis With RQS
.jpg)
Categories
Grow Cannabis With RQS
