I have my room ready now 9x9 divided into 4x4 : 1 part for veg/clns other for flwrng.... NOW i need to decide on what medium for soil.. I have been told to use the Dutch Bukcet system. 6 bukcets and a reservoir, i think this is ebb and flow irrigation? Anyone have exeprience with the buckets or have a better idea on how to utilize a soil and self maintaining garden ??
Typically, ebb and flow systems are hydroponic. I believe there are some that use soil, but the hydropinic version is more common. If you use an ebb and flow, you will not need soil. Just some Hydroton and some net pots. Make sure you read all you can. And try to determine the best setup for your grow space. Hydropoically grown pot will grow faster than soil, but it will also develop problems more rapidly. So, make sure you are up for it.
Use soil, and just use the same method as hydro to set up the timing on a watering/drip system that waters your plants from the top. hydro has really lost advantages unless you REALLY want to spend time perfecting it, you REALLY have plenty of money to blow, and you REALLY need it to be 'self-maintaining'. I would only use hydro if I had 20+ plants, simply because I wouldn't want to fill that many buckets with soil and water them all. I'm not sure what you mean by medium for soil? If you mean what kind of soil, or if you're asking to use growing medium OR soil, of if you're asking what kind of growing medium to use. You ask at the bottom how to utilize soil... so i'll assume you want to grow similar to hydroponics, except with soil. A lot of people today prefer organics due to better flavor and no left over fertalizers in the bud. For this, use fox farm ocean soil. For suppliments use fox farm big bloom (also organic, and safe from nute burn)... use other nutrients at your own wish if you choose to. I'm not sure if this is what you needed, but I hope it helps somewhat!! good luck