What is better for a new grower – hydroponics or soil?
I believe the all around “better”, more convenient setup is soil. Hydro makes plants grow faster, but won’t make your buds more potent than soil. Hydro should be attempted after you have a few successful soil crops under your belt. If you are starting from seed and growing for personal, soil is the practical growing medium. If the crop is started with clones and is commercial, a hydroponics setup is more practical.