Honestly not really if you take a few steps before. My options on grow mediums are a bit limited and all I use is Miracle Grow. First thing would be to lighten up the soil with some perlite. 25 perlite 75 soil. I fill 5 gallon buckets and soak them in water for a few days before planting. One bad thing with time released soil is that using your own newts is almost impossible during the first few months. I only use newts during the middle of flowering to stave off yellowing. Another thing is that flushing is a bit more difficult. You really need to flush with extra water to really get it flushed right. Also one other thing to keep in mind that these types of soils are always a bit acidic due to the gradual release. I use water with a ph of right at 7-7.2 and put a bit of lime on the top to help balance it out. Been doing this for years and works great. It isn't the best medium to grow but sometimes you have to use what you have around.