What about the possibility of using a soil-hydroponic hybrid system? By having the roots come out of the pot (this happens all of the time if you have a small pot and a healthy plant) and going into the hydroponic solution.

I'm not sure of the benefit, other then the soil or solution might allow for various nutrients to be more available than the other, that the soil might contain micronutrients and so you would not need to worry as much about them in the hydroponic solution, or perhaps you would only need to worry about the macronutrients.

Not really a great idea, but it might inspire someone to do something, who knows. It would be interesting to see at least.

Back before 1828 when Friedrich Wohler synthesized urea, considered to be an organic chemical, from inorganic ammonium cyanate, people used to believe that only living organisms could synthesize organic compounds.  Later, other organic chemicals were synthesized and it was proven that many natural organic chemicals could be synthesized by chemists.  The USDA has some guidelines on organic growing on their website which uses a different definition of the word "organic".
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=SEARCH&q=organic&Go_button.x=10&Go_button.y=17&site=usda

Also, minerals are inorganic not organic.  Bacteria can also fix nitrogen and produce nitrates and nitrites which are considered to be inorganic compounds even if they were produced by living organisms.  Bones contain calcium phosphate which is considered to be an inorganic chemical.

Go organic if you want every natural, organic pest imaginable shipped into your growroom via your unsterilized soil.

LOL, hey nigluhS. I just noticed your avatar. I wonder if you know they're now making a t-shirt out of it.



"I get my phenylacetic acid from the barrel with the bee on it. That's how I do it." - Jesse Pinkman. 

http://www.spreadshirt.com/bad/men-t-shirts-C3378P22

 

Hydro is just flat out better in every way... don't believe the myth that it's more work or that you have to be a rocket scientist to pull it off. Growth is accelerated 3x, they put on much more weight, you don't have to deal with messy soil or worry about pests being shipped into the growroom (plus, pests are easier to deal with), the quality is much higher (organic being better is total bs, hydro has a bad rep just because of lazy growers not flushing curing properly), etc... with automation it can be almost zero maintenance. Try DWC if you're intimidated. Very simple, just a bucket, a net pot with clay pellets, an air stone, and an air pump. Temps should stay below 70 but if you've got a big air pump you can get away with high 70s. Assyl promises you'll be amazed with the results. Grow side by side with soil if you want some laughs.

@Gew... so you make a hydro setup using organic materials, with carbon in it?
I always thought that would lead to serious bacterial issues?

I guess I haven't looked much into organic fertilizers for hydroponic setups, however. It just seems like the best way to go about it would be to use mostly inorganic salts.