A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2004 Good soil

I'd like to know some of your soil preferences. Some that I purchase seem to end up looking like mud
The last ones I got was Miracle-Gro and another by Scott's that was a 3-in-1 blend. I guess what I'm looking for the most is good drainage.
Maybe it looking like mud isn't such a big deal after all.

Hi sly.....

There sure are a lot of products out there....some certainly are better than others. I think you have to try a few to find which one you like best...at a good price.

I use "Sunshine" mostly. I use a #3 or a #4 for my seed starting....but there is also an all purpose one that seems good for repotting.

Keep in mind that you can make your own....or even just add organic matter to lighten the mix you already have. (I do that a lot....with bargin bags)

A simple mix for seed starting can be like this...(really good drainage)

seed Starting

4 parts peat
2 parts perlite
2 parts vermiculite

Hi Sly,
I agree with flower. I usually purchase an inexpensive potting soil, a bag of perlite and a bag of vermiculite and mix it up myself.

Newt

For most indoor plants, a soilless, peat-based potting mix is best. Such a mix is sterile, porous and retains water very well. It is also clean to handle and much less prone to bacterial and fungal problems. If possible, avoid mixes with pine bark mixed in as this is a favorite of fungus gnats.