A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Potting soil?

Hello everyone,
I was wondering what type of potting soil to use. Miracle Grow is quite expensive than the rest of the brands. Are the other brands not good enough? I was trying to be a bit frugal while choosing the potting mix, is that worth it for the health of the plants?
I use a miracle grow plant food though.

Thanks
Deepanwita

Well some that is really cheap isn't potting soil at all its just plain old dirt. I made that mistake last year. Wal-Mart is great for having something really cheap that ends up being a rip-off.

I think if you stick with name brands like Scott's and Miracle-gro and others like that; then, you can choose the cheapest of those. But I wouldn't go for the off brands. The chances of getting a bunch of weed seeds or poor soil instead of potting soil is just to great.

I have been trying all kinds of different soils this year. And the worst batch I got was a miracle grow bag. It grew as many mushrooms as anything else. Think I am going to stick with the cheaper stuff and just add perlite and compost to it.

I use Pro Mix most of the time. I do NOT like Schultz's, WAY too heavy a mix IMHO.

I found that with the heavy soils, the perlite helps a lot! I can make my mix as light as I want with that. Great since I am doing so many different things.

The best soil I have ever used and still do, is E.B.Stone. It has bat guano, microbes, and other good stuff. It's about $7.99 for a 2 cubic feet bag.
They also make organic plant foods. Good stuff !

~~~>That stuff sounds good Deborah...


****Deepanwita,
I too got some crappy kind at Wally~World..
it was like a $1.50 for a 2 cubic ft bag..
But it was heavy as clay...

I did use it, after all, between me and my mom
we must have picked up 10 bags of it, but I used it along with homemade compost and a wee~bit of some bagged potting soil for an outdoor raised bed..
I would NOT use that stuff in like a hanging basket..

The only thing I can say is, when using a bag like a Miracle Grow mix, they are good for annuals.. that like a good feeding, but remember alot of times, it's for green growth... *a higher first number on the fertilizer list, ie: 10~10~4 or something like that, *the middle number is for flowering**

I did end up getting the middle ranged price for potting soil and it was from Wally~World..
*I can't remember the name, but the bag is orangish~yellow*

If anyone wants to have a look at the E.B. Stone soil the site is ebstone.org/productsoil1.htm

Hope I did that right. Weezie, bail me out again, please !

Yep, I copied and pasted and got there, a~okay!
What nice stuff... and such a selection...
Is that sold locally, or do you do it thru the internet?

Hello Everyone,
Thanks so much for the much valuable advice. I will definitely take good care of choosing the potting mix next time. This time I got "Expert Gardener's" "Perfect Potting Mix" . Its relatively cheap. I wish I had asked you al before buying that. Hope that works.
Thanks
Deepanwita

That's it, from Wally~World???????
That's what I got last year..

*anddddddddd 30% off like 12 bags that were ripped*

And pla~eeeeeeeeeeeeeeze keep us posted on how you do with your mixes and flowers..
We love hear updates!!!

I get it at the Armstrong nursery here.

Good to hear that I got the right mix .
I got it at Walmart.
I planted my tomatoes and peppers in bigger pots yesterday. Guess what, I got 4 large pots for free!!! My school gardener gave them to me, as he was emptying the pots and planting the plants in the garden
I am a little nervous, because I had to scoop up the plants from my window basket, instead of upturning the pot (which you usually do). I am scared of any root damage that I have possibly done. Anyways, let's see how the plants do. I will definitely update you all.
Ans thanks so much for your valuable advice . I really appreciate it
Deepanwita

Did you notice a lot of tearing when you pulled the plants? If not, then I am sure they will be ok. When I have torn roots, I notice the plant may seem a little limp for a few days but generally recovers.

YEah, a little bit, but today mornign the plants weren;t looking too limp, I'll check on them again after I go back home today. Just praying they survive.