Some reading at the link below. There is another link in the first post to the original thread that maxed out, if you care to follow it. If you pay attention to commentary by others, you'll get an idea of the validity of the principles behind what makes a good container soil, and what makes a bad one.

Al

Here is a link that might be useful: About soils

Seems to me it's been getting harder to find a really good potting mix, or the ingredients to mix your own. Usually you can find a fairly good mix if you don't buy the cheapest and if you also buy some perlite, preferably coarser than I've been able to find locally, and add that to the mix. The standard formula to mix your own is one part each of sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite, and perlite, and heavier on the perlite if you live where it's humid, like here, or if you wick-water. There are other possible ingredients, but these are generally easiest to find. For houseplants I wouldn't buy the mixes that have water-holding granules, tho' they can be helpful for some plants, especially outside in containers.

Christi, the term 'soil-less' simply means that the mix is free from garden soil, sand, compost, worm castings, etc. Soil-less mediums are typically peat based, but many of us are moving away from that in favor of bark fines and other coarse textured ingredients.

All of the potting soils you will find in the stores are peat based (if they are soil-less). Just read the label.

Be sure to read the link to the thread that Tapla (Al) posted.

Thanks Guys I'll do sonme more research with that info.

Christi

All the nurseries in my area carry Miracle Gro potting mix, Pro-mix, Schultz's and several other kinds. So do the box stores. I used Miracle Gro mix last year but just bought a bale of Pro-mix - they are much of a muchness and the Pro-Mix was cheaper - an important item when you need 3 or 4 cubic feet of it each year.
Most important is to be sure the mix is damp before using it. Peat moss is difficult to wet once dry and if it isn't dampened first, it can kill the plant very fast.