I also saw roots and twigs in my MG but it seemed ok to me. the mix worked well in the containers. I will see how well once I have some germination.

Karen

I have tried 3 different kinds of soil. The cheapo stuff from the dollar store. Zero germination so far. Thankfully I only did a few. MG moisture control which I have had great success with so far. That's what most of my sowing was done in. And Sta-green or something like that. Seems to be working fine. Oh yeah, and my hubbie bought a huge bag of Black Magic potting soil from Big Lots and I have put some perilite in with it and it seems ok, too. So far, so good. I did have to pick the twigs out of the MG though.

Thanks for weighing in on the Potting soil.
I am shopping for garden stuff today & haven't yet
decided what route to go when buying the bagged soil.

Mary

I love Miracle Grow! I've been using it for years and never had a problem. Those "twigs" and "roots" are in there for a reason, they keep it from clumping and aerate the mix. I haven't had any problem with weeds, if that was a concern. It's never failed me.

One of things I like best about it is that it doesn't shrink down when watered. If I fill a container of it when the mix is dry and then water the container, the soil level stays the same.

I got bags of Miracle Gro and Hyponex this year. Miracle Gro had FAR fewer sticks and twigs than the Hyponex and a much lighter consistency. The Hyponex was extremely heavy and packs down once you water it. I'd stay away from Hyponex, whatever you do.

Diana Lynn

Soil 1
Soil 2
Soil 3
Soil 4

almost forgot this big one...
Pro Mix Discussion

I have Pro Mix available where I am, but I prefer to buy at another store. They don't carry "Pro Mix" brand, but they carry "Lambert's" out of Canada.

So whether or not you have 'Pro Mix' BRAND available, what you would be looking for is "professional growers mix" in whatever brand your local feed/grain/retailer might carry. Some members have had a tough time finding anything, but the season is fast changing, so it might be easier now.

Check these places:
Nurseries
Garden Centers
Landscapers
Feed/Grain stores
Tractor/Equipment suppliers (they might be able to direct you)
Various specialty 'farms' around your area like Daylily farms or Iris Gardens
Home Depot/Lowe's

Ask to talk to the buyers if the person on the phone offers nothing other than "we don't carry it."
And there's always the extreme last resort: if you're willing to buy an entire order of soil- like if there's a minimum that the company would have to special order, but they won't really ever 'carry' the item in their store but CAN get it...you agree to buy it all.

MMQ,

I don't have any big box stores in my area.
Closest I have is Walmart an hour & a half away.
So I really have to rely on local stores here.

I have one green house I can check with to see
what they have. I do know they have some bagged
mixes and they are outrageously priced.

I am going to check with DG tomorrow and see
what is on the shelves. I may just mix the
remainder of MG with whatever I find there.

I have more seeds to WS! I better get busy!

Mary

I've used the MG moisture control and whatever store brand they have at Lowe's.

I just pick out the really big pieces. I had no problems last year or this year with either.

It probably just depends on your needs and what you are growing. For me, it's been fine. At least...fine enough not to travel 20something miles to town for special stuff from the nurseries in town. ;)

I have been using he Big Lots Big Green Bag I have sprouts in every one of my containers this year, 22 (I am new to this so started small. I am planting like a dervish this weekend since I know it works and I am not so scared now. Ilike the big bags I can get of this for the price and it is not to clumpy. I also think that if you bought a bag of whatever and it is too heavy, you couldmix in some peatmoss and or verm. or perlite.

When should I start watering with ahalf str. fertilizer???? The WS stuff is brand new to me,I don't want to do it too early if it waill harm them, but I want them to grow big and strong, quickly, too. ?? Thanks for your help.

Nichol

Nichol, I wouldn't fertize until at least 2 weeks after you plant them out. Then use only about a 25% solution. If the direction on the fertilizer says an amount for a quart of water, use a gallon of water instead.