Dee,

It will go quite the distance. I use compressed bales and if you noticed, when you took it out of the bale it was compacted and you had to 'fluff' it up. Yes, when you wet it down there was some shrinkage, but as time goes by you will get quite the mileage out of it.

Hmm, I'm not convinced, lol. Do they sell it in uncompressed bales? Maybe I have one of those? Because I didn't really have to fluff it up any more than I do the MG, and it really seemed to suck up the water and compress. I should keep track of how many containers I get out of the bale, I suppose.

Thanks Nicole! I appreciate the quick reply.

Oh, and how do you store any unused, wetted-down stuff? I had some left over, but not enough to do a another full container. Didn't feel like making another trip to the basement so I just covered the big bowl with a piece of plastic wrap and hope it can be used at a later date.

Thanks!
:)
Dee

3.8 cubic feet compressed is what I get. Did you get the same? Mine is definitely stuffed in the bag. I have to get DH to bring it in the basement. Too heavy for me.

For unused portions, if I'm going to use in the next three days, I just set it aside. If not, I dry it by the woodstove because any gnats in the house will think I just created a new home for them. Either that or I set it outside where it's still too cold at this time of year for anything to happen to it.

Diggerdee, when you said "bag" that was my first clue. Here, the uncompressed stuff comes in a bag, while the compressed stuff comes in bales. Also the compressed stuff says "compressed" on the packaging.

I am also using bags of Pro Mix this year as haven't found the compressed bales. The bag is not compressed and will not go very far. It is also smaller than the bags of MG that I bought last year.

I miss those compressed bales.

My compressed stuff comes in plastic. It's 3.8 cu ft, expands to 7 cu ft. It should feel hard, Dee, and you should have to chop a hunk off the bale to get it out of the bag. Also, the compressed one is in plastic, but it has a squared-off rectangular shape overall. The non-compressed bag is much skinnier, shaped just like a bag of MG. See pictures in link.

Karen

Here is a link that might be useful: compressed bale

Hi all,

I should be in bed but can't sleep therefore I lurk, but I really want to know where is everyone getting their compressed bails of Pro-Mix. I can't find it anywhere but on line and off course with shipping it costs a fortune. yikes!!!

What am I to do? I have part of a bale left, and haven't done even half of my jugs yet. The only bags I can find are only enough to do may 18-20 jugs at most, and I really don't like Miracle Gro.

Help!

chitownladyd well, I got mine from the feed store. Suggest time for you to get out in the world and do some calling or driving and find your soil.

sugestions are
feed stores that carry seeds
Landsape market that grow their own seedslings
box stores may or not have it, here none

I use MG still on the bottom and some Pro Mix on top, to get the most out of the Pro Mix bale

ML

I've gotten the compressed bales at Home Cheapo.

Last year I tried Fafard from a local nursery. It's the only potting mix they use, for everything from seed starting to planting container gardens. I'm using the Fafard again this year. It's not compressed but I do like it. And I'd rather support a small local nursery than a big box store if I can.

Karen

Karen,

Around here if you go to a big box store and ask for Promix they look at you as if you were from Mars. :O) I was able to find mine at two local nurseries.

I noticed that one of our Canadian BBS was carrying it last here but discovered that one of the employees from the second local nursery where I get my Promix had convinced them to get it in. He is now working for the BBS. Despite that, I still go local since I agree that they should be supported as much as possible.

I've used MG for 6 years and never had a problem with germination. The frequent "logs" are irritating, but I don't have Pro-mix available. I consider it one of the small crosses I have to bear to support my habit. We wintersowers are a hardy lot who find a way to make due with what we have. Anyway, I've decided that I'm worth the small price I have to pay for the convenience of smaller bags that are available year round and aren't frozen solid when I'm in the mood to sow.

Martha

I also can't get Pro Mix and I prefer the Miracle Grow. However last time I went to the store they didn't have the small bags so I had to get Scott's Potting Mix. The Scott's is pretty nice too. Sometimes you just have to make do like Martha said!
Joann

Joann, Scotts and Miracle Grow are the same thing. It's the Scotts Miracle Grow Company. I used Scotts and was very happy.

chitownlady, do a search for the thread called What I learned about ProMix. Skip the store locator on their website, and go straight to the 800 number. Ask to be connected to your regional sales representative. He or she will know where you can get it locally, if at all. The computerized store locator only includes store that meet certain size requirements.

If your area has any greenhouse/nursery businesses, there is probably a greenhouse wholesale supplier in your local phone book. That is where I get my big bales of pro-mix - a place called Green Island in Riverhead NY. They must do 99% wholesale to the industry cause they always seem a little thrown by me just walking in with cash to pay for a couple of bales at a time, but it is pretty cheap ($25 a bale) I kept track this year when I started filling my containers (milk jugs and good sized clear lettuce and baked goods boxes) and one bale filled 121 containers.

Nancy

Chitownlady, this nursery supply store carries it an has a branch in Joliet:

http://www.bfgsupply.com/content/locations.asp

They do sell direct to the public.

Lynda

Hi again,

To bring this conversation back round to the original question - ;) - yes, mine is a bale, a squared-off, tightly packed bale, and I double checked it just now. It does say 2 compressed cubic feet.

However, I didn't have to chop it - I just reached in with a big scoop and dug into the mix. It was actually quite dry and powdery, which kind of surprised me.

Oh well. I have been happy with MG for many years. It's just the last few years there seemed to be more sticks in it than usual (although ironically this year it seems to be better, lol!). I also figured the Pro-Mix would be cheaper, due to its expansion, etc. Live and learn. I'll buy more MG when I use this up. I was just hoping for more than I got.

Thanks for the storage tip, Tiff. I'll probably use up the stuff from yesterday today. If I ever have leftovers, it won't have to wait too long in this house at this time of year to be used!

Thanks!
:)
Dee

I have wet large amounts of Pro Mix and had some left over that has been stored for at least a week. Because the mix is just damp, not soaking wet, I have not had any trouble with fungus gnats. Have left it in the big tub and used it again later.

Well, I just did a few more containers with the ProMix, and I'm coming around a bit.

The leftover stuff in the bucket was fine. I barely had to moisten it again - and not enough time for gnats, lol!

I'm still disappointed about the volume issue. However, I realized that since I usually put the MG in the containers and then dampen, it does settle. Therefore, I don't have to fill my containers quite as deeply as I was yesterday with the premoistened ProMix. I was putting the damp ProMix to the same level as the dry MG. Now I'm putting it to the same level as the moist MG. That saves me a little.

Also, it really is a nice medium. It's great not having to pick out the sticks.

ANother downside is I find it time consuming to moisten and mix the ProMix (I usually do my WSing on the fly and have to do it quickly).

But... it's so darn much fun to stick your hands in that bucket of mix and mush it around, lol! Maybe it's not so bad after all!

But I do think I will go back to MG. Just a bit quicker and easier for me, and the price is about the same.

Thanks for all the input, guys!
:)
Dee

I love the stuff! The big box stores stopped carrying it years ago, but my nice local feed store has it (at least they did last year, I'll know about this year soon-I'm running low again!) I have a couple of the big plastic storage crates with lids that I dump the dry stuff in & add a couple buckets of water. By the next day the mix is ready to go & since the lids fit pretty well it stays moist & I haven't had a gnat problem. The only problem is that they fit perfectly under the bench in my shed, so this time of year they freeze solid unless I drag them into the basement! Still, a small price to pay to "play in the dirt"!

I bought two bags of MG out of desparation and because several of you said that you used it. Never again! I am just trying to use it up on the flowers so I can use the good stuff on the food crops.

soonergrandmom, what didn't you like about the MG? Just curious. It does have a lot of sticks in it now, but that's my only complaint. I just keep telling myself that after all it IS potting mix and not seed-starting mix, so I deal with it. As I said, though, it was very nice not having to deal with the sticks in the ProMix.

And what do you usually use?

:)
Dee

Dee: If you add a drop of dish soap it will moisten more readily. The soap will work as a wetting agent.

Karen

Dee,

When I was still a greenhouse student, all we got there were pallets of the 3.8 cubic compressed bales of Pro-Mix. I'm not sure why your bale didn't expand; it's weird really. If the bale is properly loosened it should give you a total of 7 cubic feet.
I do have a chart here in my folder of class handouts that shows that with 3.8 cubic feet you should be able to fill 212 4.5" square pots; 108 6" round and 93 1 gal. sized containers, ect. You can kinda guesstimate per the size/type of your winter-sow container how many should possibly be filled.
I would prefer to use ProMix, but for now it's too rich for my blood and I will continue to use MG until it isn't. I have no complaints for it yet and have winter-sown flowers/veggies with it wonderfully since 2003. Yes, the sticks and stones are a small price to pay, but I only remove large ones just from the surface. If roots can manage to find their way around the stones and rocks in my soil they'll manage in the potting mix much better LOL!

Karen and Vera, thanks! Yes, Vera, I was kind of surprised, first at how dry the ProMix was, and secondly at it's lack of expansion. Oh well.

Despite the time it takes to wet it, which is kind of a pain, I'm really enjoying the texture of the ProMix, and I'm loving the lack of sticks! But as Vera says, it is a bit pricier, and since I'm not getting the volume I expected out of it, I'll most likely go back to the MG.

In the meantime, I'll keep track of how many containers I get out of it. Actually, since I have the 2 cubic foot bale, it will be a better comparison to the 2 cubic foot bags of MG I buy... Hmm, is 2 CF compressed the same as 2 CF of uncompressed? LOL, my brain hurts.

:)
Dee

If you will moisten your growing mediums with HOT water you will find that it moistens the "soil" very easily, and immediately. TRY IT!--you will like it! Thanks for "listening".

I surprised to hear it even comes in a 2 cu ft compressed bale. I've only bought (or seen) the 3.8 cu ft compressed bales.

Karen