Improving potting soil

11 years ago

I always thought that you needed potting mix for self watering containers, and for regular containers you could use potting soil. I've just recently read that that's incorrect, that you should use potting mix for all container planting. True?

I recently bought a bag of "EarthGro" potting soil, before I discovered how poorly reviewed it was. Can I mix it with something to make it usable in my containers, such as peat/perlite/fertilizer etc., and if so in what ratios? Or should I just bite the bullet and get some potting mix instead?

I am planning to grow the usual range of summer veggies--tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, peppers etc.

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (5)

Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
I think both potting soil and potting mix refer to "soil less" potting medium. "MIX" can be anything.
Maybe some commercial brand add compost to it to that I am not aware of it.

Seysonn
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
I'd strongly encourage you to carefully read another thread on this forum - Container Soils : Water Movement and Retention

This is an extremely popular and very long running thread that has all the info you need to understand potting soil requirements and what you should add to improve your current potting soil.
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Manisha Mittal
11 years ago
I can't figure out how to start a thread , so please pardon me uf wrong place... I have read and re read the container soils forum nentioned above . According to that, my situation is hopeless. .. . I nade a dumb mistake in desperation, for planting mix for jasmines and ordered Dr. Earth acid loving mix from Amazon, spent a fortune to get it , as I was not able to go anywhere for a while. . Long story short, that thing holds so much moisture, it drains for at least 5 mins in a 6 inch pot and a quart of water. After draining for a while it feels fairly open but initially its so.....o wet.

I don't have a yard or the heart to throw it... can I do anything to make it better ??

I lost my big sambacs after last winter to spidermites I think . When I pulled them out, roots were still fleshy and very healthy, so I am guessing mites ,.. all jasmines died even my 22 rooted cuttings died ( though everyone I took rooted!!! :-( :-( ) - all in an unheated sunroom. Ordered a few more for 1 last try but they need to go in bigger pots ... per Top Tropicals advice. I even ordered 2 bags of soil from them but 3 gallon bag didnt even fill I new 3 gallon container to plant a 3 gallon plant, even with the plant's existing 2 gallon pot full.

Please tell me what I can do ?? Please Al, if you see this, help me. I have bags of fine bark one from last year , one from 2 weeks ago! Half a bag of pea gravel . Tried mixing half bark and half of this mix, it still takes a few secs for the water to start going through the top ....

Sorry for long winded post, I am really desperate. I used gardner and bloom acid mix last time and obviously it kept the roots healthy But can't find anywhere locally.
Manisha Mittal
11 years ago
Oops, I have unstable vision, pardon the typos please...
rina_Ontario,Canada 5a
11 years ago
bump - just to get this thread up on top so hopefully it will get noticed...