I used to use self watering pots, clay pots, plastic pots, and finally I gravitated to plastic pots and wick watering. Because I wick my plants, I use a 50/50 mix of MiracleGro and perlite. Seems to work well.

But I do use MiracleGro as planting soil for all my plants. The formula is just different depending on what I am potting up.

There are a lot of different mixes, and I am sure others will share their recipes. Rosie

you are not going to like mine ... I use a version of al's gritty mix (container gardening forum) - 50 percent chicken grit and 50 percent NAPA floor dry - but when I plant the AV, I ensure the rootball has a small plug of AV mix around it. I use a self-watering lechuza planter. The key is the plug of AV mix which is surrounded by the gritty material: promotes phenomenal root growth, and the wick works nicely on an 'established' AV.

My understanding is - lechuza planters - is some seriously expensive plant "real estate" , Very cool looking though.

But - it just another example of the fact that you can succeed by adjusting your soil mix to the pots you use.

Otherwise... I do not think that double ceramic pots are worth the money. If you want self watering pots - plastic Oyama pots are cheaper and plants grow better.

Yeah, I know - ceramic pots look better - use them as cashepots to hide the Oyama or simple plastic pots.

Regarding the mix - adding a hefty amount of perlite to Miracle Grow AV mix, Promix BX will work. The cheap non specific potting soil mixes are not worth the money. Plus - you need to repot often enough - because any soil will go sour and dense with time - s if they say 6-12 months max - stick closer to 6.