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Miracle Gro potting soil

10 years ago

Hi all out there,

I just have a quick question, not life or plant death type of question. I've noticed many people don't like using Miracle Gro potting soil. Why is this? I've used nothing but it for ten+ years in multiple climates on whatever plants I have around and I've never had a problem. Occasionally I'll lighten the mixes for my plants with a little perlite, like I would for my african violets, but most often the plants like it best straight and not gritty. Am I missing something?

-R

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Comments (6)

Palm_shade
10 years ago
You may find this interesting.

Here is a link that might be useful: Soil Info
tapla (mid-Michigan, USDA z5b-6a)
10 years ago
Soils that retain significant volumes of perched water or can't be watered properly (so you can flush the soil at will w/o having to worry about impaired root function or root rot) are much more difficult to grow in and can't offer the same opportunity for plants to grow as close as possible to their genetic potential as soils that don't hold significant volumes of perched water and CAN be watered appropriately at will. I water my succulents on the same schedule I water all the rest of my plants, and never worry that I might be losing potential growth/vitality because I'm over-watering.

Soils that are based on small particulates (peat, compost, composted forest products, coir, sand, topsoil ..... are predictably water-retentive because to a very large degree it's particle size that determines o/a water retention and the ht of the perched water table. There's little question that if you can't water correctly, you're leaving potential lying on the table.

Al
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I already have garlic chives (every few weeks a nice bunch) and nicely growing edible Indian Princess Nasturtiums. I expect strawberries (vine), Yellow Bell Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes & Organic Jalapeno's by the end of May/beginning of June. I have a dwarf lime tree on the way sometime this century (Spring Hill...). San Marzano Organic Tomatoes, Early Girl Hybrid Tomatoes, California Wonder Bell Peppers & Serrano Peppers soon to follow in June and July. Then some Texas Sweet Onions. My late crops will be Mucho Nacho Jalapenos, Cayenne Peppers, Orange Bell Peppers, Dill Weed and then finally early next year some more strawberries (bush). I'm so proud & can't wait. Steve's Garden Peace - Steve All of this on an apartment porch...Mostly in MG Moisture Control Pitting Mix.
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Push a wick made of rayon or other absorbent material up through one of the drain holes with a straight slot screwdriver. Make sure the wick is hanging 2-3" below the pot bottom after you water. DO water until a good amount of water exits the pot each time you water, and let the wick/tipping the pot remove any excess. More info on dealing with water retention below. Al Here is a link that might be useful: More on dealing with too much water in your soil ....
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Well, no one responded to your question so I'll give it a shot. But I would preface my comments by saying that Im a realtive newcomer and Tapla and Rhizo are much more authoritative.... You probably messed up on the container mix. That's probably why the gurus didn't respond. You commited so many errors that it was not time effective to teach you the error of your ways. I dont know if the fertilizer is too strong but my guess is no. But Im just now trying acers. The problem will ultimately be poor drainage, at least according to the more experienmced people in this forum. At least with respect to woody perennials, a relativlely coarse, largely inroganic media is probably better for your application. Search for Al's recipe and his pretty technical justifications. Again, I'm pretty new, but he and 'Rhizo' are big advocates of this approach. I'm smart enough to recognize when someone knows a lot more than me and I think they both do. As for a remedial measure, I would defer to them becsuse I'm just starting to work with these plants. But good luck. They are beautiful.
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Comments (1)
Miracle gro potting soil will work just fine, especially this time of the year. If they're real small, watch out that you don't overwater them too many times. Put them in a shaded area outdoors after repotting them for a week or so and then gradually move them into more sun. My favorite banana soil is promix hp. My favorite winter potting mix is biocomp organic winter mix, coarse and well draining.
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Tiffany, purpleinopp Z8b Opp, AL
10 years ago
If you use the search feature, you'll find previous discussions with the same subject line... and maybe more than you want to read about it.

Without repeating too much, please grab the principle of drainage/porousness/avoiding excess moisture, not necessarily the particular stuff people use. It's not this brand people dislike, but the properties of most bagged potting soils in general. The most popular ones just get mentioned because everyone's heard of them.

MG is a current sponsor of this free-to-use site, BTW. So for that, Thanks MiracleGro!
birdsnblooms
10 years ago
R, I'll be honest. I used MG for 20+-years.

MG changed soil forumlas..it's now mostly peat. Peat is an inexpensive medium, yet MG charges an arm and leg for a bag that's contains 98% peat.

It doesn't matter if MG is for Succulents, African Violets or House Plants, it's basically the same stuff. Peat!

I don't know if MG for outdoors is good or not..It's not meant for house plants, nor would I pot my indoor plants with outdoor soil.

Toni
tomr
10 years ago
I find the SOIL from them too heavy and water retentive. IF I use their stuff it's the Potting MIX but I add a generous amount of perlite to it. I also prefer Pro-Mix over Miracle grow.
User
10 years ago
MG is way too peaty!! Even the cacti and succulent mix is basically peatmoss. Curiously, peat heavy mixes have TWO big water issues. The above postings accurately make mention of water retention. I would add, they also have the opposite problem! A few seasons ago, I made the big mistake of using MG mix in my planters outside. The soil just bakes in the sun and heat and seems to become extremely hydrophobic--you can literally hover over a container with a hose and seem to drench it. The soil is still bone dry. Yes, I still buy MG soil--and use it as my peat moss additive to mixes. As an indoor, houseplant mix, you may not see the problem with LACK of water retention, and only see the opposite problem--excess water retention. (Both of these problems are characteristics of peat moss.)

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