I don't see how a low temperature in the garage would be a problem as long as the pots don't freeze solid for ages. After all they'd be exposed to even lower temps out in the garden. Also I don't think the kind of mix matters much. They just need something to start rooting into. All the food for next spring's flowers is already in the bulbs. They will be out in the garden by the time the leaves start building next year's flowers. The drainage is not that crucial as you will not be watering them much - just keeping them slightly moist. If you use bulb baskets rather than pots you don't even need to take the plants out to plant them in the garden.

Actually, I've been following this thread for awhile & was coming here to say something similar to what Pam said, but I hadn't yet distilled in my mind what I wanted to say. To me, soil is something for the plants to set their feet in, no matter what it's made of. I think that puts me on pretty solid ground technically, but I'm subject to correction by you guys if it's not accurate from a practical perspective. I don't use these things, but it seems to me the terms are used pretty interchangeably, so instead of sounding disagreeable, I'll ask a question: Aren't we eliminating a fair number of products that could be used with reasonable results in containers simply because they are labeled 'potting soil' instead of 'potting mix'? .... and then it follows: Aren't there media out there that are labeled 'potting mix' that are far inferior to others with the unfavored label 'potting soil'? If there's a point I'm making, it's probably that the most important consideration to me would not be what's on the outside of the bag (label), but what's on the inside. That said, I am fully prepared to allow that perhaps a higher % of media labeled 'potting mix' might be appropriate when compared to those labeled 'potting soil'. I really don't know. Like I said, I don't buy these products. I walk by them & squeeze the bags out of curiosity to try to get a feel for what might be in them, or if there's a torn bag, I might pick some up to look it over. It really is just food for thought & more a question than an argument. Pam offers: "I've been container gardening both personally and professionally for many years and I have never made up my own mix but used high quality purchased mixes only. And with excellent results. It's merely a matter of understanding the requirements of container growing and the plants you are including and making sure the mix you use provides sufficient aeration, porosity, drainage and moisture retention to address those requirements." I'm proud to call Pam a dear friend & I agree with what she said. I KNOW she is an excellent container gardener; and of course you can grow vital, healthy plants in any mix that retains the physical characteristics she referred to. I'm not here to twist the arms of those who are satisfied and happy with what they use as media - especially growers like Pam. ;o) I always point out there is a balance between convenience and plant vitality in the mixes I grow in. I think that you can grow superior plants in the highly aerated mixes I use, but the trade-off is you have to be willing to water more often. Some NEED the convenience of not having to water a little more frequently, and I understand that's a part of our individual growing experience - it is whatever we want to make it. I have tried all manner of bagged and commercially prepared media, even the Fafard blends, but I still prefer those I make myself, even though I'm very busy tending plants and an extended interval between irrigatings coupled with not having to make my own media would be a real blessing. My main focus here on the forums is to try to help the folks who might be foundering a little - who might not be able to tell a good soil (oops) ;o) ..... a good medium from a bad one, those who really don't have access to a very good container medium and who would like to make their own, and those who are looking for a way to improve their soils, plant vitality, and growing experience through a better understanding of the 'whys and wherefores'. ;o) Take care. Al

I would not use it. It is a food/green matter which is wonderful to use in compost, mulches and worked into the gardens (I do all three), but I would be wary of using it as a filler for potting soil since in that case it is not exposed to the gardening soil world of worms and the microherd. Once warm, in a potting soil environment, I can imagine it becoming moldy and possibly creating problems. I could be wrong because this is one place I've not gone with UCGs. I have been gardening extensively with UCGs in the last 4 or so years. As an example, today I turned a pile of compost which I made last week which contained 200lbs. of UCGs, 6 bags of shredded leaves, and several pails of seaweed. I also created another pile nearly identical to last week's and inoculated it with some of the week old compost as it had reached a temperature of 155F. I bring home 200 to 250 pounds of UCGs every week and use it to amend the soil in the gardens and on our lawn in many ways. I also cannot spend a fortune on potting soil every year but enjoy winter sowing so much that I need lots. Is there any place around you where you can buy your potting soil in bale form? I buy a bale of Promix every season for about $30.00. It is basically compressed potting soil and does the trick. I find mine at a store similar to Home Depot and can also get it at a garden center which is open year round for a bit higher price. If I know that things are tight financially, I will ask for it as a gift for Christmas or Valentine's Day (not kidding here) and will get it as such. Hopefully others will give more insight. I wish you many successes in your gardens. :O)

Potting soil and potting mix are probably the same thing. While superior to "garden soil" for use in a container, it is still not ideal in many ways. While it's a bit of read, this thread (http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/2842847/container-soils-water-movement-and-retention-xxii?n=356) is very worthwhile and explains how containers have very different properties than the ground, and how media choices can turn some of these differences into advantages rather than limitations for your plants. Daniel