Desert general potting soil mix
Brandon
8 years ago
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Comments (9)
iandyaz
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Bought potting soil instead of potting mix
Comments (6)Sandpaper, As long as it said POTTING on the bag, it is for pots. If it's not for pots it says Garden Soil, or Top Soil. If you bought the cheapest thing they had, get rid of it anyway. That stuff is crap and I wouldn't plant anything in that. Wait til you get the money so you can buy Miracle Grow potting mix. Remember, don't go cheap on your potting soil or potting mix. If you put the money out on something decent, your plants will thrive and you just might get 2 years out of it....See Morepotting soil and potting mix
Comments (7)I may not be right but I think the difference is that pottin mix has other stuff add like vermiculite to make the soil lighter and retain moisture plus fertilizer such as slow release may be added. Whereas potting soil is just the sopil without the other stuff added. I like the Miracle Grow brand, not alot of sticks and stuff, usually soft and drier. Some of the the other brands are wetter and heavier. There is another with part of the name being Jungle __________ and I like it alot too. I used to be able to find torn bags at Lowes really cheap but they have stopped reducing them as much, just tape the bags before much is lost out of the bags and they sell it full price. So now I have to be more careful what I use it for - I hate paying so much for dirt - even though it isn't just dirt!...See MorePotting soil using mostly soil conditioner mix?
Comments (9)I'd be less worried about pH and more concerned about the "fluff" that these companies include in the bag as a "conditioner". Forest products are in the forest for a reason and don't belong in a garden, yard, or in a planter. My answer is simple, pH will not be your problem. My question will most likely be more complex: what do the small bark nuggets and pine needle fines provide your pots that is useful? If you are interested in testing the soil, conditioner or the combined result, then let me know. I use an incredible lab based in the midwest that can help you find out for sure if your pH is an issue but its not going to be. Refocus on what nutrients your plants are being provided or not provided from soil microbes and the organic matter. Also, focus on creating an ideal texture for proper drainage and the health of your organic matter digesting microbes. The pH discussion is overdone all over the world to this day because a researcher found that sulphur helped high pH soils and calcium helped low pH soils. In reality, the improvement came from the increased availability and texture benefits of the calcium. Also, those soluble fertilizers are only providing your plant with N and burning up any beneficial compost and the corresponding microbes....See MorePotting mix for desert cactus
Comments (4)Using coir AND potting soil is redundant. That's too much organics for C&S & I don't grow much C(actus); such mix will be too water retentive & likely to promote root rot. Fertilizer is not a big concern w/ C&S, many of us use little if any & we grow nice plants. Just use it 50/50 C&S soil & Pumice or Perlite. Even better perhaps more than 50% Perlite, like 60 or 75% & then adjust from there as you observe your plants. We can share basic starting points, but you'll discover over time how to adjust your mix for your particular growing conditions....See Moregrant_in_arizona
8 years agoBrandon
8 years agojoncongaroo
8 years agora
8 years agoPumpkin (zone 10A)
8 years agoBrandon
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoPumpkin (zone 10A)
8 years ago
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