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Old 11-04-2008, 11:37 AM posted to rec.gardens
Bill[_13_] Bill[_13_] is offline
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Default Potting Soil vs. Potting Mix

In article
,
Father Haskell wrote:

On Apr 10, 6:57 pm, Phisherman wrote:
On Thu, 10 Apr 2008 11:59:46 -0700 (PDT), ewl
wrote:

What is the difference between "Potting Soil" and "Potting Mix"?
Also, if you were to make your own potting mix or potting soil what
would it consist of?


Thanks


This is an interesting question. I used to make my own potting soil
(garden soil, peat moss, vermiculite, whiting). It had to be
screened, mixed, baked and fluffed. It is so much easier to buy bags
of general potting soil or soil "mixes" formulated for specific plants
(cactus, African violets, orchids, etc). I guess few gardeners make
their own potting soil today, but it is no more difficult than baking
a cake.


I hate peat moss because pH can drop to 5.0 within a month
unless I dump in a ton of lime. So much better to concoct my
own mix, from a coco coir base if I can get it or equal parts
homegrown vermicompost and vermiculite. Doing without
salt-based fertilizers means I can reuse the soil instead
of dumping it at season's end.

Has anyone found bagged mixes that _aren't_ fertilized or
based on peat?


Close but no cigar.

Bill

http://www.johnnyseeds.com/catalog/p...earch&search=9
227&item=9227

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