Question About Soil

NorthernLighter

Well-Known Member
Alright so i started growing in a cheap dollar store soil and after looking at my local hardware store i found out i can make up a soil-less substrate with peat moss vermiculite and perlite and i was wondering if it would be ok to use that when i transplant them or should i stick with the same soil for the entire grow?
 

Jogro

Well-Known Member
Just stop.

First you buy dollar store soil (which in my experience is probably THE worst stuff out there), then you ask about formulating your own mix from scratch? Bluntly, I don't think you're ready for that.

Do yourself a favor and buy a bag of high quality potting mix, put your plants in that, and be done with it. Presumably you're trying to save a few bucks here by mixing up your own, but really, that's only going to save you money if you mix up a LOT of it. If you add up the costs of perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, etc, you're not going to be saving much (if anything at all) over just buying a pre-made mix, which bluntly, is probably as good as something you're going to concoct yourself anyway.

Pretty much any product labelled as "potting mix" that contains some peat moss and perlite (for drainage and aeration) will work fine, including the dreaded "Miracle Gro".

*IF* you buy one that has pre-included nutrients (like Miracle Gro), then make sure you do NOT add more nutrients for quite a while until the plant has used up what's already in the soil.
 

NorthernLighter

Well-Known Member
Just stop.

First you buy dollar store soil (which in my experience is probably THE worst stuff out there), then you ask about formulating your own mix from scratch? Bluntly, I don't think you're ready for that.

Do yourself a favor and buy a bag of high quality potting mix, put your plants in that, and be done with it. Presumably you're trying to save a few bucks here by mixing up your own, but really, that's only going to save you money if you mix up a LOT of it. If you add up the costs of perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, etc, you're not going to be saving much (if anything at all) over just buying a pre-made mix, which bluntly, is probably as good as something you're going to concoct yourself anyway.

Pretty much any product labelled as "potting mix" that contains some peat moss and perlite (for drainage and aeration) will work fine, including the dreaded "Miracle Gro".

*IF* you buy one that has pre-included nutrients (like Miracle Gro), then make sure you do NOT add more nutrients for quite a while until the plant has used up what's already in the soil.
Yea dollar store soil was probably a bad idea.

I have been looking up online and from what i read or seen in growing dvds mixing those 3 in a 1:1:1 ratio will work. Wasnt trying to mix my own to save money

Also what is wrong with Miracle Gro? Never herd that it was bad before
 
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