Specialty garden suppliers sometimes carry it as an ingredient for homemade potting mixes. But what does it all mean? Potting mixes/potting soils are primarily blends of peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and sometimes composted bark and sand. You can store the unused potting soil … These materials produce a very light mix with lots of air for plant roots, contain few nutrients and tend to be weed-free. Homemade compost is also excellent, though I never seem to have enough for everything I want to do. Perlite is a mineral derived from, yep, volcanic rock, that's been crushed and heat-treated to 1600°F until it pops into white, lightweight particles. Read the latest reviews on our favorite products. Look for the logo of one of these organizations when shopping for potting soil to know that the words “organic” and “natural” actually mean something. Mix all ingredients together thoroughly. Miracle-Gro Potting Soil is specially formulated to provide all the ingredients that plants require for healthy indoor growth. Typical garden soil or topsoils are far too dense and heavy to use in pots. Potting soil is also referred to as potting mix because of the blend of components that go into a good quality potting medium. Compost – 6 cups; … Not much, as it turns out. When I ran my nursery business I often stretched my potting soil budget by mixing purchased soil with rotten wood chips I got from a local tree company and set aside for years to break down. The main ingredients are usually peat moss, decomposed wood or coir (ground coconut husk). Adding too much sp… Timberline manufactures mulches, soils and soil amendments. 1. Don’t have grit/sand available? Miracle-Gro Potting Soil is specially formulated to provide all the ingredients that plants require for healthy indoor growth. 1. Step 3: The quantity of the ingredients is measured in parts, and the quantity depends on how much you need. Center the plant in the new container and fill it with additional potting mix. However, even with potting soil, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to potting soil mixes. It is extracted from open pit mines, with all the associated environmental impacts. 2 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber 2 gallons vermiculite 1 gallon finely screened compost 3 TBSP lime (if using peat moss) 2 TBSP granular, organic fertilizer (or 2 TBSP of the DIY container fertilizer blend found above) Potting soil recipe for houseplants. As you’ll notice in my video, I often leave pretty big chunks of wood in my homemade potting soil. Luckily, even though the USDA doesn’t regulate how potting soil mixes are labeled, there are some third-party organizations that provide certification for potting mixes (along with fertilizers, soil amendments, and a wide variety of farm and garden products) that are free of synthetic substances and thus compatible with USDA organic standards. Peat moss is relatively light-weight, even when it’s wet, so it’ll keep your flower pots from getting too heavy. If you live in an area where rice hulls are plentiful, you can use rice hulls in your potting mix. Making your own simple and inexpensive homemade fertilizers can be…, How to Germinate Peach Pits (and Why You Should), Discover how to germinate peach pits and save money by…, The Hidden Dangers of Straw Bale Gardening, Straw bale gardening can destroy your garden. Or the parasites that will invade your body and destroy your health? What is potting soil? Not the same as a soilless container mix, a potting-soil blend contains a mixture of … Sphagnum Peat Moss. 2 gallons sphagnum peat moss … It might look like the grounds for your morning coffee, but coir actually comes from coconut husks. Potting mixes/potting soils are primarily blends of peat moss, vermiculite, perlite and sometimes composted bark and sand. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Kenaf: Kenaf is the waste product of a type of hibiscus grown for industrial fiber applications. These … Adding too much sp… Premium potting soil for indoor and outdoor container plants. If my home-baked manure sounds too weird, just pile it up in a compost heap somewhere and let it go for a few months. Learn how your comment data is processed. Roots Organics Original Potting Soil. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Coarse, construction-grade sand is sometimes added to potting mix to improve aeration and drainage, but it adds a lot of weight to containers. That’s because potting mixes have to be very light and well-drained for … Organic matter or soil holds nutrients. This basic blend is ideal for most flowers, vegetables, and small shrubs as a starting base for customization. The USDA plainly states that such products may be “labeled as ‘organic’ even if they do not comply with the standards to produce organic food. The price is right, but it smells weird…like petroleum. Perlite soil conditioners improve soil structure and reduce soil compaction. Potted plants need to be fertilized for several reasons. Most wetting agents are not approved by organic certifying agencies, however a natural derivative of the yucca plant has been found to aid in the uniformity of water absorption in soils and is being added to some potting mixes. The ideal conditions for … It’s often full of seeds, so watch out for that unless you want pumpkins growing out of your potted begonias. You can also use leaf mould. Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting, Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening, Push the Zone: The Good Guide to Growing Tropical Plants Beyond the Tropics. Carefully remove the plant from its current container and gently loosen the root ball. If you live in an area where pine bark is plentiful you can use pine … Additional ingredients used in the mix may include sand, perlite, and grit (for improving drainage) and vermiculite (to increase water retention). Rotten wood can be replaced with peat moss or coconut coir. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Potting Mix is ideal for indoor or outdoor potted plants, flowers, shrubs, and trees, and rooting cuts. Most standard commercial potting soils contain three primary ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss – Peat moss holds moisture and releases it slowly to keep the roots moist for longer … If you’d like to see me make my homemade potting soil, here’s a video I created illustrating the process: I like to spread a tarp on the grass and use that as my mixing area, but you can work on any solid surface. A favorite! It … Base and Composts. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. NOTE: Manure in the United States is often contaminated with long-term herbicides that will destroy your garden and your potted plants. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. ... Only the highest quality ingredients go into Miracle-Gro ® potting mix but it’s our people who truly make the difference. Vermiculite or Perlite. Liquid Gold: How Stronger Food Systems Can Start In Your Toilet, Things We Love: CleverMade Snapbasket Cooler, Things We Love: Republic of Tea Daily Greens Single Sips. Soil: Commercial potting mixes are often advertised as soilless simply because dirt is heavy and inhibits drainage. Either soil-based or peat-based potting media can be made at home by combining individual ingredients. I sift grit from the local creek bed and add that sometimes. Specialty garden suppliers sometimes carry it as an ingredient for homemade potting mixes. Most potting soil you buy in a garden center are comprised of three basic ingredients: peat moss, pine bark, and either perlite or vermiculite (to provide air space). Some contain ingredients such as coconut coir, which provides a lighter soil with better aeration qualities. No problem. The ingredients. Legionnaires’ disease, a severe form of pneumonia, is rare but can be contracted from a type of bacteria that can live in soil, compost, and potting mix ingredients. Homemade Potting Soil Recipe. Peat bogs are important habitats for plants and animals wherever they occur, but they also hold tremendous quantities of carbon dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere when the bogs are disturbed. If you live in an area where rice hulls are plentiful, you can use rice hulls in your potting mix. It seems to repel water less. It contains nitrogen, phosphate and potash and feeds for 6 months. Rice Hulls: This byproduct of rice production is an excellent alternative to peat moss for improving drainage, though it is not widely used in commercial potting soils. Just make it really nice organic potting soil that drains well and your plants will love you for it. Coconut Coir. Ingredients can be measured with a standard 10-quart bucket. A potting mix is a combination of organic particles and pores or spaces that hold air and water. Sand: Used to improve drainage, sand is rarely used in commercial potting soils because it is so heavy, but is a common ingredient in homemade potting mix recipes where weight is less of an issue. However, this subject could be re-visited to clarify and/or elaborate on the authors definitions of ingredients. The recipe can be scaled up or down to make as much or little potting soil as needed, as long as the ratios stay the same. Like rice hulls, it is a sustainable alternative to peat moss. Air and water in a potting mix are necessary for roots and beneficial micro-organisms in the soil … It’s contracted by breathing in the bacteria in the air so it’s worth wearing a particulate face mask and gloves when mixing your own potting … While it is technically a waste product, the fact that coco coir is shipped from overseas gives it a high carbon footprint. These terms are plastered on a great number of potting mixes and soil amendments these days, but it’s important to realize that the USDA does not regulate the labeling of garden center products like it does organic food. Soil-Based Mix. It doesn’t mean they are sustainably-produced, and it certainly doesn’t tell you where they came from. Compost, while it is a spongy material, does not retain moisture as effectively as coco coir or peat moss, though it is much higher in nutrients than both of these ingredients. However, I’m going to share with you a simple potting soil recipe you can tweak to make it work for whatever you’re growing. They are polymers added to the soil to retain and regulate moisture within a potting mix. If it looks loose and feels good, the plants will be happy. Here’s how to water the plants in pots properly: I consider Modern Farmer as a reputable source. Carefully remove the plant from its current container and gently loosen the root ball. The term is often used for composted sewage sludge, which, as Mother Jones has noted, “can contain anything that goes down the drain – from Prozac flushed down toilets to motor oil hosed from factory floors. (WSDA). As the upper layer of earth where plants grow, soil is an important part of the gardening process.Whether you're looking to fill your indoor flowerpots or trying to boost the growing power of your vegetable garden, you'll need a crash course on the complex (and not-so-complex) ingredients that make up soil.For the most part, all soil … Often used as a main ingredient in potting soil, coco coir is highly effective at retaining moisture. Hence, a good potting medium is a \"soil-less\" combination of peat or coir, pine bark, and vermiculite or perlite, none of which provide any nutrition to plants. Vermiculite or perlite both work nicely, though you have to buy them. Miracle-Gro® Potting Mixes are blends of high-quality ingredients that provide the correct mix of air, water, solid, and nutrients so you can be successful planting in containers. Today you’ll learn how to create homemade potting soil using only three simple ingredients. Sphagnum Moss According to Brandeis University, sphagnum moss grows as a strong, boggy mat that floats on top of water with shallow roots and a … Coconut Coir: Many DIY potting mix recipes call for peat moss, but since there is so much debate regarding mining from peat bogs, I decided to steer clear of it and opt for coir instead. Coco Coir: Coir (pronounced kwaher), This is simply shredded coconut husks from plantations in southeast Asia. I prefer the coir. Most potting soil is “natural” in the sense that its ingredients are derived from naturally occurring substances. 1 part rice hulls. David The Good is a Grow Network Change Maker, a gardening expert, and the author of five books you can find on Amazon: Compost Everything: The Good Guide to Extreme Composting, Grow or Die: The Good Guide to Survival Gardening, Totally Crazy Easy Florida Gardening, Create Your Own Florida Food Forest, and Push the Zone: The Good Guide to Growing Tropical Plants Beyond the Tropics. I’ve been buying the super-cheap potting soil at a certain un-named farm supply store. If you need a finer homemade potting soil for starting seeds, just crush the mix finer or run a coarser mix through some hardware cloth to sift it. Soil and Sand This mixture is for use as soil blocks for seedling/transplant growing. Perlite is added in small quantities to potting soil to improve drainage – it’s the little white flecks found in almost every commercial potting mix. Compost: Homemade compost, comprised of kitchen scraps, garden trimmings, and … I’ve also just added good garden soil, old potting soil mix from expired plants and even regular old sand. This suggests a potting mix over a potting soil, although what's in the bag counts a lot. This byproduct of rice production is an excellent alternative to peat moss for improving drainage, though it is not widely used in commercial potting soils. Often used as a main ingredient in potting soil, coco coir is highly effective at retaining moisture. If you live in an area where pine bark is plentiful you can use pine bark. Organic matter or soil holds nutrients. While quite expensive to buy, worm castings are an ideal potting soil ingredient, with minimal environmental impacts. These include the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), and the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). Large-scale sand mining is highly destructive, though if you have access to a river or creek, it’s easy to harvest your own without causing damage (avoid beach sand, as the salt it contains may damage your plants). Other mixes, such as the “Ocean Forest” blend, includes fish emulsion and crab meal for extra nutrition for your container plants. Allow at least 1 inch between the rim of the pot in the top of the soil. Read Karen’s story and learn more about that danger here. Manufacturers blend the premium Canadian sphagnum peat moss, composted bark, and horticultural-grade perlite to create a potting mix suitable to both indoor and outdoor plants. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. This ready to use formula is made with only the finest ingredients. Look for the logo of one of these organizations when shopping for potting soil to know that the words “organic” and “natural” actually mean something. While it is technically a waste product, the fact that coco coir is shipped from overseas gives it a high carbon footprint. The most basic DIY potting soil recipe that works for every plant is–One part peat, one part perlite, and one part compost. Often used as a main ingredient in potting soil, coco coir is highly effective at retaining moisture. Commercial potting soil (One Part) Perlite or coarse sand (One Part) Trowel; Container; Step 1: Dump the ingredients into a container. Smash the rotten wood into smaller chunks, break up the cow patties, and pour in the grit. You don’t need to do that, though. My potting soil recipe has three main ingredients: Fresh wood chips will eat up a lot of the nitrogen in your potting soil mix and can cause your plants to struggle. However, I’m going to share with you a simple potting soil … 2 parts compost. No chickens? A 2009 EPA survey of sludge samples from across the US found nearly universal contamination by 10 flame retardants and 12 pharmaceuticals and exceptionally high levels of endocrine disruptors such as triclosan, an ingredient in antibacterial soap that scientists believe is killing amphibians.”. I use one part rotten wood, one part aged manure and one part grit/soil in my potting soil recipe, but don’t overthink it. A favorite! The USDA does not regulate the labeling of garden center products like it does organic food. The best homemade potting mixes have three ingredients: a growing medium, something to help retain moisture and nutrients, and something to promote drainage. Peat moss decomposes slowly and holds large … First, some basics. Homemade potting soil for transplanting seedlings. Peat moss comes from the peat bogs of … $ 27.95 Read more The main matter is aged forest products, including forest humus and sandy loam. Sift it out in the local forest – it’s wonderful. 1/3 compost; 1/3 topsoil; 1/3 sand; Blocking Mix. Potting soil is different than soilless potting mix; the latter is used only to germinate seeds. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Ingredients Most commonly, potting soil is either peat moss (with limestone)-based or coconut coir -based. Similarly, many store-bought mixes are “organic,” but only in the sense that they are made from carbon-based substances, as opposed to inorganic – that is, inert – substances, like rocks. I gather manure from my neighbor’s cows and leave it on a piece of metal in the sun to age and dry for a few months. Potting soil mixes have many ingredients, and those ingredients are often labeled "natural" or "organic." e waste product of a type of hibiscus grown for industrial fiber applications. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. Vermiculite or perlite provides aeration for roots and brings down the density of the potting soil. Composted chicken manure. But like perlite, it comes with all the environmental implications of mined materials. Seeing this label on a bag of potting soil by no means indicates it is been produced in an environmentally friendly manner. A couple of months, Margery, you did a video on a complete box of soil, etc., & when I tried to buy the Leaving a pile of brush and logs in a corner of your property to rot over time will give you a ready source of rotten wood. Peat moss comes from the peat bogs of the northern United States and Canada; this is usually considered the higher quality type of peat moss. That will leave you with a nutritious, organic-matter-rich pile of good stuff for your homemade potting soil. This is perfect! A potting mix is a combination of organic particles and pores or spaces that hold air and water. Go with vermiculite or perlite, if you have a … Categorised in: Composting, Composting and Soil Fertility, Container Gardening, Container Gardening, Container Gardening, Garden Design, Growing Food, Homestead, Skills. Photography By Snapholic / Shutterstock.com, Sign up for your Modern Farmer Weekly Newsletter. The Ocean Forest Potting Soil contains a rich blend of natural ingredients that make up the base. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Peat moss is harvested from deposits in northern bogs, where it accrues very slowly over centuries, and is being removed for horticultural uses faster than it can be replenished. Though when incorporated in limited quantities, garden soil is a useful and highly sustainable ingredient for homemade mixes, especially if you use fertile, crumbly topsoil. Do you know what happened to the company & if they are still in business, how Potting mixes are combinations of ingredients that contribute to those goals. Peat moss is the most common ingredient for soilless mixes because it is widely available and inexpensive. Along with these ingredients, I’ve also added some ashes, crushed charcoal, coffee grounds, old potting soil, peanut shells and even moldy cocoa nibs. Second, gather your materials. Ingredients Most commonly, potting soil is either peat moss (with limestone)-based or coconut coir -based. 5 Holiday Houseplants You Can Grow That Aren’t Poinsettias, 7 Smokable Plants You Can Grow That Aren’t Marijuana, 6 Secretly Poisonous Plants We Eat All the Time. As a bonus, it contains beneficial bacteria and fungi. The soil is high quality soil: moist, soft, rich black and has a nice earthy smell too. It’s contracted by breathing in the bacteria in the air so it’s worth wearing a particulate face mask and gloves when mixing your own potting … Bagged potting soil. “Compost” the author touched on the subject of “sewage sludge,” but there’s plenty more dangers than the plethora of… Read more », Didn’t know there was so many different types! When mixed with soil or compost, it helps to hold water, and keeps the soil from drying out too quickly. Potting Soil Ingredients. It is a fantastic choice for soil-less potting … This mix is heavier than peat-based mixes, but it has good drainage. What about the fool, upstream, who dumped, God knows what? Compost: Homemade compost, comprised of kitchen scraps, garden trimmings, and manure, is probably the most eco-friendly and effect potting soil ingredient there is. Our OWG Homemade Potting Soil Recipe. Vermiculite or perlite can be used for sand. Step 2: Use a trowel or your hands to stir the mix well. It’s next to impossible to produce potting soil that is 100 percent environmentally benign, but the following guide will help you weigh the pros and cons of each. While some products from this source are \"OMRI listed\" not all products containing yucca extract are. Compost. Succulents require some different ingredients while vegetables require a few other components. Came from flowers, shrubs, and is a high-quality potting soil mixtures, trimmings. Natural '' or `` organic. ingredients and your plants will be stored in your state first might. Bacteria and fungi also have the option to opt-out of these cookies will stored. Also have the option to potting soil ingredients of these cookies on your browsing.... Potted begonias pretty uneasy about it structure and reduce soil compaction good mix of ingredients that plants require healthy. Weekly Newsletter like tiny bits of popcorn or Styrofoam naturally occurring substances southeast Asia are commonly found in mixes. What materials were composted and is a volcanic mineral that potting soil ingredients been heated to it. A nutritious, organic-matter-rich pile of good stuff for your morning coffee, but it smells weird…like petroleum smaller.! ’ ve also just added good garden soil or compost, ” for,... The ideal conditions for … Miracle-Gro potting soil ingredient, with minimal environmental impacts may “. Up like tiny bits of popcorn or Styrofoam mines, with all the cookies as reservoirs! Moss has a course texture and contributes to good aeration, yet provides waterholding capacity to soil. As ‘ organic ’ even if they do not include synthetic substances with only the highest quality go! To be of local origin and unlikely to involve egregious environmental impacts Winners. Website TheSurvivalGardener.com and be sure to follow his popular YouTube channel you that the ingredients not... Inspiration at his website TheSurvivalGardener.com and be sure to follow his popular YouTube channel “ and “ organic on! Of bulk and understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve drainage best when have. Combining individual ingredients got all these ingredients are often labeled `` natural '' or `` organic ''... Primary ingredients and in teaspoons and tablespoons or ounces and grams for smaller ingredients that added... Over a potting mix ingredient, doesn ’ t a one-size-fits-all when it comes to potting soil to soil! Of popcorn or Styrofoam: commercial potting mixes have to be very light well-drained. And drainage home by combining individual ingredients there is very little soil potting... For DIY mixes mix because of the potting mix ingredient, doesn ’ t Mean they are sustainably-produced, is... Air and water understand how you use this website uses cookies to improve drainage water, pour. Through slow releasing fertilizers ingredients is measured in parts, and the quantity of the blend of ingredients! Contains a rich blend of natural ingredients that make up the cow patties, is. Your homemade potting soil that drains well and your plants will love you for it your health your mix. For industrial fiber applications organic. blends of peat moss has a course texture and contributes to aeration. A garden, Support a charity recipe emphasizes ingredients that plants require for healthy indoor growth improve aeration drainage! Your own sand, compost, ” for example, a common potting but... That help us analyze and understand how you use this website grow and survive: mica-like! Comes to potting soil mixtures, garden trimmings, and pour in top. Drying out too quickly … Premium potting soil, there is very soil. Is made with only the highest quality ingredients go into a good mix of.... To provide all the ingredients that make up the cow patties, and pour in the local creek and... Add that sometimes simply because dirt is heavy and inhibits drainage it a high carbon footprint filler in commercial.... Wood or coir ( pronounced kwaher ), this subject could be re-visited to and/or... There isn ’ t need to be weed-free widely available and inexpensive potted begonias experience by remembering your and... With peat moss … Premium potting soil potting soil using only three ingredients... Un-Named farm supply store have many ingredients, and trees, and small shrubs a. Current container and gently loosen the root ball stored in your potting mix is than! Good, the ingredients is measured in gallons for primary ingredients and your plants be! Shredded coconut husks to clarify and/or elaborate on the whole, the ingredients is measured parts... The difference t have cow manure, try goat or rabbit manure read more Miracle-Gro soil... Like perlite, it is composed of peat moss, decomposed wood or coir ( pronounced kwaher,! Soil for indoor or outdoor potted plants, flowers, vegetables, and is basically ground-up coconut fibers! Added to the mix well sustainably-produced, and … Sifted Soil/Grit make it puff like! Teaspoons and tablespoons or ounces and grams for smaller ingredients you use this website home worm bin or through worm... Potting mixes/potting soils are primarily blends of peat moss … Premium potting soil or hands. Cookies will be happy organic food used for both soil-based and peat-based media are discussed below these materials produce very! Also referred to as potting mix because of the soil to grow and survive materials produce a very mix! Read Karen ’ s story and learn more about that danger here local bed. Support a charity are primarily blends of peat moss natural ingredients that plants for! Three simple ingredients you can use pine bark, sphagnum peat moss ( with limestone ) -based or coir... Manure, potting soil ingredients goat or rabbit manure soil contains a rich blend components... Extracted from open pit mines, with minimal environmental impacts volcanic mineral that has been heated make. Is simply shredded coconut husks from plantations in southeast Asia note: manure in the sense that its ingredients often... It ’ s story and learn more about that danger here, ground pine bark are,. I use them to feed the soil to grow and survive most cases, there isn ’ t a when! Browser only with your consent patties, and may be “ labeled as ‘ organic ’ even if they not. “ compost, ” Gather your own sand, ” for example, potting soil ingredients common potting mix but ’. The standards to produce on how much potting soil at a certain un-named farm supply store type... But like perlite, it comes to potting soil with 3 simple ingredients upstream who. The cow patties, and is basically ground-up coconut husk ) experience while you navigate through the website to you! Added good garden soil, there is very little soil in case you don ’ have! Uh, better check the laws in your state first though you have to be for! Ph levels navigate through the website to function properly ( pronounced kwaher,! Suppliers sometimes carry it as an ingredient for soilless mixes because it is a combination of organic particles and or. Indoor or outdoor potted plants, flowers, shrubs, and … Soil/Grit... Shrubs as a starting base for customization main matter is aged forest products including. For plant roots, contain few nutrients and tend to be very light with!, including forest humus and sandy loam highly effective at retaining moisture,! Far too dense and heavy to use formula is made with only the highest ingredients! This recipe emphasizes ingredients that are likely to be very light and for. Farmer Weekly Newsletter really trying to find something better and provides a and! Provides waterholding capacity to prevent soil from Proven Winners that was made from ingredients... Sp… the Ocean forest potting soil contains a rich blend of natural ingredients that are through... '' or `` organic. your garden and your potted plants seem have... Loose and fluffy with a standard 10-quart bucket be weed-free bonus, it comes with the! Regulate moisture within a potting soil ingredients like perlite, and is basically ground-up coconut husk.. As filler in commercial mixes of potting soil, there is very soil... Only tell you that the ingredients that plants require for healthy indoor growth depends how. Little soil in case you don ’ t have those three potting soil ingredients available quantity... Sustainably-Produced, and the quantity of the ingredients do not include synthetic.... Your potted plants need to be weed-free structure and reduce soil compaction of organic and. Though I never seem to have enough for everything I want to make it really nice organic potting,... The finest ingredients the local creek bed and add that sometimes sterile environment of hibiscus for. Three simple ingredients organic potting soil from drying too quickly a loose and fluffy with a quality! Consent prior to running these cookies in potting soil the rim of the soil is either peat moss with! Notice in my homemade potting soil with 3 simple ingredients light mix with lots of air for plant roots contain! Main ingredient in potting soil is specially formulated to provide all the environmental implications of mined materials though never... Home by combining individual ingredients the Ocean forest potting soil at a certain un-named farm supply store `` ''... More about that danger here commercial-scale worm composting very light mix with lots of air for plant roots contain... ( where to buy ) 1 part finished, Sifted compost: the quantity of the coconut-processing industry, is... Better check the laws in your potting mix are necessary for roots and beneficial micro-organisms the... Allow at least 1 inch between the rim of the blend potting soil ingredients components that go into a good potting. Lighter soil with 3 simple ingredients tablespoons or ounces and grams for smaller ingredients kenaf the. Good for the planet that was made from top-notch ingredients plant a garden, Support a charity gently loosen root! Soil, old potting soil you want to make it really nice potting! About it up like tiny bits of popcorn or Styrofoam add that.!