Potting mix

[Dynebag]

Sorry if this has been asked before but I couldn't find anything on the search.
What do you guys use as a potting mix?
Currently I'm using 6 parts Miracle-gro potting mix soil, 1 part vermiculite. 1 part sand, 2 parts perlite. When potting up I mix in some fertiliser, bonemeal and Epsom salts, watered in with some fish emulsion.
Feel free to critique my method so I can hopefully improve for next years bonanza

 

[Beelzeboss]

for potting soil i use Edna's best organic potting soil mix with all purpose sand

 

[Swartmamba]

at the top of the page their is a great sticky. http://thehotpepper.com/topic/10245-all-about-soil-a-great-resource-i-thought-i-would-share/
 
All you need to know is there, enjoy!

 

[Devil Created Pods]

nice mix except the miracle gro ewwwww. lol. i hate that stuff. i usually mix my own with compost, sand, blood meal, bone meal, azomite, perlite, vermiculite, mycorrihzae, worm castings and peat moss. i use fish emulsion as fertilizer too its good stuff!

 

[Swartmamba]

That is allot of ingredients Frankie, mostly unecessary.
 
no need for the blood meal too much nitrogen with that. otherwise not bad

 

[Dynebag]

Thanks guys.
Glad to know I'm not completely inept
Is there anywhere online I can order some good compost besides Miracle gro? It's a bit hard for me to find decent stuff in the uk, especially since I don't drive.
Edit: would any multipurpose compost do? What percentage peat is a good amount?

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

That is allot of ingredients Frankie, mostly unecessary.
 
no need for the blood meal too much nitrogen with that. otherwise not bad

I made my own as well. 1/3 home made compost/EWC (the most important ingredient), 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 5/16" red lava rock, Espoma Tomato Tone, Kelp meal, Alfalfa meal, Crab meal, Neem cake, Gaia Green glacial rock dust.
I will never buy soil from a store again as I can make soil better than anything on the market.

 

[Swartmamba]

got to love tomato/garden tone wish we got it here.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

Thanks guys.
Glad to know I'm not completely inept
Is there anywhere online I can order some good compost besides Miracle gro? It's a bit hard for me to find decent stuff in the uk, especially since I don't drive.
Edit: would any multipurpose compost do? What percentage peat is a good amount?

I would mix 1/3 peat, 1/3 compost and 1/3 aeration amendment (small lava rock, perlite, etc).
Can you find someone nearby selling good home made compost?

 

[Devil Created Pods]

I made my own as well. 1/3 home made compost/EWC (the most important ingredient), 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 5/16" red lava rock, Espoma Tomato Tone, Kelp meal, Alfalfa meal, Crab meal, Neem cake, Gaia Green glacial rock dust.
I will never buy soil from a store again as I can make soil better than anything on the market.

awesome mix! hows the gaia green? been wanting to try it but havnt decided yet, i use elemite rock dust too, its good stuff. and the sea-90 minerals and compost tea from boogie brew

That is allot of ingredients Frankie, mostly unecessary.
 
no need for the blood meal too much nitrogen with that. otherwise not bad

HATER !!!!!!!!!

 

[AlabamaJack]

I get my soil, or part of it from a recycling place about 3 miles from my house...I usually get 3 yards at a time..it is 60% compost/40% cushion sand...when I get ready to pot up, I mix about
50 % of the compost mixture
35 % of a good grade potting soil (no nutrients)
15% rabbit pellets...

 

[Dave2000]

Think long term and compost your yard waste.  Twigs, grass, pulled weeds, the remains of last year's crops (leaves, stems, roots AND seeds), pine needles, leaves, pine cones, etc. etc. plus kitchen waste like coffee grounds and egg shells, any vegetable scraps..
 
Age that for at least few months keeping it damp then mix that in with soil already on your property.  If that soil will grow grass/trees/etc, then with compost added it will be that much better.  If the result is too dense then add enough peat moss to fluff it up.  If it rains a lot then add some sand too.  The amount needed depends on how dense the soil started out.
 
To be more specific to the mix you listed, substitute 2 parts peat moss for 2 of the 6 parts MG potting soil.  You can skip adding the epsom salts because being a salt it completely dissolves in water and can be applied later with equally good results.

 

[Chewi]

I get my soil, or part of it from a recycling place about 3 miles from my house...I usually get 3 yards at a time..it is 60% compost/40% cushion sand...when I get ready to pot up, I mix about
50 % of the compost mixture
35 % of a good grade potting soil (no nutrients)
15% rabbit pellets...

 
15% rabbit poo?

 

[AlabamaJack]

yes sir...clean and full of nutrients

 

[KevinH]

I am having great success with 50/50 mix of Happy Frog/Ocean Forest. I mixed them dumped a gal of water in then mixed again. Let sit for 10 days. Next year I will let it sit longer and ad perlite and oyster shell and bone meal. I have yet to see a need for fertilizer I am go on week 4 in this soil.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

awesome mix! hows the gaia green? been wanting to try it but havnt decided yet, i use elemite rock dust too, its good stuff.

It is pretty good but after consulting with experts I think basalt rock dust is a little bit better. Diversity is always a good thing so put both if you can.

 

[Proud Marine Dad]

The red lava rock contains basalt so that will add a little as well. It's also great for housing bacteria in all those little holes in the lava rock.

 

[Pr0digal_son]

I will never buy soil from a store again as I can make soil better than anything on the market.

How much do you charge per cu. ft.?

I am having great success with 50/50 mix of Happy Frog/Ocean Forest. I mixed them dumped a gal of water in then mixed again. Let sit for 10 days. Next year I will let it sit longer and ad perlite and oyster shell and bone meal. I have yet to see a need for fertilizer I am go on week 4 in this soil.

Not exactly sure what you mean here. These both have a charge,30 days probably. Why are you watering and letting it sit 10 days before planting? Get your plants in as soon as possible. When your other amendments start to kick in,the initial charge will be spent and everything will be seamless for your plants,no lag.

 

[AlabamaJack]

I need to amend my post for soil composition...edit in blue
 

I get my soil, or part of it from a recycling place about 3 miles from my house...I usually get 3 yards at a time..it is 60% compost/40% cushion sand...when I get ready to pot up, I mix about
 
50 % of the compost mixture
 
40 % of a good grade potting soil (no nutrients - or soil from the previous years grow - 2015 will  be all new potting soil)
 
10% rabbit pellets...dropped from 15%

 

[KevinH]

By letting the soil sit mixed with the water it starts to jump start the growth of beneficial fungi as well as let's the soil come alive. The other thing is letting it cook is to kill off and and all bugs that may or may not be in the soil.