Potting Soil Question

AlittleSalt · October 27, 2016

I've been wondering about this for a couple of years now. In the buyable plastic sacks. What is Potting Soil used for?

I don't mean Potting Mix, Starting mix, Garden Soil, Pro Mix, or any of the specialty mixes. Just the one called "Potting Soil". It doesn't matter what brand - what is potting soil used for?

Worth1 · October 28, 2016

It depends on who makes it as to what it even is.
Some soil has no soil what so ever.
There are no set rules but it is supposed to be used for potting.
Worth

Ricky Shaw · October 28, 2016

It's sold as a teaching tool. For those that think it doesn't matter, or that potting mix isn't worth the extra money.

ginger2778 · October 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

It's sold as a teaching tool. For those that think it doesn't matter, or that potting mix isn't worth the extra money.

Love this! Hilarious!

AlittleSalt · October 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

It's sold as a teaching tool. For those that think it doesn't matter, or that potting mix isn't worth the extra money.

I'm glad I didn't buy any potting soil.

I want to grow some carrots in 5 gallon buckets this winter. I have a bag of potting mix that I want to use up. It has some larger chunks in it that needs to be screened out. If I need more, I'll go with more potting mix.

Thanks for the replies.

dmforcier · October 28, 2016

You know, I was wondering that too. Maybe for plants that love to be wet?

Gardeneer · October 28, 2016

Potting Soil is often same as Potting Mix. And they are soil-less.
If it has things like "compost" then it is NOT soil less.
They are mostly peat moss.plus some perlite and perhaps some other stuff like pine bark fine.
Most of them (soil less) have no micro herd. So you have to use synthetic fertilizer with those.

brownrexx · October 28, 2016

I have never heard of potting soil being soil-less. Seed Starter mix is a soil-less product that I use for starting seeds. It is very light and fluffy for optimum seed starting.

As far as I always believed, potting soil is for potting house plants or garden seedlings after they have germinated in a light weight seed starting mix.

It is very hard to find a potting soil that does not contain a timed release fertilizer. Seed starting mixes do not contain fertilizers.

MissS · October 28, 2016

Well, twice I have tried potting "soil" and both times it was not a soil-less mix. I have now learned my lesson and will NEVER buy it again. It is a sopping wet mass of clay and some dirt that kills your plants.

So I must agree that it is a teaching tool as well as a great medium for bog plants.

maxjohnson · October 28, 2016

Potting mix is soil-free, but usually have no nutrient added, and is good for indoor uses.

Potting soil for me is to be used for outdoor containers only, since they do have soil substances (hence the name), mainly "compost" stuff and fancy marketing terminologies. It tend to be heavier and poor in porosity and need something like perlite or rice hulls added to improve drainage. I used a bit of Dr. Earth Potting Soil for my outdoor container, stuff do grow well in them after improving drainage, but they are very expensive and not worth the money.

Now I just use manure compost with potting mix to create adequate porosity and add my own slow release fertilizers.

dmforcier · October 28, 2016

Miracle-Gro Potting Mix (and IIRC Potting Soil) is not soil-less in the strict definition of that term, and has time-release ferts. Same with the slightly cheaper but not as satisfying competition. I wager that those represent the largest, perhaps majority, share of the 'potting stuff' market.

Ricky Shaw · October 28, 2016

Well I did! I put petunias in it one year, lots of big wood pieces and sand in the bag I bought. The wood floated to the top of the pots and the sand compacted like cement. Worst petunias ever for me.

It probably has it's use, but I'd bet the product's a disappointment for most who buy it.

Worth1 · October 28, 2016

I make my own potting soil from MG organic raised bed soil and perlite.
The raised bed soil has no dirt sand clay ground up rocks in it at all.

If you look at some of the most fertile areas of the world they have several things in common.
Glaciation and volcanic activity in the last several thousand years or they get runoff from these areas.
Like the Nile delta.
I have seen people cuss the Houston Black Soil and put raised beds on top of some of the most fertile soil in America.
I wouldn't judge any one opinion on potting soil because as I said there is no regulation for the word soil.

Too many posts here and in other places were one person would swear by a product and another would hate it.
In another post here I mentioned the HD here was selling bank sand for top soil.
Tractor supply was selling dried out red clay loam for top soil.
Years ago I could get real sheep manure from Wall Mart not anymore.

I wouldn't buy a bag of anything unless I could see inside, I dont want big chunks of fire wood and bark as a cheap filler.
Nor do I want heavy silt.
If you buy any of the so called soil you more than likely need to pick up a big bag of perlite too.

True potting mix was made for one thing and that is for house plant containers to be light weight and not compact like regular soil does.

Worth

Cole_Robbie · October 28, 2016

I bought some bagged compost at Menard's a few years ago, because it was on clearance/closeout, marked from $4 a bag to 99 cents. After using it, I can see why they discontinued the product. It was like poison, killed everything it touched.

After that experience, I'm not buying anything in a bag that is not my trusted pro-mix brand.

Worth1 · October 28, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

I bought some bagged compost at Menard's a few years ago, because it was on clearance/closeout, marked from $4 a bag to 99 cents. After using it, I can see why they discontinued the product. It was like poison, killed everything it touched.

After that experience, I'm not buying anything in a bag that is not my trusted pro-mix brand.

Herbicide contamination for sure.

Worth

October 27, 2016	#1
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Potting Soil Question I've been wondering about this for a couple of years now. In the buyable plastic sacks. What is Potting Soil used for? I don't mean Potting Mix, Starting mix, Garden Soil, Pro Mix, or any of the specialty mixes. Just the one called "Potting Soil". It doesn't matter what brand - what is potting soil used for?

October 28, 2016	#6
dmforcier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 3,825	You know, I was wondering that too. Maybe for plants that love to be wet? __________________ Stupidity got us into this mess. Why can't it get us out? - Will Rogers

October 28, 2016	#7
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	Potting Soil is often same as Potting Mix. And they are soil-less. If it has things like "compost" then it is NOT soil less. They are mostly peat moss.plus some perlite and perhaps some other stuff like pine bark fine. Most of them (soil less) have no micro herd. So you have to use synthetic fertilizer with those. __________________ Gardeneer Happy Gardening !

October 28, 2016	#9
MissS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pewaukee, Wisconsin Posts: 3,150	Well, twice I have tried potting "soil" and both times it was not a soil-less mix. I have now learned my lesson and will NEVER buy it again. It is a sopping wet mass of clay and some dirt that kills your plants. So I must agree that it is a teaching tool as well as a great medium for bog plants. __________________ ~ Patti ~

October 28, 2016	#10
maxjohnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: OH 6a Posts: 592	Potting mix is soil-free, but usually have no nutrient added, and is good for indoor uses. Potting soil for me is to be used for outdoor containers only, since they do have soil substances (hence the name), mainly "compost" stuff and fancy marketing terminologies. It tend to be heavier and poor in porosity and need something like perlite or rice hulls added to improve drainage. I used a bit of Dr. Earth Potting Soil for my outdoor container, stuff do grow well in them after improving drainage, but they are very expensive and not worth the money. Now I just use manure compost with potting mix to create adequate porosity and add my own slow release fertilizers. Last edited by maxjohnson; October 28, 2016 at 12:15 PM.

October 28, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	It depends on who makes it as to what it even is. Some soil has no soil what so ever. There are no set rules but it is supposed to be used for potting. Worth

October 28, 2016	#3
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	It's sold as a teaching tool. For those that think it doesn't matter, or that potting mix isn't worth the extra money.

October 28, 2016	#8
brownrexx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Southeastern PA Posts: 1,420	I have never heard of potting soil being soil-less. Seed Starter mix is a soil-less product that I use for starting seeds. It is very light and fluffy for optimum seed starting. As far as I always believed, potting soil is for potting house plants or garden seedlings after they have germinated in a light weight seed starting mix. It is very hard to find a potting soil that does not contain a timed release fertilizer. Seed starting mixes do not contain fertilizers.

October 28, 2016	#14
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I bought some bagged compost at Menard's a few years ago, because it was on clearance/closeout, marked from $4 a bag to 99 cents. After using it, I can see why they discontinued the product. It was like poison, killed everything it touched. After that experience, I'm not buying anything in a bag that is not my trusted pro-mix brand.