Anyone care to share their homemade potting mix recipe?

Stainless · March 6, 2015

I've got twenty five gallon buckets to fill soon and I am looking for a better solution than just going to the local hardware store and buying bags and bags of potting mix. I've seen several different recipes on the net but they're all pretty much different and I don't know exactly what they're planning to grow in their mixes. I'm only going to grow tomatoes in mine.

I'm sure several of you make your own with cheaper materials. Anyone care to share?

luigiwu · March 6, 2015

I use the Larry Hall potting mix - add your own amendments after that!
Its all purpose meaning I grow everything in containers and this one mix goes in every container. Please note, I only do sub-irrigated container gardening.

Larry Hall's Inexpensive Potting Mix!
2 five gallon buckets full peat moss
1 five gallon bucket compost
1 and 1/2 cup Garden lime
1 large coffee can (12cups) full of perlite
1 handful of Epsom salts

Stvrob · March 6, 2015

I use a whole lot more perlite than that. That mix sounds like it would be too tight.

elight · March 7, 2015

Tapla's 5-1-1 mix will be the most cost-effective quality container mix. 5 parts pine bark fines, 1 part peat, 1 part perlite. You can find more info on "that other site" in various easy-to-find posts.

If you're looking for a SWC/SIP mix, you can try Ray's 3-2-1 mix or Larry Hall's. Let us know what works for you!

drew51 · March 7, 2015

To me the 5-1-1 is too dry, a 3-1-1 is better for me and I also add one part compost to improve drainage and to prevent root rot (well known property of compost). Don't forget the lime! The hard part is finding the right pine bark. A local nursery here sells some decent stuff labeled as a soil conditioner. Most pine mulches have too big of bark. Some labled as pathway bark are ok. I have over 50 pots I use, so yes I make my own all the time.

elight · March 7, 2015

Interesting. I'm using 5-1-1 for the first time and am interested to see how it holds up to the Florida heat.

luigiwu · March 7, 2015

I recall the 5-1-1 (gritty mix) is meant for succulents, or things that need super fast draining soil. Elight, in the heat, I would think unless you can provide consistent watering, you would want a mix that can hold a bit more water for you.

drew51 · March 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

I recall the 5-1-1 (gritty mix) is meant for succulents, or things that need super fast draining soil. Elight, in the heat, I would think unless you can provide consistent watering, you would want a mix that can hold a bit more water for you.

The gritty mix is not the 5-1-1 mix. It might be fine for some. Many species of pine etc, so some drain faster than others. For what I use a 3-1-1 mix works better with compost for veggies, I skip it for some plants. I often add one part diatomaceous earth too, not food grade, horticultural size, about the same size as perlite. I add azomite, lime, and other amendments depending on plants.
The gritty mix is turface, pine, and granite.

luigiwu · March 7, 2015

sorry for the nomenclature mishap. Gritty was the wrong term but the 5 part pines to me instead of being mostly peat-based will drain faster and not really hold water.

drew51 · March 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by luigiwu

sorry for the nomenclature mishap. Gritty was the wrong term but the 5 part pines to me instead of being mostly peat-based will drain faster and not really hold water.

Yes I think so too, you can even use a 1-1-1 mix, whatever works for you. I found this too wet for me 3 or 2-1-1 works for me.

Fusion_power · March 7, 2015

This is a somewhat more expensive mix but the results are significantly better.

3.8 cu ft of peat moss
3.8 cu ft of worm castings
2 cu ft of perlite
1 cup of dolomite lime.

If you look around, you can probably find a worm farmer in the area who can provide the worm castings. I get them from this guy: http://www.greengregs.com/

Glen Bryan · March 7, 2015

I used the 511 but it molded horribly I know it's not the peat or perlite and I really don't want to have to sterilize whole bunch of bark. Thoughts?

Stvrob · March 7, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glen Bryan

I used the 511 but it molded horribly I know it's not the peat or perlite and I really don't want to have to sterilize whole bunch of bark. Thoughts?

Good mold? Or bad mold?

ScottinAtlanta · March 7, 2015

I often consult Potting Mixes for Certified Organic Production

https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/sum...ary.php?pub=47

Tall Tier · March 7, 2015

I have tried different mixes with different ingredients. Peat, cow manure, fish bone meal, regular bone meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, oyster shells, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, dolomite lime, rock dust, mycrorisa, azomite, worm castings, bat guano, Epsom salt, also superthrive to start. I would like to try the Boogy brew tea kit but will have to find out if I can bring it across the border into Canada.

March 6, 2015	#1
Stainless Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Fort Smith, AR Posts: 86	Anyone care to share their homemade potting mix recipe? I've got twenty five gallon buckets to fill soon and I am looking for a better solution than just going to the local hardware store and buying bags and bags of potting mix. I've seen several different recipes on the net but they're all pretty much different and I don't know exactly what they're planning to grow in their mixes. I'm only going to grow tomatoes in mine. I'm sure several of you make your own with cheaper materials. Anyone care to share?

March 6, 2015	#2
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	I use the Larry Hall potting mix - add your own amendments after that! Its all purpose meaning I grow everything in containers and this one mix goes in every container. Please note, I only do sub-irrigated container gardening. Larry Hall's Inexpensive Potting Mix! 2 five gallon buckets full peat moss 1 five gallon bucket compost 1 and 1/2 cup Garden lime 1 large coffee can (12cups) full of perlite 1 handful of Epsom salts __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

March 7, 2015	#7
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	I recall the 5-1-1 (gritty mix) is meant for succulents, or things that need super fast draining soil. Elight, in the heat, I would think unless you can provide consistent watering, you would want a mix that can hold a bit more water for you. __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

March 7, 2015	#9
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	sorry for the nomenclature mishap. Gritty was the wrong term but the 5 part pines to me instead of being mostly peat-based will drain faster and not really hold water. __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

March 6, 2015	#3
Stvrob Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Jacksonville, FL Posts: 1,413	I use a whole lot more perlite than that. That mix sounds like it would be too tight.

March 7, 2015	#4
elight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 349	Tapla's 5-1-1 mix will be the most cost-effective quality container mix. 5 parts pine bark fines, 1 part peat, 1 part perlite. You can find more info on "that other site" in various easy-to-find posts. If you're looking for a SWC/SIP mix, you can try Ray's 3-2-1 mix or Larry Hall's. Let us know what works for you!

March 7, 2015	#5
drew51 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Sterling Heights, MI Zone 6a/5b Posts: 1,302	To me the 5-1-1 is too dry, a 3-1-1 is better for me and I also add one part compost to improve drainage and to prevent root rot (well known property of compost). Don't forget the lime! The hard part is finding the right pine bark. A local nursery here sells some decent stuff labeled as a soil conditioner. Most pine mulches have too big of bark. Some labled as pathway bark are ok. I have over 50 pots I use, so yes I make my own all the time.

March 7, 2015	#11
Fusion_power Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,250	This is a somewhat more expensive mix but the results are significantly better. 3.8 cu ft of peat moss 3.8 cu ft of worm castings 2 cu ft of perlite 1 cup of dolomite lime. If you look around, you can probably find a worm farmer in the area who can provide the worm castings. I get them from this guy: http://www.greengregs.com/

March 7, 2015	#12
Glen Bryan Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 19	I used the 511 but it molded horribly I know it's not the peat or perlite and I really don't want to have to sterilize whole bunch of bark. Thoughts?

March 7, 2015	#14
ScottinAtlanta Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Posts: 2,593	I often consult Potting Mixes for Certified Organic Production https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/sum...ary.php?pub=47

March 7, 2015	#15
Tall Tier Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 24	I have tried different mixes with different ingredients. Peat, cow manure, fish bone meal, regular bone meal, blood meal, cottonseed meal, oyster shells, kelp meal, alfalfa meal, dolomite lime, rock dust, mycrorisa, azomite, worm castings, bat guano, Epsom salt, also superthrive to start. I would like to try the Boogy brew tea kit but will have to find out if I can bring it across the border into Canada.