Earthtainer mixture help

Dork Fish · May 18, 2020

Good morning, I am trying to renew / add additional mixture to my mother's earthtainer. It currently has Metro mix 360 in it now but it has been in there for at least 3 years. I would like to renew it but I have found that I am having issues finding product. I am currently on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and have a very few private nurseries but mostly big box stores.

Can someone help me with a mixture from items that I can locally-source?

Thank you in advance

rnewste · May 18, 2020

The 3-2-1 combo mix is comprised of 3 parts ProMix HP; 2 parts mini Bark Chips; and 1 part Perlite. Lowes carries all 3:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/PRO-MIX-Gro...ontrol/3745337

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Garden-Time...n-Bark/3731889

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Sta-Green-8...ure/1000329705

Mix all 3 together in a wheelbarrow then thoroughly wet the Mix before placing in the EarthTainer. Be sure to blend 3 cups Dolomite Lime in as well as adding the fertilizer strip as per the EarthTainer written instructions below.

Raybo

tryno12 · May 18, 2020

I apologize but: this isn't the right place but: How do i post a new topic??? i am thick and can't figure it out???

zeuspaul · May 18, 2020

Go to the home page and select the appropriate forum. Scroll towards the end and select new topic.
edit, also a new topic box towards the top left.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tryno12

I apologize but: this isn't the right place but: How do i post a new topic??? i am thick and can't figure it out???

elight · May 20, 2020

I have found Pro-Mix products difficult to source in different areas. I've never personally seen it in a big box store, so I'm guessing it's carried regionally.

My suggestion is to find a local hardware store that can order it for you from their supplier. Mine is happy to order for me and gets it within a few days whenever they receive their next regular supply truck.

You might also have better luck with a place that caters more to commercial growers.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

shatbox · May 20, 2020

Hydroponic stores will also carry Pro-Mix.

Dork Fish · May 20, 2020

Thank you guys for your replies.

Just contacted our Lowe's and they don't have the promix or the ground bark but they do have the Perlite.

Dork Fish · May 20, 2020

Okay just got off the phone with customer service desk. I gave them all of the item numbers off their Lowe's website and they don't carry any of these items on the Gulf Coast.

Koala Doug · May 20, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by shatbox

Hydroponic stores will also carry Pro-Mix.

I agree!

For the regular users (not greenhouse operators), a hydro store is the best option. Those stores are the most likely to carry it and have the best price on the bales as Pro-Mix is highly popular with 'indoor growers'.

elight · May 21, 2020

Yes, I forgot that. I did get Pro-Mix from a hydroponic store once. If they don't have it in stock, they can almost certainly order it for you from their supplier.

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MsCowpea · May 21, 2020

Unfortunately, most hydro stores charge a lot of money for Promix. So do some comparison shopping.

Walmart is carrying a homeowner Promix line
in a red or yellow (organic) compressed package which makes
2 cubic feet for $12.88.
You could add a little more perlite for a higher porosity. And the pine bark if you can find it to put together Raybo’s 3-2-1 mix. I don’t know how the quality compares to their professional line of potting mixes like Promix BX
(Popular with EarthBox users) or Promix HP (more perlite for higher porosity).

I use metro mix products (and some Promix as well). MM 360 is for filling small seed cells. Particle size is fine so the drainage is low and water
retention high.

Dork Fish · May 23, 2020

Okay seriously discouraged here.

I found thishttp://https://www.walmart.com/ip/PR...Soil/325675412

Dork Fish · May 23, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by MsCowpea

Unfortunately, most hydro stores charge a lot of money for Promix. So do some comparison shopping.

Walmart is carrying a homeowner Promix line
in a red or yellow (organic) compressed package which makes
2 cubic feet for $12.88.
You could add a little more perlite for a higher porosity. And the pine bark if you can find it to put together Raybo’s 3-2-1 mix. I don’t know how the quality compares to their professional line of potting mixes like Promix BX
(Popular with EarthBox users) or Promix HP (more perlite for higher porosity).

I use metro mix products (and some Promix as well). MM 360 is for filling small seed cells. Particle size is fine so the drainage is low and water
retention high.

Thank you so much! I missed this post. On my way to get some of this from Walmart. Haven't had any luck finding bark fines

rnewste · May 23, 2020

Sounds like you probably feel you are on a "Snipe Hunt"!

Check local Nurseries for "decorative ground cover bark" and use the bark which has the smallest particle size (nuggets). Use only Bark product - not the hardwood stuff that is artificially colored brown, etc.

You can alternatively use Orchid Bark if you only need enough to make the 3-2-1 Mix for a few EarthTainers. (Can be expensive).

Raybo

MsCowpea · May 23, 2020

https://www.promixgardening.com/en-u...re-potting-mix

This was the product at Walmart.
Unfortunately, goes out of stock quickly when they get it in.

Ingredients: (heavy on the peat)
Sphagnum peat moss (80-90% by volume)
Coir
Perlite
Ground Limestone (for pH adjustment)
Wetting agent
Mycorrhizae

Andrea, hope you were able to find it or a substitute. Sometimes bark is called composted soil conditioner.

May 18, 2020	#1
Dork Fish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Zone 5B Illinois Posts: 402	Earthtainer mixture help Good morning, I am trying to renew / add additional mixture to my mother's earthtainer. It currently has Metro mix 360 in it now but it has been in there for at least 3 years. I would like to renew it but I have found that I am having issues finding product. I am currently on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and have a very few private nurseries but mostly big box stores. Can someone help me with a mixture from items that I can locally-source? Thank you in advance __________________ Andrea

May 18, 2020	#3
tryno12 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indianapolis Area 46112 Posts: 857	how to post new topic??? I apologize but: this isn't the right place but: How do i post a new topic??? i am thick and can't figure it out???

May 20, 2020	#7
Dork Fish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Zone 5B Illinois Posts: 402	Thank you guys for your replies. Just contacted our Lowe's and they don't have the promix or the ground bark but they do have the Perlite. __________________ Andrea

May 20, 2020	#8
Dork Fish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Zone 5B Illinois Posts: 402	Okay just got off the phone with customer service desk. I gave them all of the item numbers off their Lowe's website and they don't carry any of these items on the Gulf Coast. __________________ Andrea

May 21, 2020	#11
MsCowpea Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: S. FLorida / Zone 10 Posts: 369	Unfortunately, most hydro stores charge a lot of money for Promix. So do some comparison shopping. Walmart is carrying a homeowner Promix line in a red or yellow (organic) compressed package which makes 2 cubic feet for $12.88. You could add a little more perlite for a higher porosity. And the pine bark if you can find it to put together Raybo’s 3-2-1 mix. I don’t know how the quality compares to their professional line of potting mixes like Promix BX (Popular with EarthBox users) or Promix HP (more perlite for higher porosity). I use metro mix products (and some Promix as well). MM 360 is for filling small seed cells. Particle size is fine so the drainage is low and water retention high. __________________ "When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work." Carl Huffaker

May 20, 2020	#5
elight Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 349	I have found Pro-Mix products difficult to source in different areas. I've never personally seen it in a big box store, so I'm guessing it's carried regionally. My suggestion is to find a local hardware store that can order it for you from their supplier. Mine is happy to order for me and gets it within a few days whenever they receive their next regular supply truck. You might also have better luck with a place that caters more to commercial growers. Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using Tapatalk

May 20, 2020	#6
shatbox Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Los Angeles County, CA Posts: 258	Hydroponic stores will also carry Pro-Mix.

May 23, 2020	#12
Dork Fish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2012 Location: Zone 5B Illinois Posts: 402	Okay seriously discouraged here. I found thishttp://https://www.walmart.com/ip/PR...Soil/325675412 __________________ Andrea

May 23, 2020	#14
rnewste Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Campbell, CA Posts: 4,064	Sounds like you probably feel you are on a "Snipe Hunt"! Check local Nurseries for "decorative ground cover bark" and use the bark which has the smallest particle size (nuggets). Use only Bark product - not the hardwood stuff that is artificially colored brown, etc. You can alternatively use Orchid Bark if you only need enough to make the 3-2-1 Mix for a few EarthTainers. (Can be expensive). Raybo Last edited by rnewste; May 23, 2020 at 06:37 PM.