Potting soil or potting mix?

[Sloppy Seconds]

is there any difference between the two? i have the Miracle Grow potting mix is there a soil version? thanks all and as always be cool

 

[Guest]

Have you started your grow yet? I cannot answer your specific question, but I'll share my experience with miracle gro moisture control soil.

This soil was heavy with peat moss, and time release nutrients. My plants started burning out of the gate, and when that stopped, I had some claw action going on with my leaves. I stuck it out, and examined the root structure after it was all said and done. There was none. This 10 week old plant had a root structure I'd expect to see on a plant that was two or so weeks old.

Whether this was due to the heavy peat content of the soil, or the nutrients, I cannot say. This disaster grow was followed up by the exact same setup, strains, etc albeit with fox farms ocean forest with bonus perlite thrown in. They performed spectacularly -- its in my sig. I should follow up that I do not believe you need to drop the high dollarage on the fox farm product, next time I'll mix up my own batch with similar ingredients. You can do it much cheaper.

In short, I'd advise against miracle gro, however your mileage may vary! What the hell do I know?

Happy toking and good luck!

EDIT:
looks like you've already gotten this same advice in another thread -- didn't catch that!

 

[lifetime]

MG doesn't make a "potting soil" only a "mix"

i wouldn't recommend it unless you go for their organic line, because their chemical salt fertilizers that are in the mix can mess up young plants.

but the difference between potting soil and potting mix...

potting soil is mostly dirt and perlite, maybe some other composted forest products...
a mix is usually peat based, with no dirt in it at all.

 

[Sloppy Seconds]

Thanks Sarge, thanks Lifetime, i bought the stuff but now i'm sorry i did.
some of the forum peeps are for MG and some are against it.
i think i'll go and buy some regular potting soil and maybe mix a little of the MG in just to use it up.
thank you for the reply. i'm almost ready to start my "first" grow. be cool

 

[Blackvelvet]

If it says feeding lasts 3 months or something like that on the bag, its not suitable for indoor use.

 

[hogwild]

sta green potting soil is better than the miracle grow, it still has fertilizer but much less. If you get the sta green moisture max formula it comes with moisture absorbing crystals in it for free, so you dont have to add them, course thats only if you dont water much.

 

[EZB581]

sta green potting soil is better than the miracle grow, it still has fertilizer but much less. If you get the sta green moisture max formula it comes with moisture absorbing crystals in it for free, so you dont have to add them, course thats only if you dont water much.

I'm using stagreen potting mix. I add an 8qt bag of MG perlite to a large bag of the stagreen. The MG perlite has ferts added. Also I didn't know the stagreen had some ferts in it . My mix is hotter at the get go than I thought.

 

[Brian1975]

Wal-Mart Supersoil 2/3 with a 1/3 of perlite...has worked well for me.

 

[JJScorpio]

I have used Miracle Grow products for 20 years and I have never one time had any kinds of problems with any of them. I bet I have used a thousand bags or better of their soil. I constantly hear all these bad stories regarding MG and I wonder why I have never gotten a bad batch......

The first thing, potting soil has no soil in it whatsoever. It is a mixture of peat and forest mulch amongst other things. The cheaper mixes can even have sewage treatment products in it. Its not a good idea to add any extra peat or you will end up with PH problems......

 

[Endo]

miracle grow does now over organic potting soil mix.. ive used it with good results.. also they now offer organic bone meal and blood meal and general organic ferts as well.. something to look into.

Endo

 

[Guest]

Seems the differing varieties mean sink or swim with mg. We should figure out what those are.