Premium VS Consumer Potting Soil. There IS A Difference
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- Опубліковано 26 сер 2024
- When It comes to potting soils there is consumer quality and premium quality. Depending on your garden and plant goals you may need to change to a premium quality potting soil.
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Ashley is a soil scientist who has had a passion for plants since she was a small child. In the long summers as a child, she would garden alongside her grandmother and it was then that she realized her love for greenery. With years of great studying, Ashley had begun her p
ost-secondary education at the University of Saskatchewan.
At first, her second love, animals, was the career path she chose but while doing her undergrad she realized that her education would take her elsewhere. And with that, four years later she graduated from the University of Saskatchewan with a bachelor’s degree in science and a major in Soil Science.
Some of Ashley’s interests are UA-cam, in which she posts informative videos about plants and gardening. The focus of Ashley’s UA-cam channel is to bring science to gardening in a way that is informative but also helpful to others learning to garden. She also talks about the importance of having your own garden and the joys of gardening indoors. Ashley continues to study plants in her free time and hopes to expand her UA-cam channel as well as her reach to up-and-coming gardeners.
Disclaimer
This description or comments section may contain links to affiliate websites. I receive a commission for any purchases made by you on the affiliate website using such a link. This includes the gardening in Canada website. You should assume all links both on the gardening in Canada UA-cam, Blog, and all other social media are affiliates and I will receive compensation.
Can I just say that the fact that there is a Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association is the most wonderfully nerdy thing!!
Hahahaha yea
I had no idea and Im learning a ton about wetlands and developing peat bogs. Will have to check it out.
Hi, Ashley! I am also Ashley from NW Ohio, USA. For the majority of my life, I have loved plants, but have not had the time to devote to their care. Now I’m an empty- nester and my plant obsession has taken root. I’ve been binge watching a lot of your old content and just wanted to say, thanks for well researched content, based on scientific evidence! You are just the channel I have been looking for!
Awe! I am happy to have you along for the ride
It is great to listen to someone who actually knows what she is talking about. Thank you.
Love your channel! As a former Biology major who worked in research for several years, I appreciate your science based approach. Geek out on your channel all the time!
One suggestion: think your channel would greatly benefit from time markers throughout your video to make it easy for people to sift through different sections.
Thanks!
I was dumping my sunshine #4 into my plant room tote just as you said it was your favorite. Just found your channel I’m so excited to dive in 🤓
Wonderful! Glad to have you onboard
Promix professional grades (BX/HP, etc) have no NPK. The consumer promixes (with fruits/vegs on the bag) do however. I do various hydro/substrate plantings so I supply my own fert. I find it funny the BX/HP are considered premium when it's far cheaper than the consumer grade ones :P
i can confirm, i was just at walmart yesterday checking what they had for soil and they had 2 diff kinds of compressed promix
Just to add another shout out for Berger. I use the BM-2 for starting and then the BM-6 when potting up into my Root Pouch fabric containers.
Best combination for vertical growing in very limitied space. I probably have over 70 fabric containers (5-10 gallon). I have expanded by buying a few extra bales of BM-6 and larger fabric containers each year.
It is not too costly when you take into account the harvest yield from 1 container of tomatoes. I also like to companion plant basil and lettuce with the tomatoes, so I get a 2 for 1 return. I trellis my tomatoes, so by the time basil is at full growth, I have already pruned the lower leaves of the tomatoes so they get full sun.
I totally thought you were going to say "I know what plants crave" like a Brawndo ad. lol
How do you know exactly what questions I have, exactly when I have them??? You've been such a great resource for me. I am finishing up my PhD in Chemical Biotechnology and I have to say, as someone who is passionate about science knowledge mobilization - you're a rockstar!
Happy to help! And love a fellow science person 👩🔬
I realize this comment is late. Where do people buy the Sunshine Mix #3 or the Pro-Mix PGX in the US. I'm having a hard time finding either online that don't only sell to businesses.
Sunshine Mix #4 or ProMix HP since they are both readily available at big box stores. Usually whatever I can get cheaper at the end of the season. I have made my own mix and it's such a pain. The only way I will do that again is if I need a very large quantity of media for container growing (which I don't plan on doing ever again!). Even then, I would probably find a place that sells it in bulk.
Lambert is another company that sells professional mixes. I have only ever purchased their bales of peat moss though.
Sooo... I love all of the wonderful information that you give us. My problem is that I find myself drawn into the depth of the info and the manner that you present it, in a bit of an ASMR type of trance sometimes. When that happens, I just back up the video so I can concentrate and pick up all of the great information that you put out. I am so glad I found you on Canadian Prepper's channel.
You are so welcome!
I use Greenwold professional mix from Home Hardware. I order it in. I buy it in large bales. Im happy with it.
Thanks for sharing
As someone with a 25'x120' container garden, with over 100 containers, I would go swiftly BROKE buying potting soil. I have been making my own for the last 3 years and I am not sure if a large galvanized tub to mix in is all the"needed" equipment. I am super budget oriented. I use garden lime, pelletized chicken manure (Chick-N-Poo), perlite (local manufacturer), sifted peat and compost. For storage and measuring I use old Tidy Cats buckets and scoops made from empty plastic vinegar jugs.
Im sure some of the mixes mentioned have specific uses. But I would rather not grow tomatoes that cost a lot because of the soil.
Oh yea! 100 containers no way! Lol
@GardeningInCanada if it was 100 small flower pots, maybe. But most are 5 gallon buckets. 7 gallon grow bags, or higher. 14 of them being 40 gallons or more totes. I also never toss out potting mix, just revitalize it.
@@j.b.6855how do you revitalize it?
Yeah my 'equipment' is a ten dollar kiddy pool from Family Dollar.
I like Pro-Mix HP so I make my own. Canadian Peat Moss, Lime, Perlite. I mix in a small amount of Pro-Mix so I can have the Mycorrhiza that they use. Then I introduce my amendments like wormcastings, DTE and Dr Earth. Water with Molasses and seaweed. Works great.
I totally get that!! I use around 50 pots and bags that are all 10 to 15 gallons each, as well as about 20 that are 3 gallon self watering... To buy new every year would bankrupt me lol... The addition of the right fertilizers and a little fresh in with the old works great... I think that for me tho, the vermicast has been the game changer... The completely spent potting medium and roots becomes worm food and they convert it into something incredibly valuable
Great video!! I use Fox Farm ocean forest in my outdoor pots and salamander soil in my hanging baskets with coco liners. I top dress them all with an inch of compost. I'm in NorCalifornia 9b, summers are very hot and dry.
That's a great idea!
Berger a Canadian company also sells professional quality potting mix. i bought a bunch of it from a local greenhouse
I use the BM-2 for seed starting and BM-6 when they go into the container garden. Great stuff all around. They have other versions for the more specialized needs like what Ashley mentioned.
I try to get the compressed bale for the BM-6 (generally 4-5 bales a year as I expand and refresh existing stock) vs loose fill as it is a better deal. I have to get it from a horticulture supplier, but at least it isn't a far drive.
95% of my gardening is in containers... I blend my own, reusing half old from previous seasons, and the rest a blend of peat, coir, vermiculite, perlite, composted manure and worm castings... I like the blank slate lol... To this I add the moisture beads and a long list of organic fertilizers... Gaia green all purpose, power bloom, kelp meal, alfalfa meal... Soluble seaweed, calmag, humic & fulvic acids, and fish hydrolysate is in the witch's brew it's all moistened with... I dust all root balls with Myco at time of transplanting... I've had to relearn how to garden because container gardening is completely different from in ground gardening!! But I have had tremendous success with what I concoct so I must be doing something right
Fantastic!
I am loving soil blocking this season so I got excited when you mentioned the soil specifically for it. Unfortunately I cannot find it anywhere! Perhaps I will be able to find it on my travels this summer and can stock up for next seed starting season
Could you do a video like this for build a soil products? I like the soil blend I just don’t know about some the other products.
Yea I am going to do a reusing potting soil
there's something off with the video at around 6:55, it cuts off most of the info about sunshine mix 1
sunshine #4 my go to for past couple years as I admit i am guilty ,very guilty of over watering at times hahaha. great stuff and really not that pricy
Good stuff!
I have used alot of different potting mixes and have even worked for some of the companies. Lambert Soil is what I have found to be the best out of the Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss companies. Pro-Mix is the worst, same stuff and over priced.
Is lambert soil sold in western Canada? I have never seen it
@@GardeningInCanada I believe it is, What is the largest retail store for soil near you?
I’ve used sunshine mix in a self watering system I created for my grandson to grow watermelon. It works great .
That is awesome!
Thankyou. That was very informative on a topic I was interested in
So glad!
Awesome video, per usual, Ashley! I've been using Whitney Farms Organic Potting Soil - there's no perlite or vermiculite in it, oddly enough. It's working well, so far! I also add compost + biochar and earthworm castings, plus a sprinkle of bone meal. ❤
Lots of accessible options. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Could we get a "trending" what is peat moss and how does it grow/rumored to be so bad, type of video? I think you could make something sensational to bring awareness to how to use it ethically and such?
In the works 🤓
Cow manure and peat moss, mix 50/50 with a 2" diameter augur in a drill.
I use HP Pro w/myko but I add to it for my seedlings and pot mix.
Great video! Thanks! Ashley i was wondering if it was possible to make a video about going around saving seeds from biennial plants like carrots, cabbage, leeks, beetroot etc. in cold climates like Zone 3? Trying to follow Nate's advice to become self sufficient 😅
Oooo that’s really hard. You would need cold frames and some heat.
This video is very interesting 💛 last year I bought PRO-MIX HP, because at home it doesn't matter what soil I use for my indoor plants... it takes forever to dry, always ends up creating small harmless mold on top. It's the best potting soil I've used, I was even thinking of adding some more Pon Lechuza to this mix this year, I don't know if that's a good idea in the end. My plants are ZZ, Hoya, Calathea.
Thanks for sharing!
Or you could just use coarse sand, the original and best potting mix on the market. No root rot, water all you want, and plants absolutely love it! Just remember to put the fertiliser and compost on top, do t mix it through the sand, decaying compost around the roots is what causes root rot, not the overwatering 😁
For some folks sand based is very heavy to move around.
I was a life long Promix-er but it has gone to 💩. I have been extremely happy with Sunshine mix #4.
its true...
Your best video yet😊
Wow, thanks
I struggled with over watering succulents so i made my own mix. 50% perlite, 50% potting soil. Humidity in Arkansas is honestly- disgusting, so when things get wet, they stay wet.
I'm in TN and right there with you. I have been dealing w/ powdery mildew on my succulents since the seasons changed and we keep changing from A/C to heat and back again.
Do you grow outdoor? I'm in south GA and grow outdoors, trying to mix a soil that will allow for our high humidity, rain season, and hot sun. Zone 8b
@michellemtucker8468 i put them outside when we are regularly having 50-degree nights. I then forget about them until time to bring them in when fall hits. I have mine set up under a giant oak, so they only get direct sunshine after 3pm-ish. We tend to have a late summer drought, so i might water then. There are other things that help, like using terra cotta instead of plastic, increasing the Perlite in your soil, and watching the underside of the leaves for wilting. I'm zone 7a, and our winters are too cold for some of the more tender succulents, i have no desire to memorize which ones can handle the weather or not, so they all get brought in for winter.
@@amandabottoms1 thanks for your tips. Happy summer growing
Best information on the internet! Thanks
Glad it was helpful!
What about adding lime to your own potting mix? That's what I do.
Yup! Totally can do that.
Great video. Have worked in a greenhouse setting using pro-mix. Probably be a good idea to have at home.
Definitely! We did sunshine and it’s perfect
@@GardeningInCanadayou said to use sunshine 4 in my greenstalk So I went on Amazon and I see it and it says commercial and aggregate on the bag, is that the kind I should use.?
It's hard for me to see the words on sunshine 4 in this video, the words on the bag
Thank you for this video, I've watched many of your videos. I was wondering why I haven't seen you mention Gaia Green's living soil? Or any of their fertilizers?
I have used them and seen them. Appear to be great quality and highly concentrated when it comes to organics
I have a horse. Well seasoned horse poop makes excellent fertilizer and potting soil. Tomatoes in particular go nuts on it.
I feel left out.
Where can order Fungus Gnat eggs online? How come I don't have any? (LOL!)
I am truly enjoying your videos. I love the mix of common sense and science. THANK YOU.
Hahahaha
Oh, I'm sure I could spare a few for you 🦟. You'll have them forever, and ever and ever. 🙃
So, if many/most of us are potting up from a 72-cell tray (personally I don’t want to use a 72-cell insert & pot up) into bigger pots, what food-friendly potting soil mix is best between the seed starting mix and putting the plant into the soil in our gardens?
I would really love an answer to this!
I’m kinda thinking ProMIx HP or Sunshine Mix 4, but the answer to your question has not been given, that I have seen.🤷♂️
I bought a bag of Expert brand from Walmart last week. When I opened it I found it was infested with margarodes (ground pearls), thousands of them. These are small yellow balls shaped creatures, that I know very little about, other than they are something you don't want in your potting mix.
Thanks - this was so helpful!!
Glad it was helpful!
Hi! I'm using the Promix HP Mycorhizae for my vegetable garden in container this year. Should I add compost to it because I think there is none in those compressed bale? Or just a chicken manure based granulate fertilizer is enough?
always informative!
You could. Anywhere from 10-25% is good
I used pro mix sunshine #4 mix because they didn't have usual lucky dog. The pro mix sunshine sucks compared to lucky dog. I usually add one cup of dolomite cement CaMg per gallon of lucky dog. With lucky dog I only add worm leachate once a week and after about 4 months in 4 gallon pot I need to add hpk. Been adding over ripe bananas to worm bed to fix nutrient deficiency. After lucky dog is used I dump it in worm bed. And the worm castings are mixed into soil. I use Subcool's and Coots super soil recipes up north. I use vermiculite over perlite because extra silica. Up north I use a mix of moss and peat on organic propertyfor super soil mix. My point flowing point well is down by the fen. So yeah most likely calcium sulfate or calcium magnesium. I bottom water to allow anaerobic bacteria indoors.
I am not familiar with the that brand. Is it Canadian? Promix & sunshine are two different companies just a heads up.
I have several large raised beds that I generally fill with a mix of native soil, soil with a lot of roots and organic matter that has sat for at least a year and compost and I have been happy with that.
However, I also do a LOT of containers too. I know we are told to use only potting soil for growing in said containers, BUT when I added up how much potting soil I would need, I got a whopping number...3,300+ liters. What are my best options to reduce how much potting soil I will need?
Just FYI - the video seems to glitch consistently around 6:54
Don't know if I'm missing content because of the glitch, but I watched twice and I didn't hear what I should use for seed starts if I'm NOT blocking?
Hi there,so can the professional mix be use to start seeds?
Thank you for this!❤
You're so welcome!
Super helpful! Thank you
You're welcome!
You are mixing “potting soil “ with “soilless media” this may add confusion to the beginner
It’s all soilless potting soil technically 😅
Thank you for your videos and channel! I'm starting a new raised garden bed this year. What about mixing Sunshine Mix #4 and Pro-Mix HP? Double good?
They are pretty much identical to be honest. Probably would no make a difference
@@GardeningInCanada Thank you! So long as it does no harm 🙂
Thank you from making these videos. Do you have any soil recommendations for Gardenias?
Just tell me what to use for my dahlias in 7 gallons grow bags 😭😭😭 😉
Sunshine mix 4 hands down
Very helpful, thanks 👍
Glad it was helpful!
As always, wicked information!!! Love all your videos. Here’s my question, for seeding stater mix the pro soils mixed don’t need anything added. Is that correct?
So, would Pro mix HP and Sunshine mix 4 be good for growing cucumbers in containers outdoors, then? I’m in Ottawa and the past two years, we’ve had a lot of rain and I haven’t had much success with cucumbers.
Ashley, which one would you recommend for vertical planters like greenstalk? These are notorious for drying out quickly but also need to be relatively light-weight (because they are so tall)
I would go for that polymer based one!
Ok, my mind is blown lol. simple question, i am going to start chili peppers from seed inside my house in trays. What is a good potting soil? Lol
I would use the sunshine mix 4 something nice and light.
@GardeningInCanada Thank you very much. great work on your videos. Keep up the great work.
I believe you said you're Canadian? (great country, pretty) Now, are these brands available in Texas?
Oh my Landa, you’d find it by moving to Canada 😏.
I’m just joking, but you should have a promix division somewhere in your country. I’m pretty sure I heard people say that they have seen premier prom mix brand at some point.
@@GardeningInCanada Ha ha, guess I'd better get packing then, ha ha. But joking aside, I'll check that out.
Hi Ashley am in Toronto what is the best soil to use for my peppers in containers and to transplant my seeding tomato. Thank you
Sunshine mix 4
Trying to decide what is best for my indoor grow tent. I'm using the vertical Garden Tower 2 to grow organic greens mostly, using drip irrigation. Do I want well draining potting mix or one that holds moisture? I live in Northeast Tennessee. The grow tent is in my garage. I plan to use a heater, as needed. Humidifier or dehumidifier, as needed. I bought the whole Vivosun grow tent kit with lights and exhaust fan with the Grow Hub system.
I would go for the sunshine mix number four
OK, thank you so much! I love your videos. I'm obsessed.
@wendyfate3151 glad you are enjoying!!!
Is it just the temp and moisture
That wakes up the seed? Or do enzymes in the soil stimulate the seed in some way?
Why do some seeds germinate and some don't?
Love your channel. I live in Naramata in the South Okanagan. Just watched your video on potting soil. Can you tell me where you can purchase these mixes. I have never seen them in any nurseries where I live?
They may be a special order in some cases. Farm and garden centres seem to be the most likely to have it in my experience
Call the folks at Zeller and Son and ask them if they know.
Any suggestions for clay areas
This will help ua-cam.com/video/AoJ2zgK9HFM/v-deo.htmlsi=L1EA3pfHziO_P4hA
Hope to see you on X.
Im new to growing anything, what does anyone recommend me to put in a green stalk i just bought when it comes to soil? Thank you
I would go to the sunshine mix number four
@@GardeningInCanada Thank you So much and Congratulations on 100,000 subscribers ❤️❤️❤️ I just found you myself and am learning so much, Thank you for going to College for me and sharing your knowledge 🌷💚👍😊
@@GardeningInCanada I feel stupid because now I need more Help....which Sunrise 4? I wish you could show pics on here
I grow in large cedar planters/containers that do not touch/interface with the ground. In the past I have used MG potting soil. All of the containers are watered through a drip system using rain water collected off the roof. I live in the GTA - zone 5. I only grow tomatoes, pole beans, letuce, cucumbers. What would you recommend as a mix to fill my planters?
Fox farm ocean forest
Curious if there’s a special blend for Microgreens?
I would honestly just use pure peat. Or consumer grade they giant perlite in some of these won’t benefit you.
Thank you Ashley! I was going to buy the sunshine mix 3 for seedlings, but nobody in my area sales it. I heard it might be discontinued? Do you recommend another kind? Thank you 🌹
I would just go for the mix 4 and consider "watering it down" with 1/2 bag of straight peat.
@@GardeningInCanada How so kind of you to reply and give me great advice. Thank you so much. 💚
I looked far and wide. I can't seem to find a place that would sell promix pgx or sunshine mix 3. Any ideas where to search? Much appreciated!
Do you still need to add fertilizer to sunshine mix1 and 4?
Yea so classically I use liquid fertilizers
Wish I had seen this a couple days ago! I just ordered a big bag of Pro-Mix “Premium Potting Mix”. It’s not even really cheaper, but I chose this because the BX or HP cubes are so big and heavy that I wasn’t even sure where I’d put it! I do add Pro-Mix orchid mix and perlite, depending on the plant (and I am mostly doing houseplants only). Would you say it’s worth returning and buying the higher quality, or is this just as good with my amendments?
For me, it makes a big difference. I would go for promax HP, and you will be so pleased.
@@GardeningInCanada thank you! I actually found that I can get a cube almost twice as large of the Sunshine #4 for only $8 more than the bag of potting mix. I think I will do that. I’ll just have to make space for it!
Can I use Promix HP for indoor seed starting?
You can I find it isn’t the best for moisture retention
Is you using your growlight as a filming light ?
Do you know anywhere that sells Sunshine mixes directly to consumers? I checked Amazon, of course, and the one person selling was selling around $85, and 😕 I currently make my own mix of Fox Farm Ocean Forest, Happy Frog, Coco Coir, Orchid Bark, Pumice, and a bit of horticultural charcoal.
Do you have a farm and garden Center near you? They normally do. So for Saskatchewan it would be Early’s for example
@@GardeningInCanada Mostly we just have Home Depot and Lowe's with a few independent garden centers. We also have a tractor supply. I may try calling around! Thank you!
Google 'Hydroponics supplies near me' . That's your best bet. Good luck!
Hope you are doing well. I live in Toronto, and I could not find any site is selling Sunshine Mix 3. I would like to purchase that for making soil blocks. Do you know anywhere or site I could order it? Thanks in advance!
Have you checked in any local farm and garden stores here in Saskatchewan they’re located in places like earlys farm and garden for example
Quick question, my synthetic fertilizer doesn’t have any Calcium or magnesium, why is that? Are those minerals already present in city tap water 💧 🌃 ??? Would fish tank water conditioner help any?
It’s kind of rude to have calcium or magnesium in your fertilizers, unless it’s a bloom formula specific.
Rare*
@@GardeningInCanada is that cuz tap water already has Cal and Mag????
There are two part fertilizers that utilize Calcium Nitrate as the main source of N. This also provides the calcium you want. Additionally, the part B can also contain the magnesium, usually as magnesium sulfate. One cannot have part A/B in high concentrations because they will react and precipitate components out. In order to combat that, consumer single part fertilizers will use Urea for the most part of N. There's no other way to provide soluble calcium. They'll go on the assumption that your soil will have the appropriate carbonates that can break down as needed. For soil, that's a relatively good assumption. That fails though for sand and soiless media.
Where do you buy these in SK?
Early's Farm & Garden
OK, I did see that. Was hoping to support someone else, but looks like they are the best option. Home Depot has a few of these but not many.
Gosh I just want to know what kind of dirt to buy for flowers at Home Depot 🤣
Promix (compressed bale)
I’ve never seen that at out Home Depot. Thanks!@@GardeningInCanada
Lipton and miracle gro catches a stray lol
💚💚
❤️❤️❤️
Peat refuses water then wont give it up. Its the cause of countless houseplant deaths. I want soil that drinks up moisture then lets it go at a reasonable rate.
Why does my potting soil has gnats -a 🐈
You have not addressed the issues with this video glitching. Several people have mentioned it why are you ignoring them?
Sorry there is nothing I can do to fix it. UA-cam doesn’t allow edits after a video is uploaded. It’s just an awkward cut, not missing information.
@@GardeningInCanadaThanks for the reply, glad no info is missing.
Hope your day gets better bumpsy.
@@miriambartley6622It did, the op answered the question many had asked, and I that I had wondered also, but had gotten no response. She responded and clarified, that no info was removed or lost. Easy Peasy. Thanks for caring.
Foxfarm coco loco potting mix 🪴
Can you use these indoor plants and outdoor hanging plants?I need a good soil..I live in Bc Canada.Also a good water soluble fertilize for both indoor and outdoor.
Yup! Absolutely