Heya, been watching your videos as I got into gardening and keeping houseplants lately. Last week was infestation week all of a sudden. Fumgus gnats, spider mites and cottom lice on plants. Seems like I have been watering way to much. Currently trying to organicly safe my plants. I also was thinking of changing my soil. I currently use bio soil which is filled with biomatter like woodchips for example which might attract pests as well. I've seen you mention cinnamon on the channel, and was wondering of it would be valid to mix cinnamon in a potting soil mix in advance. Do you think that might work?
i worked for a "plant influencer" who had her own nursery before i got into plants myself (i got into plants by rescuing broken prop pieces + she let me take home unsellable stock lol)... she was big on mixing her own soil mixes so that's just what i've always done + it works fantastic! it's worth the initial upfront investment to have the ingredients all on hand for almost any plant you may need soil for! cool to see your cost breakdowns to see what a massive difference it can make on the wallet
@@KatarinaS. sure! a lot of times it's just what i have on hand but is generally coco coir, vermiculite, pumice, perlite +5-10% worm castings. i also add in orchid bark for aroids. the exact mix will depend on the plant i'm potting of course! Sheffield's mix seems great + simple too! i should note i use a very diluted liquid fertilizer (dynagro foliage pro) with each watering since my soil isn't very nutritious on it's own aside from the worm castings.
Thanks for the video! I no longer need this information but boy would this video have helped me six months ago when I was pulling my hair out trying to understand how soils and mixes work! My mom has always just used soil and nothing else and I had no clue how or why I was supposed so get my hands on these fancy mixes. It seemed so complicated to me. Now my go to is equal parts soil, perlite and orchid bark. Sometimes I mix it up with some leca or coco choir if I'm feeling a little wild. Lol.
This is pretty much my base recipe too … And it is easy to toss into a smaller bucket to amend for other plants that require slightly different potting mediums … such as my succulents…. My variations include: adding coarse builders sand for plants like rosemary and thyme. Coarse sand, NOT play sand… play sand is too fine and will not drain as well as coarse, rain of risk of root rot on succulents. Adding more perlite for my succulents for the added drainage and faster drying Adding more coco coir than compost with my tiniest of baby succulent props (grown in empty coffee pods) I AVOID peat moss these days…. I use coco coir instead. The issue with peat moss is that it becomes completely hydrophobic once it dries out. As always, Mr. Richard, great video with useful, straight forward info…. You are right up there with the planterina and epic gardening channel!!! Five stars 😁😊
Great video, Richard! I was still buying bagged potting mix and adding some more perlite to it and noticed a big difference the way my plants looked, especially my hoya. I will definately be investing into making my own now. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thank you so much for this video, I'm a beginner gardener and these simple yet efficient instructions are absolutely priceless! Sending you and your plants green blessings 😊🌿💛
Put the perlite in a bin bag or those free charity bags you get thru the door and hang it up on your shed. Less moving it around to access your bike if u access it regularly. I also store mine in a small blue shed! I've had the same bag of perlite for amost a decade! I also add a little worm castings. I used to add rock dust till my parents decided to toss it out as they thought it was sand (when I stored stuff in their place). They also tipped out a bag of worm castings into the flower border thinking it was soil. I wanted to cry but took solace in the peonies being spectacular. They sold the house and the new owner paved it over so under there are their amazing peonies with super fertile soil screaming to be let out!
I make my own potting mix as well for the savings. It’s good to put hot water on it because recently I have found my peat moss had cut worms in it. And they were killing off all my seedlings for my garden.
@@SheffieldMadePlantsperlite is volcanic glass and that dust is silica dust. It is very dangerous and I'm surprised we don't take better percautions for it in the gardening community.
Blimey, I’ve just spent an hour loitering in the garden centre houseplant section, trying to replicate sybersoil, the assistant thought I was barking mad not to just buy a cheap bag of Westland and be done with it. But what about my ZZ!? 😱 So I bought a small expensive bag of orchid blend, some perlite and a bag of houseplant compost. This has worked out more expensive than Waitrose muesli …🤦♀️😂😂😂
Ive been using all of those ingredients except compost. I’ll definitely include that in my soil mixes going forward. Thank you for your good advice and keeping it simple.😊
Wanted to thank you so much for this tip! I ordered a 100 Liter perlite bag (Gosh it’s heavy!!!) so i can mix it with the soil I usually buy that’s super cheap and rich of fertilizer but quite a compact soil. and i have to say! The results are amazing!!! Not only is it so much cheaper, but my plants are absolutely thriving!
I've mostly been in the business of Aquatic plants, and let me tell you, selling convenience is a huge problem with the aquarium industry as well. So when I then upgraded my tanks to ripariums by adding terrestrial plants, and then finally going full on classic 'plant in soil', I had a funny feeling the same issues would be found here. Glad I found this video cause I LIKE my money want to keep it thank you very much!
Aquatic plants are amazing. I love mine but I refused to buy the stratum. I used fox farms and capped it with 2 inches of sand and it it worked better than any aquarium I’ve ever had! I even had German rams breed in that tank.
I find if you water the. Perlite in the bag first cuts down on the dust. I spread my ingredients on a an old shower curtain on a calm day and just pull each side in turn no effort needed and easy to pour into a container after mixing.
Here I thought I was ahead of the game😂 I buy them small bags of cactus and houseplant dirt plus an equally sized bag of perlite. Worm castings to taste. Slap em all in a container, mixy mixy and shazzam. I only have 12 plants at the moment, so it lasts for ages.
Smaller rock is purely for drainage; the nutrients leech out too slowly to matter. Perlite, lava rock, vermiculite, decomposed granite, pumice, zeolite, and coarse sand essentially do the same thing. Heavier or larger rocks are good for structure. Again, the type of rocks don't really matter. Moss is for drainage while still holding on to water, unlike rocks where nearly all water drains away. Coconut coir does the same thing but with higher drainage and less retention. Bark is even higher drainage while retaining less water. Compost doesn't retain much water and may drain poorly, making mud. Potting mixes are just compost, moss, and bark. A compost and perlite mix can be anywhere from very poor draining (almost all compost) to very well draining (almost all perlite). But, it will have poor water retention, which can actually be good if the environment is not very hot and not dry since you don't want the soil to take too long to dry out. But, adding coir would help it retain water if it dries out to quickly. From this, a coconut coir, compost, and perlite mix can do pretty much anything. You could add some heavier rock for structure if needed, and the type doesn't matter. I like the aquarium rock because it is pre-sifted to a good size, and it is fairly easy to reuse, which offsets the cost.
Love it - here's a though mix your 1/5th's in a separate container and then pour the layers your storage bin. That way your are not running out of room every time you mix more in 😎👍
Very true! My most expensive items are neem oil concentrate and the once a yr systemic granules. I don't use compost, but buy $6.00, 8 qt bags of tropical and moisture control miracle gro soil, Orchid bark, and perlite to mix my own. Basically, for indoor gardening, this means I spend abt $25 every 3-5 mos on soil and I haven't had to buy new box of fertilizer since a yr ago as my plants don't need it very often to thrive.
Find a friend/neighbor that has cats and uses kitty litter that comes in those giant lightweight (but durable) plastic jugs/totes. They make excellent storage containers for soil/perlite. Edit: and they stack/store in shed/garage so nicely to keep out moisture And...you can get them free! The big yellow tubs have lids that feel like they are welded on. Sometimes a little tricky to snap off. Put a foot inside the tote and stand in the tote and pull up on the lid. This makes it easy to give yourself a wide mouth bin to work with when filling. Then snap the lid back on when done and just use the flip lid feature to take what you need when planting. And those white jugs with just a giant screw top lid. Find a canning funnel. Those are wide mouth and work great for pouring into the bin. A plastic canning funnel is usually just a few dollars.
So funny because I was literally just doing research on this very topic over the last 2 weeks, being a newbie to my new house plant obsession, and of course I would find fantastic advice on my favorite plant channel! I’ve been watching your videos regularly! I really appreciate your grounded (😉), yet very effective suggestions! They’ve been a life saver for my plant babies! Thank you so much for making such seriously simple, yet thoughtful content! Much gratitude from California! 🙏🌱
I've just been on a course where one of the things I had to do was mixing my own compost - they always damp down the perlite before mixing - with a spray bottle is fine - it helps trap the dust so it dosn't get into the air as much
Thank you for the great information! I love how you created a workaround to mix it all in that small plastic container using a hand trowel. I will probably get out the wheelbarrow and long-handled shovel but then we have a little more storage space around here!
Mixing your own mix is definitely superior! I used to use peat until I knew better. I also recommend sOme pumice as perlite over time tends to float up to the top.
I like this channel, a lot of handy tips. Somehow a mix of compost and perlite only has worked out to be too moist for me. Soil deeper than 1st couple of inches stays too moist (6-7 on moisture meter) even after 3-4 weeks. I was initially using mushroom compost, but have switched to regular compost too and that hasn't made much difference. I have been advised to add pine bark mulch to help with aeration. So, the new mix I tried is 5:3:2:1 mulch:potting-soil:perlite:compost, it is definitely draining faster than before, but have to see how plants grow in it 🤞
Thanks Richard for this outstanding easy potting mix guide. I too prefer making my own mix and I enjoy making it as much as I enjoy growing house plants. You have a great deal more control and flexibility to adjust for individual plant needs when making your own. 👍
Excellent video Richard! I just bought my Succulent & Cactus soil to mix with Orchid soil for my snake plants (I read to use 50/50). But the next time I need soil, I will look up your recipe for my snake plants. I live in a small apartment, so I can't really buy in large quantities. But I would love to give this a try. I didn't realise I could buy compost soil here in BC Canada until today. Cheers!
Reptile keepers use play sand and top soil mix and add sanitized leaves for the clean up crew along with an organic bioactive booster safe for animals. I've actually had success with this mix for my succulents and adding Coco coir for my other plants. Even my vegetables get this mix now and they seem much more healthy.
I personally mix cactus soil (which is usually peat and sand) + pine bark/orchid soil + sand + perlite. I vary the mix according to the plant. Works great for me! Especially love sand, as it is so cheap and creates great drainage and water retention! I'm yet to use much compost, but want to make my own that is 100% plant based as I am a vegan and oppose the exploitation of animals in animal agricutlure. It's going to be great fun to try to set up my own system! If any of you have any tips on homemade composting methods feel free to share them with me!
I'm very, very interested to know what you are using for "sand". I've watched video after video, and only one person explained what sand was to them which is crushed granite in their succulent mix. I was thinking of using pea gravel.
I enjoy your videos and have gotten really good info. For Cacti, Succulents and Snake Plants I increase your recommended 5 to 3 parts to equal parts Compost to Perlite. Thanks.
I did this last week based on another one of your videos and repotted all my plants into perlite & soil mix. I'm a "can barely keep plants alive" person and your channel has already been so helpful. I've watched so many of your videos and hopefully over the next year or so I'll morph into a "sometimes my plants actually survive!" person!
Oh, when you say compost, you mean potting soil. I know compost as an additive to the garden that is usually manure or my own composted kitchen scraps.
Thank you, I used 1 part compost manure mix, 1 part peat moss, .25 part perlite vermiculite mix, slow release granulated organic fertilizer, and a little garden lime. Still way cheaper as well.
I agree that it way more inexpensive in just making your own soil mix. In my case, I use carbonized rice hull (Partially burnt rice hull), rice hull itself, vermicast and cocopeat (I dont use soil for my indoor plants). I also mix a systemic insecticide as a preventative measure. Its a very airy and light mix
How can you be sure that the multi purpose compost doesn't harbour pests/bugs? I'm dubious about the quality control process with the cheaper composts..
They can have bugs so a tip is to use boiling hot water. Some people use a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide and water. And some people bake their homemade mix it in the over for 20 min.
The real fun starts when you make 60% compost 20% coco 20% perlite for a couple of 120 litre growing bags :D But the upsetting part about having an opened big compost bag (or the mix) sitting around waiting and if you don't moisten it, in the next season you have a hydrophobic bag. I recall Epic Gardening had a good video with a researcher of bog areas in Canada (biggest producer in the world) talking about peat moss farming. And also raised the point of coco coir having it's own share of issues. Personally I think the best we can do is making and using our own compost where we can (mostly outdoors gardening) and perhaps using a mix of compost and coco. You know how perhaps the real solution isn't the monoculture in anything but spread use of resources in moderation over all the options (which is also quite convenient since compost + coco + perlite is quite a neat medium). Gardeners also have a very smart method of filling the bottoms of their beds with branches and old poor soil etc because the plants they farm rarely grow roots all the way that deep. And just adding things like organic fertilizers, maneur on top of the bed to boost the old soil. Even growing in cycles like growing peas to insert nitrogen in the soil to extend the use. Unfortunately house plant potting can't quite benefit from these ideas, but who knows what all solutions we can come up with to lessen the resource load!
I think I saw that video too. It's a big grey area about what is sustainable or not so I stayed away from it! That all makes perfect sense for the garden 👍
Bro, here it costs €1,50 / 2,00 per liter of premium aroid mix. I started making my own (with literally everything in it like perlite / coco / bark / pumice / worm casting etc.) and it costs me.......€0,38 per liter. Literally can get 5 times as much for the same price and its basically 0 work. Order stuff --> dump it in the barn --> mix in a bin when needed, done. The markup on premium soils is RIDICULOUS. Their profit margin must be 50%+. Even contemplating to start my own store and sell it all for €1 per liter to undercut and drive prices down country wide here. The main issue with your soil is that it still contains a lot of normall "soil". Soilless mixes can be re-used and you just add new worm castings to it. Pushing price even down more.
I’m new to this and Iv been recommended ninja soil over and over but I’m hoping my houseplant compost and perlite will do the job. It do think it can Be very over complicated. I’m hoping my mix also works well and not have the expense of these ready made mixes. Just started watching your Chanel. Really enjoy your videos 😊
I just purchased Succulent mix and orchid mix to mix together for my snake plants (I was reading the ratio should be 1:1). I think next time I have to buy soil, I will make my own. I don't do a lot of re-potting and live in a small apartment, so there is vey little storage. Not sure I could stand having compost stored in my living room somewhere. :O
Hi, ive spent the last few days getting myself into a bit of a paranoid state. After doing lots of research online ive noticed lots of people reporting the compost they've bought for themselves has led to fungus gnats and fungi. Is there any specific compost you would recommend and any tips on how you keep your plants pest free when using shop bought compost? (I am new to houseplants and would appreciate any help, thanks) :)
I mostly have tropical plants in my house, my plant addiction started only a few months ago and I can't seem to stop buying new ones. I'm so grateful I found your channel, it helped me a lot, I think even my plants love you 😊. I just wanted to ask your opinion, my mix for tropical plants is 1 part coconut coir, 1 part perlite and 1 part all purpose soil. Do you think that's ok or should I change anything? And also, what kind of mix do you suggest for succulents and cacti?
Compost is why you have fungus gnats. They feed on the organic decaying ingredients. “Gardening In Canada” is a soil scientist and has great advice on that. Love your videos.
I just figured out I spend about a dollar a liter and I get about 26 liters a year between the three things I buy. Your way is definitely cheaper but I live in a small town that only brings gardening stuff in during the early spring, in another month the garden centers will be closing up already and starting to bring in things to prepare for fall and winter. :( Next year I may need to follow your recipe and buy more bulk items as I am raising 4 birds of paradise right now and they will likely need separated by next year, I also have a big pot of monster and a very root heavy Thai Consetalation that will likely need up potted next year. Never mind everyone else. LOL. Who orders 4 baby birds of paradise? Me when I apparently see a good deal on them and I've taken a sedative... LOL Was quite the shocker to wake up to in the middle of fall! Perhaps I will be a bit of a jerk and give three away as gifts :P No one will know they arent a cute table plant until they are MASSIVE! hehehh OOH I just remembered that this year I bought all my soil with store points i had collected so it was technically free! Free is a good deal :P
But you can still get soil and other bits and pieces right?! Can't imagine not always having access to stuff. 4 BoD in one sitting is definitely good going 😂
7:15 before you shake I was thinking why don't you have a separate container you fill 1/4 of the way and mix by shaking then dump the soil mixed into a bigger container you want to store it in? Wouldn't the whole process be much faster
How do we incorporate vermicompost in your mix? What % is best? We stopped using any commercial compost because one year, all our seedlings failed or grew weak, disease prone plants. The bag said it contained 'Municipal waste' and it was clear that the waste contained residual weed killers (my husband has been growing for years so very experienced) we started our own wormfarm instead which produces all the seed mixes that we need but it needs to be mixed with other things, it's great at germinating but the seedlings shoot up and lack strength
New to the plant world I purchased 12 succulents in 3 inch pots, I have indoor potting soil can I just add pumice instead of perlite I heard the perlite dissolves is that correct ? Thanks for sharing your video 😊 love from Canada 🇨🇦
@@SheffieldMadePlants thank you so much for your help, so should I do 50/50 then soil and pumice ? All my succulents are from a box store. Should I repot them ? Take care and have a great weekend
Some American gardeners swear by Vermiculite and list it as one of the important ingredients to add to compost along with top soil. What are your thoughts on that? Many Thanks
I can make 50+ L of my own mix (basic 50 qt. of potting soil, perlite, orchid bark, worm castings and charcoal for just under or around $100 USD and it’s lasts me for years.
I've been making my own batches of soil for a little bit, but the last time I put slow release fertiliser granules in it (miracle grow ones). I normally use coco coir but this batch I used compost. I had some soil left so I just put it in a medium food bag from Tesco, tied it up and put it in my cupboard (away from pesky gnats) Went to use it yesterday to repot one plant and the soil reeked of ammonia and made my eyes sting when I went near it. Any ideas what I did wrong or if that soil is now dangerous for plants?
Informative video, thanks! Is this the same kind of compost that you'd get from composting at home? And is perlite still beneficial for plants that aren't in pots with watering holes?
can anyone from the US confirm what compost is? when I search for it in stores it's usually a mix of fertilizers like manure and worm castings. The miracle gro compost he showed also doesn't exist over here.
I am mixing premium potting mix with perlite for last half a year or so However the mix on pot stays on wet (using wet metre) for weeks indoor, is this good or bad?
What is the expected period of time for the ingredients of a compost or a turf pack bought from the shop to be worn out? I decided to try on experimenting with making my own sort of fertilizer and applying it to the old soil in my pots made of cooked vegetable peelings and a few spices added without using salt ofcourse to see how the plants will do. But the new one how long does it usually last? We're not talking about that imported compost made of a mix of rare minerals, but a regular turf-soil type of compost.
@@SheffieldMadePlantsWell, will a compost be out of it's useful materials for plant development after a year, two or four maybe, even five? Each of these numbers makes a difference to the overall convenience level.
@@bradstevens6885 it's hard to say. depends on the compost. at least a year I would have thought. but shouldn't be an issue if you are giving your plants feed
Could you not perhaps put the perlite into one of your propagation style tubs? Then you could store it easier as they can go outdoors or inside without risk of puncturing the bag?
I make a soil blend using coca coir, pumice, orchid bark, charcoal and worm castings. I'm using a lot of pumice but I'm still having problems with my soil not draining well. I can't figure out if it's because I'm starting off with dry coca coir, fluffy, instead of on the moist side. Any suggestions? I'm on the verge of going back to Miracle-Gro and we've had reports of gnat infestations in new bags.
I made this mix for the first time and gave a good watering to the plant after repotting. But it was draining through very very slow. I'm thinking becuse the compost was wet already? Do you let your mix dry out in the box or it should be sealed until I use it?
Hey sheff, thanks for the great video!, I have a question: Why do you use a compost instead of a generic garden soil with perlite? When should you use one over the other?
@@Gkrissy I think i wasn't clear with my question. By garden soil i mean the common garden soil they sell in stores, not the fancy stuff like he mentions in the video. But If compost is your typical garden soil in UK then its clear.
Garden soil is called top soil here and is much too dense for houseplants. Water doesn't drain well and the it becomes compacted even with perlite. Compost is decaying garden matter and is generally quite light. There's all sorts of bits and pieces that haven't broken down yet, like bits of bark etc.
I'm in Canada and looking at Amazon and local big department stores like home depot and Lowes but I can't find compost. The search result only shows potting mix. When I search google, it seems to be offered only in the UK. Is there something else I can use instead? EDIT: What they do have is Sea Compost....
I think what he calls compost is similar to peat garden soils in Canada and US. I use miracle gro cactus for my base and add perlite and other things such as charcoal based on what I plant
@@kyliecrown533 @SheffieldMadePlants Thank you for both of your comments! I looked into Miraclegro cactus and it says the "soil is less dense than a regular potting mix, which improves aeration and allows the cacti roots to thrive"
That compost is why you have a fungus gnat problem. That particular compost comes with its own fungus gnats. I really hope that Soil Ninja offers you a brand deal so that you can see just how bad that compost is for your babies. That stuff belongs in the garden not the house.
I fully agree. Compost is for the garden. I've been using soil ninja mixes for my plants for couple of years now. And even though they are on the pricier side the plants are a lot happier which means I save money on replacing plants.
I shouldn't do unless you get a bad batch. I've not noticed any bugs in the box when I open the lid and start using it. It's a good shout to be aware of it though so I'll pay extra attention.
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Thanks again. Great tip.
Heya, been watching your videos as I got into gardening and keeping houseplants lately. Last week was infestation week all of a sudden. Fumgus gnats, spider mites and cottom lice on plants. Seems like I have been watering way to much. Currently trying to organicly safe my plants. I also was thinking of changing my soil. I currently use bio soil which is filled with biomatter like woodchips for example which might attract pests as well. I've seen you mention cinnamon on the channel, and was wondering of it would be valid to mix cinnamon in a potting soil mix in advance. Do you think that might work?
@@damienmichiels4119 give it a try and see what happens
i worked for a "plant influencer" who had her own nursery before i got into plants myself (i got into plants by rescuing broken prop pieces + she let me take home unsellable stock lol)... she was big on mixing her own soil mixes so that's just what i've always done + it works fantastic! it's worth the initial upfront investment to have the ingredients all on hand for almost any plant you may need soil for! cool to see your cost breakdowns to see what a massive difference it can make on the wallet
Lol. I’ve also got into plants rescuing fallen leaves off my coworkers succulent. Now I have too many😅
Thanks!
Would you be willing to share what mixture you use if different from the one shown here?
@@KatarinaS. sure! a lot of times it's just what i have on hand but is generally coco coir, vermiculite, pumice, perlite +5-10% worm castings. i also add in orchid bark for aroids. the exact mix will depend on the plant i'm potting of course! Sheffield's mix seems great + simple too!
i should note i use a very diluted liquid fertilizer (dynagro foliage pro) with each watering since my soil isn't very nutritious on it's own aside from the worm castings.
@hesherette Thanks so much for sharing your mix recipe and for the fertilizing tips!
Others seem to have a complex mix. It's nice to see something simple that has given you proven results. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for watching 😁
Yeah if you have good soil, probably all you need is extra perlite.
I overdid it and saw my seedling die...
You can wet the perlite to reduce dust before mixing.
If you want to add charcoal, just buy regular natural lump charcoal for grilling it. It's the same thing, you just have to crush it up yourself.
Thanks for the video! I no longer need this information but boy would this video have helped me six months ago when I was pulling my hair out trying to understand how soils and mixes work! My mom has always just used soil and nothing else and I had no clue how or why I was supposed so get my hands on these fancy mixes. It seemed so complicated to me. Now my go to is equal parts soil, perlite and orchid bark. Sometimes I mix it up with some leca or coco choir if I'm feeling a little wild. Lol.
Great stuff 👍
This is pretty much my base recipe too … And it is easy to toss into a smaller bucket to amend for other plants that require slightly different potting mediums … such as my succulents….
My variations include:
adding coarse builders sand for plants like rosemary and thyme. Coarse sand, NOT play sand… play sand is too fine and will not drain as well as coarse, rain of risk of root rot on succulents.
Adding more perlite for my succulents for the added drainage and faster drying
Adding more coco coir than compost with my tiniest of baby succulent props (grown in empty coffee pods)
I AVOID peat moss these days…. I use coco coir instead. The issue with peat moss is that it becomes completely hydrophobic once it dries out.
As always, Mr. Richard, great video with useful, straight forward info…. You are right up there with the planterina and epic gardening channel!!! Five stars 😁😊
Thank you. Good company to be with 😁
For some reason I love listening to this guy. He's so sensible and reasonable. I like his voice. :)
Don't fight it 😂. Thanks for watching!
Great video, Richard! I was still buying bagged potting mix and adding some more perlite to it and noticed a big difference the way my plants looked, especially my hoya. I will definately be investing into making my own now. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.
Thanks for watching 😁
Thank you so much for this video, I'm a beginner gardener and these simple yet efficient instructions are absolutely priceless! Sending you and your plants green blessings 😊🌿💛
Thank you 😊
Put the perlite in a bin bag or those free charity bags you get thru the door and hang it up on your shed. Less moving it around to access your bike if u access it regularly. I also store mine in a small blue shed! I've had the same bag of perlite for amost a decade! I also add a little worm castings.
I used to add rock dust till my parents decided to toss it out as they thought it was sand (when I stored stuff in their place). They also tipped out a bag of worm castings into the flower border thinking it was soil. I wanted to cry but took solace in the peonies being spectacular. They sold the house and the new owner paved it over so under there are their amazing peonies with super fertile soil screaming to be let out!
My gosh what a disaster!
This is suuuuuper helpful! I was just about to re-pot most of my collection and this will save me a lot of money!
Great stuff 👍
I make my own potting mix as well for the savings. It’s good to put hot water on it because recently I have found my peat moss had cut worms in it. And they were killing off all my seedlings for my garden.
Oh no that's no good!
Omg, when I pour my perlite, I wear a mask, hold my breath, and then run away while the dust settles lol!
Yeah the dust is crazy!
@@SheffieldMadePlantsperlite is volcanic glass and that dust is silica dust. It is very dangerous and I'm surprised we don't take better percautions for it in the gardening community.
Blimey, I’ve just spent an hour loitering in the garden centre houseplant section, trying to replicate sybersoil, the assistant thought I was barking mad not to just buy a cheap bag of Westland and be done with it. But what about my ZZ!? 😱 So I bought a small expensive bag of orchid blend, some perlite and a bag of houseplant compost. This has worked out more expensive than Waitrose muesli …🤦♀️😂😂😂
😂😂😂 you’re plants will be happy you spent so much money on them
Ive been using all of those ingredients except compost.
I’ll definitely include that in my soil mixes going forward.
Thank you for your good advice and keeping it simple.😊
My pleasure 😊
Wanted to thank you so much for this tip! I ordered a 100 Liter perlite bag (Gosh it’s heavy!!!) so i can mix it with the soil I usually buy that’s super cheap and rich of fertilizer but quite a compact soil. and i have to say! The results are amazing!!! Not only is it so much cheaper, but my plants are absolutely thriving!
Glad it was helpful!
@@SheffieldMadePlantsYour channel helps a lot! I do have one question about this, can I use this mix for succulents too?
@@Clara-qi7vi increase the amount of perlite and you're good to go
I've mostly been in the business of Aquatic plants, and let me tell you, selling convenience is a huge problem with the aquarium industry as well. So when I then upgraded my tanks to ripariums by adding terrestrial plants, and then finally going full on classic 'plant in soil', I had a funny feeling the same issues would be found here. Glad I found this video cause I LIKE my money want to keep it thank you very much!
My pleasure 😊
Aquatic plants are amazing. I love mine but I refused to buy the stratum. I used fox farms and capped it with 2 inches of sand and it it worked better than any aquarium I’ve ever had! I even had German rams breed in that tank.
@@austinhb99 same aye. Nice and cheap
I find if you water the. Perlite in the bag first cuts down on the dust. I spread my ingredients on a an old shower curtain on a calm day and just pull each side in turn no effort needed and easy to pour into a container after mixing.
Here I thought I was ahead of the game😂 I buy them small bags of cactus and houseplant dirt plus an equally sized bag of perlite. Worm castings to taste. Slap em all in a container, mixy mixy and shazzam. I only have 12 plants at the moment, so it lasts for ages.
That'll work 😁
Smaller rock is purely for drainage; the nutrients leech out too slowly to matter. Perlite, lava rock, vermiculite, decomposed granite, pumice, zeolite, and coarse sand essentially do the same thing. Heavier or larger rocks are good for structure. Again, the type of rocks don't really matter.
Moss is for drainage while still holding on to water, unlike rocks where nearly all water drains away. Coconut coir does the same thing but with higher drainage and less retention. Bark is even higher drainage while retaining less water. Compost doesn't retain much water and may drain poorly, making mud. Potting mixes are just compost, moss, and bark.
A compost and perlite mix can be anywhere from very poor draining (almost all compost) to very well draining (almost all perlite). But, it will have poor water retention, which can actually be good if the environment is not very hot and not dry since you don't want the soil to take too long to dry out. But, adding coir would help it retain water if it dries out to quickly.
From this, a coconut coir, compost, and perlite mix can do pretty much anything. You could add some heavier rock for structure if needed, and the type doesn't matter. I like the aquarium rock because it is pre-sifted to a good size, and it is fairly easy to reuse, which offsets the cost.
My main mix is about 70% pine bark (fine-ish mulch), 15% perlite and 15% volcanic rock. I don't actually use regular soil anymore.
I’d like to try that
Love it - here's a though mix your 1/5th's in a separate container and then pour the layers your storage bin. That way your are not running out of room every time you mix more in 😎👍
Like it!
Very true! My most expensive items are neem oil concentrate and the once a yr systemic granules. I don't use compost, but buy $6.00, 8 qt bags of tropical and moisture control miracle gro soil, Orchid bark, and perlite to mix my own. Basically, for indoor gardening, this means I spend abt $25 every 3-5 mos on soil and I haven't had to buy new box of fertilizer since a yr ago as my plants don't need it very often to thrive.
What can one do with orchid bark if one no longer has plants that needs it? Can I just put it on top of outdoor containers as mulch?
💯
Find a friend/neighbor that has cats and uses kitty litter that comes in those giant lightweight (but durable) plastic jugs/totes. They make excellent storage containers for soil/perlite.
Edit: and they stack/store in shed/garage so nicely to keep out moisture
And...you can get them free!
The big yellow tubs have lids that feel like they are welded on. Sometimes a little tricky to snap off. Put a foot inside the tote and stand in the tote and pull up on the lid. This makes it easy to give yourself a wide mouth bin to work with when filling. Then snap the lid back on when done and just use the flip lid feature to take what you need when planting.
And those white jugs with just a giant screw top lid. Find a canning funnel. Those are wide mouth and work great for pouring into the bin. A plastic canning funnel is usually just a few dollars.
Great, thanks for the tip 👍
So funny because I was literally just doing research on this very topic over the last 2 weeks, being a newbie to my new house plant obsession, and of course I would find fantastic advice on my favorite plant channel! I’ve been watching your videos regularly! I really appreciate your grounded (😉), yet very effective suggestions! They’ve been a life saver for my plant babies! Thank you so much for making such seriously simple, yet thoughtful content! Much gratitude from California! 🙏🌱
Great stuff 👍 thank you!
I've just been on a course where one of the things I had to do was mixing my own compost - they always damp down the perlite before mixing - with a spray bottle is fine - it helps trap the dust so it dosn't get into the air as much
Good shout 👍
Thank you for the great information! I love how you created a workaround to mix it all in that small plastic container using a hand trowel. I will probably get out the wheelbarrow and long-handled shovel but then we have a little more storage space around here!
Great stuff 👍 thanks!
Mixing your own mix is definitely superior! I used to use peat until I knew better. I also recommend sOme pumice as perlite over time tends to float up to the top.
Pumice is a good sub 👍
I agree. I love pumice. The fact perlite floats drives me nuts. LOL
Is perlite okay for spider plants? I read something about fluoride content harming them.
As far as i know
Really appreciate how you value plants soil etc
For me working with soil is very therapeutic and energetic.
Good video
Thank you 😊
I would love to hear more about the swaps and properties of those ingredients you talked about! Like coco coir, pumice, etc, etc.
I like this channel, a lot of handy tips. Somehow a mix of compost and perlite only has worked out to be too moist for me. Soil deeper than 1st couple of inches stays too moist (6-7 on moisture meter) even after 3-4 weeks. I was initially using mushroom compost, but have switched to regular compost too and that hasn't made much difference.
I have been advised to add pine bark mulch to help with aeration. So, the new mix I tried is 5:3:2:1 mulch:potting-soil:perlite:compost, it is definitely draining faster than before, but have to see how plants grow in it 🤞
That sounds good 👍
Thanks Richard for this outstanding easy potting mix guide. I too prefer making my own mix and I enjoy making it as much as I enjoy growing house plants. You have a great deal more control and flexibility to adjust for individual plant needs when making your own. 👍
Absolutely!
Excellent video Richard! I just bought my Succulent & Cactus soil to mix with Orchid soil for my snake plants (I read to use 50/50). But the next time I need soil, I will look up your recipe for my snake plants. I live in a small apartment, so I can't really buy in large quantities. But I would love to give this a try. I didn't realise I could buy compost soil here in BC Canada until today. Cheers!
Thanks for watching 😁
Reptile keepers use play sand and top soil mix and add sanitized leaves for the clean up crew along with an organic bioactive booster safe for animals. I've actually had success with this mix for my succulents and adding Coco coir for my other plants. Even my vegetables get this mix now and they seem much more healthy.
👍👍👍
Little tip is to spray water on your perlite. It traps the dust.
i use the same method but with sand instead of perlite. never found a good perlite source
Im so glad i subbed! These videos are what i needed to remember things i know and some new stuff ive never tryed!
Great stuff 👍
I personally mix cactus soil (which is usually peat and sand) + pine bark/orchid soil + sand + perlite. I vary the mix according to the plant. Works great for me! Especially love sand, as it is so cheap and creates great drainage and water retention!
I'm yet to use much compost, but want to make my own that is 100% plant based as I am a vegan and oppose the exploitation of animals in animal agricutlure. It's going to be great fun to try to set up my own system!
If any of you have any tips on homemade composting methods feel free to share them with me!
It's a great thing to get into but I've only done a tiny amount of it myself and not that successfully.
I'm very, very interested to know what you are using for "sand".
I've watched video after video, and only one person explained what sand was to them which is crushed granite in their succulent mix.
I was thinking of using pea gravel.
I enjoy your videos and have gotten really good info. For Cacti, Succulents and Snake Plants I increase your recommended 5 to 3 parts to equal parts Compost to Perlite. Thanks.
I'll second that!
I did this last week based on another one of your videos and repotted all my plants into perlite & soil mix. I'm a "can barely keep plants alive" person and your channel has already been so helpful. I've watched so many of your videos and hopefully over the next year or so I'll morph into a "sometimes my plants actually survive!" person!
You’ve got this ✊
Oh, when you say compost, you mean potting soil. I know compost as an additive to the garden that is usually manure or my own composted kitchen scraps.
The people in the UK use the word compost for potting soil. No worries because America English is usually very inaccurate in the way words are said.
It's normally made from decaying organic matter and contains nutrients available to the roots.
Thank you, I used 1 part compost manure mix, 1 part peat moss, .25 part perlite vermiculite mix, slow release granulated organic fertilizer, and a little garden lime. Still way cheaper as well.
Solid 👌
I agree that it way more inexpensive in just making your own soil mix. In my case, I use carbonized rice hull (Partially burnt rice hull), rice hull itself, vermicast and cocopeat (I dont use soil for my indoor plants). I also mix a systemic insecticide as a preventative measure. Its a very airy and light mix
Good mix 👍
Always Mixing my own nowadays!!
That sounds frustrating to say the least!
How can you be sure that the multi purpose compost doesn't harbour pests/bugs? I'm dubious about the quality control process with the cheaper composts..
They can have bugs so a tip is to use boiling hot water. Some people use a tiny bit of hydrogen peroxide and water. And some people bake their homemade mix it in the over for 20 min.
I've not noticed the bags containing bugs but it is possible!
you're going to get bugs later on anyways
Thank you for another great lesson in caring for our plants 🌱 and 🌎 planet! Enjoy your weekend.
Thanks, and you!
The real fun starts when you make 60% compost 20% coco 20% perlite for a couple of 120 litre growing bags :D But the upsetting part about having an opened big compost bag (or the mix) sitting around waiting and if you don't moisten it, in the next season you have a hydrophobic bag.
I recall Epic Gardening had a good video with a researcher of bog areas in Canada (biggest producer in the world) talking about peat moss farming. And also raised the point of coco coir having it's own share of issues. Personally I think the best we can do is making and using our own compost where we can (mostly outdoors gardening) and perhaps using a mix of compost and coco. You know how perhaps the real solution isn't the monoculture in anything but spread use of resources in moderation over all the options (which is also quite convenient since compost + coco + perlite is quite a neat medium). Gardeners also have a very smart method of filling the bottoms of their beds with branches and old poor soil etc because the plants they farm rarely grow roots all the way that deep. And just adding things like organic fertilizers, maneur on top of the bed to boost the old soil. Even growing in cycles like growing peas to insert nitrogen in the soil to extend the use. Unfortunately house plant potting can't quite benefit from these ideas, but who knows what all solutions we can come up with to lessen the resource load!
I think I saw that video too. It's a big grey area about what is sustainable or not so I stayed away from it! That all makes perfect sense for the garden 👍
Bro, here it costs €1,50 / 2,00 per liter of premium aroid mix. I started making my own (with literally everything in it like perlite / coco / bark / pumice / worm casting etc.) and it costs me.......€0,38 per liter. Literally can get 5 times as much for the same price and its basically 0 work. Order stuff --> dump it in the barn --> mix in a bin when needed, done. The markup on premium soils is RIDICULOUS. Their profit margin must be 50%+. Even contemplating to start my own store and sell it all for €1 per liter to undercut and drive prices down country wide here.
The main issue with your soil is that it still contains a lot of normall "soil". Soilless mixes can be re-used and you just add new worm castings to it. Pushing price even down more.
Spot on! I've been tempted to too
I’m new to this and Iv been recommended ninja soil over and over but I’m hoping my houseplant compost and perlite will do the job.
It do think it can Be very over complicated. I’m hoping my mix also works well and not have the expense of these ready made mixes. Just started watching your Chanel. Really enjoy your videos 😊
Welcome aboard! Compost and perlite is grand.
I’ve been buying tropical mix and adding orchid mix and gets expensive. I just need to commit and start mixing my own. Great video.
Thank you 😊
I just purchased Succulent mix and orchid mix to mix together for my snake plants (I was reading the ratio should be 1:1). I think next time I have to buy soil, I will make my own. I don't do a lot of re-potting and live in a small apartment, so there is vey little storage. Not sure I could stand having compost stored in my living room somewhere. :O
Yay!!! Another Sheffield video!
😁
Thank you for your idea. Do that kind of mixing soil also suitable for outdoor garden flowers?
Yep
Richard your definitely THE PLANT EXPERT ❤. THANKS FOR ANOTHER ENLIGHTENING VIDEO. HAPPY SATURDAY TO YOU
Thank you 😊
Hi, ive spent the last few days getting myself into a bit of a paranoid state. After doing lots of research online ive noticed lots of people reporting the compost they've bought for themselves has led to fungus gnats and fungi. Is there any specific compost you would recommend and any tips on how you keep your plants pest free when using shop bought compost? (I am new to houseplants and would appreciate any help, thanks) :)
That's always a risk with buying any potting soil but because compost has broken down material it tends to be a great place for gnats to hang out.
I mostly have tropical plants in my house, my plant addiction started only a few months ago and I can't seem to stop buying new ones. I'm so grateful I found your channel, it helped me a lot, I think even my plants love you 😊. I just wanted to ask your opinion, my mix for tropical plants is 1 part coconut coir, 1 part perlite and 1 part all purpose soil. Do you think that's ok or should I change anything? And also, what kind of mix do you suggest for succulents and cacti?
Thanks! That mix sounds pretty good. Air succulents you need more perlite or maybe some bark or something
Phew! Simplified...😊
Compost is why you have fungus gnats. They feed on the organic decaying ingredients. “Gardening In Canada” is a soil scientist and has great advice on that. Love your videos.
I used worm castings in my indoor plants is that where I got them from with watering to much
simple to solve with mosquitodunks aka bacillus bacteria, safe natural bacteria
also no, we have had it in large indoor grows using coco, and also grodan.. so, way off
I’ve been waiting for this video. Thank you for doing it 😊
My pleasure 😊
I just figured out I spend about a dollar a liter and I get about 26 liters a year between the three things I buy. Your way is definitely cheaper but I live in a small town that only brings gardening stuff in during the early spring, in another month the garden centers will be closing up already and starting to bring in things to prepare for fall and winter. :( Next year I may need to follow your recipe and buy more bulk items as I am raising 4 birds of paradise right now and they will likely need separated by next year, I also have a big pot of monster and a very root heavy Thai Consetalation that will likely need up potted next year. Never mind everyone else. LOL. Who orders 4 baby birds of paradise? Me when I apparently see a good deal on them and I've taken a sedative... LOL Was quite the shocker to wake up to in the middle of fall! Perhaps I will be a bit of a jerk and give three away as gifts :P No one will know they arent a cute table plant until they are MASSIVE! hehehh
OOH I just remembered that this year I bought all my soil with store points i had collected so it was technically free! Free is a good deal :P
But you can still get soil and other bits and pieces right?! Can't imagine not always having access to stuff. 4 BoD in one sitting is definitely good going 😂
7:15 before you shake I was thinking why don't you have a separate container you fill 1/4 of the way and mix by shaking then dump the soil mixed into a bigger container you want to store it in? Wouldn't the whole process be much faster
Yep
How do we incorporate vermicompost in your mix? What % is best? We stopped using any commercial compost because one year, all our seedlings failed or grew weak, disease prone plants. The bag said it contained 'Municipal waste' and it was clear that the waste contained residual weed killers (my husband has been growing for years so very experienced) we started our own wormfarm instead which produces all the seed mixes that we need but it needs to be mixed with other things, it's great at germinating but the seedlings shoot up and lack strength
Sorry i've not experience with vermicompost
New to the plant world I purchased 12 succulents in 3 inch pots, I have indoor potting soil can I just add pumice instead of perlite I heard the perlite dissolves is that correct ? Thanks for sharing your video 😊 love from Canada 🇨🇦
perlite is good, but pumice is actually better! So yes, you can. 😊
Perlite doesn't dissolve but the choice is yours!
@@SheffieldMadePlants thank you so much for your help, so should I do 50/50 then soil and pumice ? All my succulents are from a box store. Should I repot them ? Take care and have a great weekend
@@CleoGravel if they’re doing fine in their pots I’d leave them be
@@CleoGravel 1:1 will be fine
I do exactly the same so much cheaper and I add activated charcoal and slow release fertiliser to my mix 😌👏🏼👏🏼
Love that!
Great information video..,saves money and easy mixing ideas thanks always appreciate…
Cheers pal
Some American gardeners swear by Vermiculite and list it as one of the important ingredients to add to compost along with top soil. What are your thoughts on that? Many Thanks
It’s used for water retention if you have that issue
You have a doggy? I've never seen one in your videos. Show us your dog. Please? I love plants and pets! ❤
I can make 50+ L of my own mix (basic 50 qt. of potting soil, perlite, orchid bark, worm castings and charcoal for just under or around $100 USD and it’s lasts me for years.
Like it!
thank you 😊 i will do this diy soil
My pleasure 😊
keep using the word compost! we need to broaden our horizons :)
Is there a specific type of compost that you have to use for indoor plants? Or can i use any type of compost from my local retail store?
I use standard garden compost from my local shop
Thanks for sharing I have learned so much from your videos.
My pleasure 😊
Moisten the perlite just a bit for storage to help cut the dust
Thanks for this mix, would this be suitable for calatheas as well.
My current all purpose soil take close to a month to dry in a 8 inch pot.
Yep
@@SheffieldMadePlants Thank you 😊
I get my perlite from our local hydroponics store in a huge bag.
Perfect!
Another excellent video, Sir Richard!!🪴
Thank you 😊
Thank you so much for this, super helpful and insightful! Just out of curiosity: how long does one box last you on average?
That box lasts me 5 minutes as I mainly do gardening outdoors in larger pots and troughs or do many seed trays at once.
Probably a couple of months
@@SheffieldMadePlants thanks for the reply!
What a price difference! Great info
Thanks!
I've been making my own batches of soil for a little bit, but the last time I put slow release fertiliser granules in it (miracle grow ones). I normally use coco coir but this batch I used compost.
I had some soil left so I just put it in a medium food bag from Tesco, tied it up and put it in my cupboard (away from pesky gnats)
Went to use it yesterday to repot one plant and the soil reeked of ammonia and made my eyes sting when I went near it.
Any ideas what I did wrong or if that soil is now dangerous for plants?
Might have been a lack of air in the bag. If you get it out it should be fine
Richard. Can you teach us about fertilizer???? Please ❤
What do you want to know?
Informative video, thanks! Is this the same kind of compost that you'd get from composting at home? And is perlite still beneficial for plants that aren't in pots with watering holes?
Yes it will be similar anyways and good for plants. Perlite is always good. It helps get air to the roots
A bag of perlite crumbles into smaller pieces. Does it matter what size pieces are in the mix?
No I wouldn't worry about that
This is a really helpful video - thanks! Can a soil and perlite mix be used for cacti & succulents as well or would this require a different mix?
Same mix but with a higher ratio of perlite
Perlite for drainage? I always thought perlite helps the soil to hold water....
Nope that's vermiculite
can anyone from the US confirm what compost is? when I search for it in stores it's usually a mix of fertilizers like manure and worm castings. The miracle gro compost he showed also doesn't exist over here.
I’m not sure but it might just be called soil in the US
Love the videos! Do you mean compost like composted cow manure or a leaf based compost? Have a great day!
I Guess leaf based compost. Not sure what’s in it to be honest. I just get the bags.
@@SheffieldMadePlants I'll have to do a little reading I guess I don't want to burn any plants. Thanks for the info! 😊
What do you do for insects in the potting soil? I buy a special potting soil that is insect resistance just for that reason. I hate the little flies.
I’m using tanlin drops at the moment
I get mushroom compost by the yard. Would this be suitable to use as the compost ingredient in your recipe?
Yes I think so
I am mixing premium potting mix with perlite for last half a year or so
However the mix on pot stays on wet (using wet metre) for weeks indoor, is this good or bad?
Sounds like a long time to stay wet
Doesn't that verve multipurpose compost already have slow release fertilisers in there?
Yes it probably does
Hi Mr Sheffield I only have 3 small houseplants would you still recommend buying in bulk when it comes to compost 60l and perlite 100L ?
Might take you a while to get through it all 😅
What is the expected period of time for the ingredients of a compost or a turf pack bought from the shop to be worn out? I decided to try on experimenting with making my own sort of fertilizer and applying it to the old soil in my pots made of cooked vegetable peelings and a few spices added without using salt ofcourse to see how the plants will do. But the new one how long does it usually last? We're not talking about that imported compost made of a mix of rare minerals, but a regular turf-soil type of compost.
It will last indefinitely really
@@SheffieldMadePlantsWell, will a compost be out of it's useful materials for plant development after a year, two or four maybe, even five? Each of these numbers makes a difference to the overall convenience level.
@@bradstevens6885 it's hard to say. depends on the compost. at least a year I would have thought. but shouldn't be an issue if you are giving your plants feed
Could you not perhaps put the perlite into one of your propagation style tubs? Then you could store it easier as they can go outdoors or inside without risk of puncturing the bag?
Yeah I definitely need to get one
I make a soil blend using coca coir, pumice, orchid bark, charcoal and worm castings. I'm using a lot of pumice but I'm still having problems with my soil not draining well. I can't figure out if it's because I'm starting off with dry coca coir, fluffy, instead of on the moist side. Any suggestions? I'm on the verge of going back to Miracle-Gro and we've had reports of gnat infestations in new bags.
Not sure. That seems like a good blend. Your ratios might be off somewhere or the coir you’re using is no good?
@@SheffieldMadePlants It's got to be the coca coir.
I made this mix for the first time and gave a good watering to the plant after repotting. But it was draining through very very slow. I'm thinking becuse the compost was wet already? Do you let your mix dry out in the box or it should be sealed until I use it?
Must be a heavier compost. Try adding some more perlite. I keep the lid on to keep bugs away
Yeah probably it is heavier, thanks!
Hey sheff, thanks for the great video!, I have a question: Why do you use a compost instead of a generic garden soil with perlite? When should you use one over the other?
Because it saves him money. In the UK, they call soil mix, compost.
@@Gkrissy I think i wasn't clear with my question. By garden soil i mean the common garden soil they sell in stores, not the fancy stuff like he mentions in the video.
But If compost is your typical garden soil in UK then its clear.
Garden soil is called top soil here and is much too dense for houseplants. Water doesn't drain well and the it becomes compacted even with perlite. Compost is decaying garden matter and is generally quite light. There's all sorts of bits and pieces that haven't broken down yet, like bits of bark etc.
@@SheffieldMadePlants Thanks for the explanation, this cleared it up for me.
I'm in Canada and looking at Amazon and local big department stores like home depot and Lowes but I can't find compost.
The search result only shows potting mix. When I search google, it seems to be offered only in the UK.
Is there something else I can use instead?
EDIT: What they do have is Sea Compost....
I think what he calls compost is similar to peat garden soils in Canada and US. I use miracle gro cactus for my base and add perlite and other things such as charcoal based on what I plant
Potting mix should be fine
@@kyliecrown533 @SheffieldMadePlants Thank you for both of your comments! I looked into Miraclegro cactus and it says the "soil is less dense than a regular potting mix, which improves aeration and allows the cacti roots to thrive"
Can you use grit instead of perlite as ive heard that perlite isnt v sustainable
Yep
That compost is why you have a fungus gnat problem. That particular compost comes with its own fungus gnats. I really hope that Soil Ninja offers you a brand deal so that you can see just how bad that compost is for your babies. That stuff belongs in the garden not the house.
I fully agree. Compost is for the garden. I've been using soil ninja mixes for my plants for couple of years now. And even though they are on the pricier side the plants are a lot happier which means I save money on replacing plants.
I shouldn't do unless you get a bad batch. I've not noticed any bugs in the box when I open the lid and start using it. It's a good shout to be aware of it though so I'll pay extra attention.