Best soil from Home Depot/Wal Mart

[SilkySmoke]

What's up guys.

Those stores are the only place that I can buy soil and soil materials from. Can I get some recs about what soil I should use? I see all the Miracle Grow potting soil varieties, sphagnum moss, and all these different kinds of stuff with "potting soil" on its label. I notice a lot of the potting soil looks a lot like wood chip type material.

What should I buy/mix to get the best soil possible? This is primarily for outdoor. Avg. temperature 80s, high humidity as well.

THANKS!

 

[sk8disgruntled]

well if you have to i guess miracle grow would be your best choice, lots of people bash it, i personally dont like it either but i think it would work pretty well mixed with some coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite. mixing it will make the soil less hot, and less likely to burn or kill your young plants

 

[SilkySmoke]

Thanks for the reply. I've never seen coco coir in WalMart and Home Depot. Haven't seen vermiculite either. I see perlite everywhere though.

Miracle Grow and perlite mix?

 

[LightningMcGreen]

or just do a hempy bucket grow and do strait perlite. u dont have to worry about any time-release nutes messin up ur feeds, plus its re-useable so no haulin away heavy bags of soil! people ive seen doin this use sum mop buckets, drill a couple 9/16" two inches from the very bottom of the bucket..that way ull have a standin pool of water ur plant can feed from for a few days (when the plant is bigger of course) cuz perlite doesnt like to retain a whole lot of water...also, if you choose to go this route, cover the perlite with some clay pellets, rocks, or anything really, cuz it tends to get algae growin on it pretty quickly lol....good luck!

 

[sickstoner]

or just do a hempy bucket grow and do strait perlite. u dont have to worry about any time-release nutes messin up ur feeds, plus its re-useable so no haulin away heavy bags of soil! people ive seen doin this use sum mop buckets, drill a couple 9/16" two inches from the very bottom of the bucket..that way ull have a standin pool of water ur plant can feed from for a few days (when the plant is bigger of course) cuz perlite doesnt like to retain a whole lot of water...also, if you choose to go this route, cover the perlite with some clay pellets, rocks, or anything really, cuz it tends to get algae growin on it pretty quickly lol....good luck!

thats what i would do

 

[GrizzlyAdams]

If I may,

The cheapest soil you'll be able to go with is a blend you make yourself. A basic blend is
.3 pro-mix (a premade soilless soil available alot of places.)
.3 compost (make sure its inspected by someone so there aren't any bugs and fungus)
.15 perlite (promix already has perlite)
.15 wom castings
.10 coco coir

Won't have a TON of nutes, but its cheap and its got enough so you don't dump chemicals on it immediately. Make sure you add trace elements to this mix one way or another, your plant WILL need them.

 

[robbzilla]

I make my soil from stuff bought from Home Depot. My mix is easy just 1/3 perilite, 1/3 vermiculite, and 1/3 peat moss.

 

[redivider]

the cheapest, and rather dependable soil i've ever used is scotts garden soil.

it's about 3 bucks for 1.5 cubic ft at home depot and walmart.

i used it when i was learning to grow and it worked fine. it has little nute balls too, so you don't have to feed for about 2 weeks, but they are not enough to burn seedlings. make it 2/3 soil and 1/3 perlite and you're set. i didn't even use perlite at the beginning and it works....

get on it!

i tried miracle grow, both the regular soil, moisture control, and organic, and it's not good. the plants get nute burned quick, and since they're designed to be put in the actual ground, not in a planter, they are SUPER fertilized, so the nutes also seep into the ground around your plant. when using a planter, the nutes can't seep anywhere, and burn the shit out of your plant. it can be done, but it's a pain in the ass....

 

[robbzilla]

Yea I've used scotts too it works well. Just don't use MG soil....

 

[Phill42083]

I am using a mixture of
32.5% Moo Mix Professional Potting Soil
32.5% Country Farms Organic Rich Sterilized Potting Soil
15% MG Perlite (MG was only brand i could find)
10% Sta-Green Vermiculite
10% Generic Brand Worm Castings

The mixture seems to work pretty well. All of the ingedients EXCEPT for the Moo mix, and worm casting can be bought at either Walmart or Lowes.
Does this seem like a good mixture? I'm not a pro so im not too sure just read alot of diff soil mixtures then combined them all in to one.

 

[i.NeeD.A.LiGhTeR]

Miracles fine, just don't make the number 1 noob mistake and overwater. Wait till the soils completely dry I mean 100%. This doesn't hurt the plant and the roots will search for water giving you a larger root mass equalling a bigger plant and you know what that equals... bigger BUDS. I use 2 parts miracle grow moisture control to 1 part perlite, the plants love it. I do plan on upgrading to Fox Farms in the future but if you're Walmart shopping, its a good buy.

 

[stoendpirate]

Hi folks

So is the pro mix that people refer to on Rollitup the same as sold from Rona?
http://rona.ca/shop/~pro-mix-hp-pro-mix-151420_!pro-mix_shop

Also for the compost part of soil what can you use? I have access to indoor vermecast (worm castings that have been frozen to kill off insects. Im also a newb and was under the impression that worm castings are compost?

thanks

 

[kindbud27]

just don't over water with mg..can be bad if it has nutes in it.

 

[rudy2010]

One important thing is micchorizae (sp?) which is a fungus that you put in the soil. It attaches to the roots and will promote growth through out the growth cycle. I don't know if any of the soils at Home Depot/Wal Mart have this in them. You can get it in pre measured packets or just in a jar.

 

[frmrboi]

So is the pro mix that people refer to on Rollitup the same as sold from Rona?
a newb and was under the impression that worm castings are compost

Yes it's the same and highly recommended by this grower, (get the HP if you can it's got more perlite)
Worm castings is basically worm manure, not compost but pretty much the same nutrirnt level.
freezing doesn't necessarily kill all insects BTW.

I don't know if any of the soils at Home Depot/Wal Mart have this in them.

Pro Mix does, check the date of manufacture to make sure the spores haven't expired.

 

[woodsmaneh!]

Hi folks

So is the pro mix that people refer to on Rollitup the same as sold from Rona?
http://rona.ca/shop/~pro-mix-hp-pro-mix-151420_!pro-mix_shop

Yes it's the pro-mix BX. Rona has a better one from promix it's the 100% organic mix, nice stuff.


Also for the compost part of soil what can you use?( use cow compost from Wall or home) I have access to indoor vermecast (worm castings that have been frozen to kill off insects. Im also a newb and was under the impression that worm castings are compost? Yes it is

thanks

Use Worm Casting at a rate of 20% in total mix. Great stuff.

 

[kevin]

i use miracle gro potting soil mix with some perlite thrown in. don't let the mg haters scare you.

 

[stoendpirate]

@frmrboi @woodsmaneh! thanks for the info! So you can use straight (no dirt? 100% promix HP) as a medium ? Then you would just feed through watering? or would you mix Pro mix with other organic nutrients.

Im very worried about gnats and other pest fuckers so should I stay away from worm castings? The stuff I was looking at is from a local farm, are there other producers that have a better chance of being bug free?

Thanks folks

 

[frmrboi]

@frmrboi @woodsmaneh! thanks for the info! So you can use straight (no dirt? 100% promix HP) as a medium ? Then you would just feed through watering? or would you mix Pro mix with other organic nutrients.
Im very worried about gnats and other pest fuckers so should I stay away from worm castings? The stuff I was looking at is from a local farm, are there other producers that have a better chance of being bug free?

You could nuke the castings in a microwave if it's contaminated but then you lose all the benificial bacteria.
I'd open up a pack of castings and see if any gnats hatch and fly, it's probably safe. I'm not much of an organics guy maybe in the future.
There's a recipe at the bottom the page here:
http://www.highgrade-seeds.com/soil.html

 

[woodsmaneh!]

@frmrboi @woodsmaneh! thanks for the info! So you can use straight (no dirt? 100% promix HP) as a medium ? You sure can , I did for 3 years and used Botanacare pro to feed them. Then you would just feed through watering? or would you mix Pro mix with other organic nutrients. I went to 20% worm, 20% Coco, 20% ProMix and the last 20% was compost and other foods. Did it this way for another 4 years.

Im very worried about gnats and other pest fuckers so should I stay away from worm castings? No bugs in WC bugs hate WC, I buy 500 pounds of the stuff a year from a horse farm. NEVER HAD A BUG. The stuff I was looking at is from a local farm, are there other producers that have a better chance of being bug free? If it's got bugs than it's not pure WC.

Thanks folks

Some light reading

[FONT=&quot]What are Worm Castings? [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Worm Castings are Mother Nature’s soil enrichment of choice. This rich humus-like digested output of the worm includes a wide range of nutrients and microbial life that all types of vegetation require to grow. Worm Castings are one of the most natural soil enrichments available and more importantly are environmentally friendly, all natural, easy to use, and safe to handle, with a pleasant earthy aroma.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]What do Worm Castings do? [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]Worm Castings restore soil health in many ways.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]A source of organic matter with lots of nutrients a nd moisture-holding capacity. Worm[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Castings hold 9 times their weight in moisture, which is beneficial in drought[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]conditions .[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Adds active microbial life to the soil, allowing it to slowly release and make the[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]valuable nutrient and trace minerals more available to tender plant roots.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Rich in growth hormones and vitamins, and acts as a powerful biocide against[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]diseases and nematodes.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]A natural aerator, allowing oxygen to permeate the root zone to improve drainage and[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]encourage root growth.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Restores soil without fear of burning or harming tender plant life.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Restoring the soil makes nutrients more available to crops, turf applications and desired[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]vegetation. This means there is less need for synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. Best of all, Worm Castings contain no toxins and are therefore safe to use without fear of ground water contamination.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]How are Worm Castings different from Compost?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings are significantly better than compost. They are the result of carefully selected compost that is fully digested by worm. This makes Worm Castings an entirely mature product. It contains no pathogenic agents, and is considered a biological product which is convenient to handle. Worm Castings contain a far more diverse microbial population than other composts. These micro-organisms play an important part in soil fertility. Not only do they mineralize complex substances into plant-available nutrients, but bacteria in the worm’s digestive system also synthesize a whole series of biologically active substances including plant growth hormones.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]How do Worm Castings work?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings are an all-purpose natural soil enrichment that is pure earthworm castings. It is 100% non-toxic and odourless. It is the product of aerobically composted vegetable scraps fed to earthworms, and free from weed seeds, toxins and pathogens.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WORM CASTINGS[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings improve Soil Structure in all Soil Types[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings restore soil structure. The term “soil structure” is used to describe the way soil particles are grouped into aggregates. Soil structure is affected by biological activity, organic matter, and cultivation and tillage practices. Soil fertility and structure are closely related. An ideal soil structure is often described as granular or crumb-like. It provides for good movement of air and water through a variety of different pore sizes. Plant roots extend down, and soil animals – including small earthworms – travel through the spaces between the aggregates. An ideal soil structure is also stable and resistant to erosion. The clay-humus complex, in combination with adequate calcium which helps to bind the aggregates together, forms the basis of this structure. The glutinous by-products of soil bacteria and the hair-like threads of actinomycetes and fungi mycelium add to soil stability. All tillage operations change soil structure. Excessive cultivation, especially for seedbed preparation, can harm soil structure. Working clay soil when wet leads to compaction and subsequent soil puddling. The soil is easily puddled by rain, easily eroded, and will have poor aeration. Tillage, when too dry, shatters the aggregates. Soil structure can be enhanced by careful cultivation, growing sod crops and returning crop residues. Worm Castings (organic matter) and the humification process improve structural stability, and can rebuild degraded soil structures. Therefore it is vital to return organic material to the soil and to maintain its biological activity, which helps to improve the soil structure.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]How Worm Castings work with Soil pH[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings act like a buffer for plants. Where soil pH levels are too high or low, Worm Castings make soil nutrients available again to the plant. Compared to the soil itself, Worm Castings are much higher in bacteria, organic material and available nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and potassium.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]WORM CASTINGS [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Soil Biology[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Soil organisms play an important role in forming and stabilizing soil structure. In a healthy soil ecosystem, fungal filaments and exudates from microbes and earthworms help bind soil particles together into stable aggregates that improve water infiltration and protect soil from erosion, crusting and compaction. Macrospores formed by earthworms and other burrowing creatures facilitate the movement of water into and through soil. Good soil structure enhances root development, which further improves the soil.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Restoring soil structure helps reduce runoff and improve the infiltration and filtering capacity of soil. In a healthy soil ecosystem, soil organisms reduce the impacts of pollution by buffering, detoxifying- and decomposing potential pollutants. Bacteria and other microbes are increasingly used for remediation of contaminated water and soil.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]In a healthy soil ecosystem, soil biota regulates the flow and storage of nutrients in many ways. For example, they decompose plant and animal residue, fix atmospheric nitrogen, transform nitrogen and other nutrients among various organic and inorganic forms, release plant available forms of nutrients, mobilize phosphorus, and form mycorrhizal (fungus -root) associations for nutrient exchange. Even applied fertilizers may pass through soil organisms before being utilized by crops. A relatively small number of soil organisms cause plant disease. A healthy soil ecosystem has a diverse soil food web that keeps pest organisms in check through competition and predation. Some soil organisms release compounds that enhance plant growth or reduce disease susceptibility. Plants may exude specific substances that attract beneficial organisms[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]or repel harmful ones, especially when they are under stress from activities such as grazing.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Microbial Activity[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings stimulate microbial activity. Although earthworms derive their nutrition from microorganisms, many more microorganisms (such as bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes) are present in their feces or casts than in the organic matter that they consume. As organic matter passes through their intestines, it is fragmented and inoculated with microorganisms. Increased microbial activity facilitates the cycling of nutrients from organic matter and their conversion into forms readily taken up by plants.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Compared to synthetic fertilize r formulations, Worm Castings contain relatively low[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]concentrations of actual nutrients, but they perform important functions, which the synthetic formulations do not. They increase the organic content and consequently the water-holding capacity of the soil. They improve the physical structure of the soil, which allows more air to get to plant roots. Where organic sources are used for fertilizer, bacterial and fungal activity increases in the soil. Mycorrhizal fungi, which make other nutrients more available to plants, thrive in soil where the organic matter content is high.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Water Availability[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings contain a high percentage of humus. Humus helps soil particles form into clusters, which create channels for the passage of air and improve its capacity to hold water. The castings are in the form of tiny pellets which are coated with a gel. This crumb-like structure helps improve drainage and aeration.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Balancing Soil Nutrient[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]The ability of the microbiologically active Worm Castings to regenerate the nutrients from the atmosphere, organic matter and water allows them to replace those lost from chemical fertilizers by leaching, plant uptake and chemical reactions. In relation to moisture holding capacity and improvement of soil structure, chemical fertilizers have negligible effect, as they primarily consist of water-soluble salts. On the other hand, the aggregate nature of the Worm Castings has appreciable water holding capacity, and its use leads to restored soil structure and increases nutrient reserves in soil. The presence of nitrogen fixing bacteria in Worm Castings means that nitrogen can be fixed[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]from the atmosphere and converted to plant soluble nitrates. Worm Castings are rich in humus, which contains essential plant nutrients and micronutrients. Moreover, these castings are also rich in vitamins, beneficial microorganisms, antibiotics and enzymes.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Worm Castings restore soil, will not wash out with watering, and will not burn even delicate plants. Worm castings have a very soil-like texture and all the necessary nutrients that plants, crops and all types of vegetation require. The castings slowly release nutrients when required by the plants. Castings are high in soluble nitrogen, potash, potassium, calcium, magnesium and many other trace elements. Worm Castings allow plants to quickly and easily absorb all essential nutrients and trace elements. Because the earthworm grinds and uniformly mixes the nutrients and trace elements into simple forms (1 to 2 microns), plants need only minimal effort to absorb these nutrients.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]SUGGESTED APPLICATION RATES[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Potted Plants, Seeds, Seed Flats [/FONT] · [FONT=&quot]Use 1 part Worm Castings to 3 parts potting soil mix[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Potted Plans, Window Boxes, Hanging Baskets ([/FONT] [FONT=&quot]established)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Add 1 to 2 inches of Worm Castings to top of soil[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Mix in, taking care not to damage shallow roots[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Water well[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Repeat every 2 to 3 months[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lawns[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](established)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Use Worm Castings as a top dress at 10 lbs. per 1000 sq. ft.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Apply twice a year – in spring and once again in late fall[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Lawns[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](new)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Apply 10 lbs. of Worm Castings to 1000 sq. ft.[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Work lightly into topsoil[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Mix in grass seed[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Cover with shredded straw and keep watered[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Roses, Trees, Bushes, Berries[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot](new or freshly transplanted)[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Mix 1 part Worm Castings to 3 parts soil[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Surround newly dug hole with mixture[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]In the hole, spread root over a mound of the mix, and cover[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Bushes [/FONT] · [FONT=&quot]Use 5 lbs. of Worm Castings per 10 Bushes[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Perennials [/FONT] · [FONT=&quot]Work ½ cup of Worm Castings into the soil above root zone,[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]taking care not to damage the shallow roots[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Apply in spring, early summer, and fall[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Tables and Annual Flowers [/FONT] · [FONT=&quot]Line bottom and sides of plant holes/seed furrows with[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]1 to 2 inches of Worm Castings[/FONT]
· [FONT=&quot]Set plants/seeds in place and cover with soil[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]During the growing season, side dress once every 2 months at a[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]rate of ½ cup per plant or 1 cup per linear foot of row[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gardens [/FONT] · [FONT=&quot]Apply 5 lbs. of Worm Castings per square foot[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Note: [/FONT] [FONT=&quot]The release time for nutrients is around 4 months for continual release of nutrients.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Repeat application is recommended at 4 month intervals.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Application rates may vary depending on soil test results.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Worm castings vs. Chemical fertilizers in Soil1[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Criteria for Comparison Chemical Fertilizers Worm Castings[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Macro Nutrient Contents[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mostly contains only one (N in urea) or at the most two (N & P in DAP)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]nutrients in any one type of chemical fertilizer[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Contains all nutrients in sufficient[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]quantities, i.e., nitrogen (N),[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]phosphorus (P) and potassium (K)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Secondary Nutrient Contents[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Not Available[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn) and sulphur (S) are available in required quantities[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Micro Nutrients Contents[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Not Available[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Zinc (Zn), boron (B), manganese, (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo) and chorine (Cl)[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]are also present[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]pH balancing[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Distorts soil pH, which creates saline and alkaline conditions[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helps control soil pH and corrects the salinity and alkalinity in soil[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]EC Correction[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Creates imbalance in soil EC, affecting nutrients assimilation[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Helps balance the EC to improve plant nutrient adsorption[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Organic Carbon[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Not Available[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Very high organic carbon and humus contents improve soil characteristics[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Moisture Retention Capacity[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Reduces moisture retention capacity of the soil[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Increases moisture retention capacity of the soil[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Soil Texture[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Damages soil texture to reduce aeration[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Improves soil texture for better aeration[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Beneficial Bacteria and Fungi[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Reduces biological activities and thus the fertility is impaired[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Very high biological life improves the soil fertility and productivity on sustainable basis[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Plant Growth Hormones[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Not Available[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Sufficient quantity helps in better growth and production[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]