I doubt there are few places in American where one can purchase horticultural charcoal (two grades), horticultural perlite (three grades), coconut fiber chunks and rolls, expanded rock (two grades), and Douglas fir bark (three grades). Oh, I forgot natural, Portuguese cork in 30 lb. bundles. But, yes, I do live in a very small college town and other than a Super Wal Mart and a Lowe's, we don't have much to choose from. I could drive to Jackson, MS, Memphis, TN, or Birmingham, AL but wouldn't be able to find any of what I use.

Geez, that reminds me why I've always lived in big cities.

Karen

I have purchased some horticultural grade perlite on ebay for some very reasonable prices with free shipping. The nearest garden center to us that sells it is about a 50 mile drive, and is more expensive.

I use about 16 bales of the Pro-Mix from Menards each year, even if I do have to amend it a bit with fertilizer. It has worked well for me in many applications, and has been the most cost-effective. I'm starting to stock up now for my next early-spring planting. Have 2 bales so far, and hope to purchase 4 more when they go on sale. I just need to make sure I bring them in early enough to defrost before I need them in the winter!

That sounds so odd, "defrost before I need them". We have little of that kind of problem in Mississippi.

It's a different world. I keep my potting mix in the basement so it doesn't freeze. And at the hydroponics store it's stored inside so easily available year round. (It's stored outside at Home Depot and Lowes). But I love the change of seasons. Our weather has been perfect the last few weeks- highs in the 70s, lows around 50, with bright, sunny days.

In the past few years I've bought compressed bales of Sunshine Advanced Mix #4, 3 cu ft, which I like a lot. It's very loose and fluffy, and a lot easier to wet or re-wet than promix.
http://www.wormsway.com/en/sam...

Karen

I wish we had all this available locally. I have to custom-make all my potting soil/orchid mixes. What I do is not only expensive, since I use so much of it, it is also quite a chore.

And shipping costs are so high, not only on big heavy stuff like potting mix but anything you buy online. I almost always have small things in a shopping cart at Amazon. When I have enough for free shipping, I order.

Karen

Like Karen, I try to keep a couple of bales of Pro-Mix in the basement. However, I usually run out before spring, so have to bring some in from outside to defrost. The joys of living in central Indiana!

While the Pro-Mix isn't my favorite, it is a good economical mix for the hundreds of plants I donate to Master Gardener's every year.

What is PropMix, Linda?

It's ProMix, Ken. Like the name implies, it's a professional growing mix.

http://www.pthorticulture.com/...

Karen

First year greenhouse gardener and I have made a LOT of mistakes. Biggest may have been using Miracle Grow bagged soil. I will be dumping it I guess. Just read on line about growing in "soiless medium". Sounds like perlite, vermiculite, etc. are soiless?

After the plants start in this type of mix and are ready to transplant to larger container for its production lifecycle (veggies) then do you use "soil"?

Generally, everything grown in a pot or container of any kind is better in a soiless mix. Components of the mix might be peat, coir, pine fines, vermiculite, perlite, compost... people make a lot of concoctions. For store-bought mixes the bag will usually say "potting mix".

Many companies make different variations within their brand name. e.g. Scotts Miracle Grow makes several types of bagged garden soil and several different potting mixes. Note the listings on the left of the page:
http://www.miraclegro.com/smg/...

Karen

Carol, you should be able to find a use for that bag of garden soil. If you have any uneven areas in your yard, have a raised garden, grow vegetables in pots outside, or have a few basic components found in potting soil, you can use that soil.

Totally new learning for me. I had no idea. I thought it was all "dirt" --ha ha. Am going to start reading the bags to see what's in it, and am going to my local nursery today to see what they carry. Home Depot doesn't carry Pro Mix.

Looks like the low spots in the lawn benefit this year Good idea for recycling.

Like Karen, I also use a soil-less mix for everything I grow in pots, regardless of the size of the pot. I grow about 800 plants per year for our Master Gardener plant sale. I use a very fine (soil-less) seed starting mix to get everything started, and then use a soil-less mix (Pro-Mix is my least expensive go-to option) for everything that I put into the transplant pots (3" - 5" pots). I also use a soil-less mix in my Earthboxes, Smartpots, and any other container I grow outdoors. It just seems to do better for developing good root systems. For my larger outdoor containers, Earthboxes and Smartpots, I use a mix of ProMix, horticultural grade perlite and coco-coir. I've had good results with this so far, but I'm sure a lot depends on what you are growing, your climate, etc.

Carol--there are many brands of soil-less potting mixes. ProMix is just one; Sunshine, MetroMix, and even Miracle Grow make some. A lot depends upon where you live what may be available, and it's WAY too heavy to justify shipping expenses. Just read the labels carefully....you will be fine.

Practically every "Potting-Mix" and "Potting-Soil" is soil-less. It is too bad so many of the manufacturers of it (Miracle-Gro for example) uses the term "soil" on the label. Only when you get into the "Miracle-Gro Garden-Soil", "Black-Kow", and the like, will there be "dirt" involved. At least that's what I understand.

Karen

I went to our one local nursery here today -- and they had several soil-less mixes to choose from. There was one specially for Texas and she recommended that - so I bought it to try. She also has special soil-less mix for seed sprouting - so I bought that.

I took a long fly tape (full of fungus gnats) and she jumped back -- she has long hair and didn't want to get it caught in that ! A couple of the folks there took a look at the bug strip and said they look like fungus gnats. They sold me pyrethenian for that. So all my GH plants have had a good dose of 4/1 water/peroxide, neem oil -- and now pyrethenian. If that doesn't kill them, then I guess I'll just .. give up? Probably not ! Too much invested in this project. Some of the plants are actually starting to do well -- radishes have really jumped. I tried the potato test on the plants and no larvae showed up - which is surprising considering the huge # of fungus gnats in there.

Thanks ya'll for all the info -- I have changed my "soil" -- whoopee !

BTI works well for fungus gnats

http://www.repotme.com/pest-co...

Karen

Hmm ... fungus gnats ...

Just guessing, but maybe if you can keep the soil surface drier, and/or run a fan, maybe there would be fewer gnats?

When I want a drier surface, I sprinkle a layer of biggish pine bark chunks onto the surface, like a tiny layer of coarse mulch. At least then the bugs have to burrow through the bark to get to moist soil that have things that can decay or support fungus and feed gnats.

I may be naive to think that would help much.

I like the long strips of flypaper!