Before the advent of soil-less container mixes, good ole garden soil was used in containers.
I remember an aunt that used 5-gal. tin biscuit containers filled with garden soil that had bits of gravel for her roses, hibiscus, and other plants. There are folks who still do this using 5 gal. plastic paint containers. Of course earthworms thrive in this and aerate the soil. An occasional top dressing of aged chicken manure was used for fertilizer, and some coffee grounds and banana peels thrown in for good measure.
Life was simpler then!
