Best Soil For Containers

It is best to not use the random approach when choosing your potting mix.  When I think back on some of my less than successful crops; poor soil may have been the cause. If you have to choose between a cheap container and cheap soil, the cheap container would be the better option.

Now don’t get me wrong, you don’t have to spend a ton of money on your soil mix. But, there are important elements to look for in your mix. Namely, that it is labeled as a potting MIX as opposed to a potting SOIL. A mix has certain ingredients that will hold moisture well and facilitate in proper drainage. A nice, airy potting mix is preferable to a potting soil.  The potting soil may become too dense and heavy when over watered.  Alternately, when under watered or allowed to dry out, garden soil may become too hard.

There are several online articles that discuss making your own potting mix. That may be a little too advanced or time consuming for some (including myself). Nonetheless, I will share the directions for an all purpose mix I got from the Better Homes and Gardens website.

• 8 quarts potting soil with vermiculite or perlite
• 1 quart coarse sand
• 4 quarts sphagnum peat moss, compost, and/or rotted manure

…did that say rotted manure? ew.

So there ya have it. Soil, in a nutshell…or in a container.  But seriously, when you head to your local garden store, you will be armed with potting power knowledge.