I loathe Miracle Grow Potting Mix - Page 2

Worth1 · February 15, 2016

Here is a picture of their Nature's Care raised bed soil I mixed perlite in.
There isn't any dirt in it at all.
Worth
IMG_20160215_18672.jpg

Worth1 · February 15, 2016

Okay I went to their website and looked at reviews for both of them.
I dont think one person had a good thing to say about the regular potting soil.
Almost all of them said gnats.
I looked at the stuff I bought and there were 2 or three that complained and the rest were okay with it.
Now the stuff I bought was for raised beds and that it what people bought it for.
I also amended mine.
Their Natures Care potting soil got four and one half stars.
I didn't get it because I could make what I wanted for much less.

I do know that when I washed the soil off the roots on some of my plants the root ball was massive and the stuff washed right out with ease.

Worth

paulgrow · February 15, 2016

I hate mix with premixed fertilizer; if I want fertilizer I;ll add my own.
I swear my Farfard #2 planting mix.
Scotts, who owns MG is getting too big!

Hellmanns · February 15, 2016

I have used Promix bx exclusively for the last 10 years with absolutely no regrets. In a pinch, I even used it for a seed starting mix about then and have never looked back!

Cole_Robbie · February 15, 2016

The first year I had my greenhouse, I used a Fafard product I liked a lot. Instead of peat, it had pine bark fines, which are far superior about not crusting over on the top.

Deborah · February 15, 2016

I like Edna's Best organic potting mixes. All kinds of good stuff in them and no perlite. Having that darn perlite float to the surface ruins the look of my container garden.

Ricky Shaw · February 15, 2016

Hellmans, why you like the BX?

I'm in for half a pallet of ProMix HP, I think about BX sometime, if I made the right choice. I might buy a bale of BX to compare if I like it's moisture retention better in this dry climate.

Hellmanns · February 16, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ricky Shaw

Hellmans, why you like the BX?

I'm in for half a pallet of ProMix HP, I think about BX sometime, if I made the right choice. I might buy a bale of BX to compare if I like it's moisture retention better in this dry climate.

You nailed it, Ricky. I like the moisture retention of bx.

I use Promix bx for everything, even seed starting.

kayrobbins · February 16, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by paulgrow

I hate mix with premixed fertilizer; if I want fertilizer I;ll add my own.
I swear my Farfard #2 planting mix.
Scotts, who owns MG is getting too big!

I agree with that 100%. They have bought a minority stake in Bonnie's Plants which has been owned by Alabama Farmers Coop. Even though they claim they want to get out the chemical and lawn business I don't trust them with fruits and vegetables. All the more reason I am glad I start almost everything from seeds instead of buying plants.

http://www.dispatch.com/content/stor...ie-plants.html

Ricky Shaw · February 16, 2016

Thank you Hellmans. I can change retention rates considerably by adding vermiculite or diatomaceous earth at 5%-10%. The young plants have been happy, either way, but we're talking my basement as opposed to a 90 degree day and 10% humidity outside.

Of course by adding to the HP I'm diminishing it's foolproof aspect of being nearly impossible to over-water.

PureHarvest · February 16, 2016

Ricky, I can't believe you can keep the HP watered enough in those conditions!
Can you get the Promix HP/CC?
It is a Promix high-porosity blend, but uses coco coir instead of perlite for the extra porosity. Maybe you will get better moisture retention but still get good aeration/drainage.
I used the HP/CC last year with my automated top watering system in my 5 gal grow bags with no complaints. I am gonna try the regular HP this year too for a comparison.

Ricky Shaw · February 16, 2016

I'll be winging it on a lot of this container stuff outdoors, and make adjustments where I can. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of first year lumps.

guruofgardens · February 16, 2016

Miracle Gro is always a NO for seedlings. I like Fox Farms mixed with coir.

I have used MG to add to the garden flowers, just on top since most of the flowers are perennials.

Sun City Linda · February 16, 2016

I bought a bag of it (Miracle Grow Potting Mix, yellow bag) to pot up seedlings and repot larger. Lots of them had problems. Never used the stuff before and since I never have this kind of problem with potting up, I never will use it again.

ginger2778 · February 16, 2016

I use Miracle Gro seed starting potting mix to start my seeds. After first true leaves form, I transplant into PromixBX with a pinch of Tomato Maker. Promix BX is in my earthboxes too. No issues with the seed starting mix.

February 15, 2016	#18
paulgrow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Allen Park, MI Posts: 178	I hate mix with premixed fertilizer; if I want fertilizer I;ll add my own. I swear my Farfard #2 planting mix. Scotts, who owns MG is getting too big! __________________ A world without tomatoes is like a string quartet without violins. ~Author Unknown~

February 15, 2016	#21
Deborah Riding The Crazy Train Again Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: San Marcos, California Posts: 2,562	I like Edna's Best organic potting mixes. All kinds of good stuff in them and no perlite. Having that darn perlite float to the surface ruins the look of my container garden. __________________ "The righteous one cares for the needs of his animal". Proverbs 12:10

February 15, 2016	#16
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Here is a picture of their Nature's Care raised bed soil I mixed perlite in. There isn't any dirt in it at all. Worth IMG_20160215_18672.jpg

February 15, 2016	#19
Hellmanns Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: kentucky Posts: 1,116	I have used Promix bx exclusively for the last 10 years with absolutely no regrets. In a pinch, I even used it for a seed starting mix about then and have never looked back!

February 15, 2016	#20
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	The first year I had my greenhouse, I used a Fafard product I liked a lot. Instead of peat, it had pine bark fines, which are far superior about not crusting over on the top.

February 15, 2016	#22
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Hellmans, why you like the BX? I'm in for half a pallet of ProMix HP, I think about BX sometime, if I made the right choice. I might buy a bale of BX to compare if I like it's moisture retention better in this dry climate.

February 16, 2016	#25
Ricky Shaw Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Zone 6a Denver North Metro Posts: 1,910	Thank you Hellmans. I can change retention rates considerably by adding vermiculite or diatomaceous earth at 5%-10%. The young plants have been happy, either way, but we're talking my basement as opposed to a 90 degree day and 10% humidity outside. Of course by adding to the HP I'm diminishing it's foolproof aspect of being nearly impossible to over-water.

February 16, 2016	#26
PureHarvest Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Mid-Atlantic right on the line of Zone 7a and 7b Posts: 1,369	Ricky, I can't believe you can keep the HP watered enough in those conditions! Can you get the Promix HP/CC? It is a Promix high-porosity blend, but uses coco coir instead of perlite for the extra porosity. Maybe you will get better moisture retention but still get good aeration/drainage. I used the HP/CC last year with my automated top watering system in my 5 gal grow bags with no complaints. I am gonna try the regular HP this year too for a comparison.

February 16, 2016	#28
guruofgardens Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2008 Location: zone 5 Colorado Posts: 942	Miracle Gro is always a NO for seedlings. I like Fox Farms mixed with coir. I have used MG to add to the garden flowers, just on top since most of the flowers are perennials.

February 16, 2016	#29
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	I bought a bag of it (Miracle Grow Potting Mix, yellow bag) to pot up seedlings and repot larger. Lots of them had problems. Never used the stuff before and since I never have this kind of problem with potting up, I never will use it again.

February 16, 2016	#30
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	I use Miracle Gro seed starting potting mix to start my seeds. After first true leaves form, I transplant into PromixBX with a pinch of Tomato Maker. Promix BX is in my earthboxes too. No issues with the seed starting mix.