Potting Soil

Where does potting soil come from? It certainly doesn't look like any real soil I have ever seen.

It is a mix of non-soil items and maybe some soil. Someone more knowledgable will follow me and tell you more.

Basic potting soil consists of sterilized milled peat mixed with perlite and/or vermiculite. These last 2 ingredients are naturally occurring minerals that aid in water retention and help reduce soil compaction. Perlite is a volcanic mineral that is popped much like popcorn You can recognize it by its white color. It has lots of pores that retain water. Vermiculite is a mica-like mineral that is coarsely ground and provides the same effect. It is tan/brown in color. Various manufacturers add other ingredients to their potting mixtures like sand, composted cow manure, etc. I prefer the basic stuff thank you; Ill add my own ammendmants. A real good product is Pro-mix. I buy it buy the bale. You won't find it at most chain stores. I buy mine from a local Southern States store.

most 'potting soil' available at walmart is peat moss mixed with some sorta aggregate and human waste/biosolids nicely titled 'municipal compost.

drew

And it's junk, Drew. Don't you agree?

I'd certainly rather have cow, horse, chicken, sheep, goat, manure in my mix instead of municipal which in addition to human waste also may contain heavy metals and whatever else people put down their drains. As far as I know, I would have to mix my own from scratch to avoid the municipal stuff. With this in mind, be sure to wash those carrots carefully before eating.

There seems to be confusion between potting soil and potting mix.

Most of you are describing potting mix, and not actually potting soil. A potting mix, is generally a mixture of peat, vermiculite and/or perlite, and other organic compounds.

Potting soil is just that. Primarily good old terra firma, from a variety of sources.

Take a look at the bag, and pick it up. There will be a difference in weight for the same volume, with soil being considerately heavier.

I prefer potting mix, when dealing with pot plants, and potting soil while amending a flower bed.

Chris

I didn't know that potting soil bags listed the ingredients so I looked at what we have. It says that it contains composted wood fines, composted yard waste, and perlite. It is called potting soil and the brand is Bandini.

I've got 2 brands of potting soil. Here is what the bags say: the first says it is all purpose potting soil made from Canadian spagnum peat moss, compost, earthworm castings, and pumice. The second is called general purpose potting soil and is marketed by Walmart. It is derived from 1 or more of the following: hypnum peat, forest products or compost, sand and perlite. Use of gardening gloves is recommended but the label does not say why. Now, that all sounds good, but if you do a search on what compost is, you will get a real eye opener. Municipal sludge is a chief component of compost in many places, not just leaves and grass clippings, and municipal sludge is made from sewage solids that are left after the stuff has been through the local treatment plant.

hypnum peat along with uncut peat moss can irritate or infect an open wound in your hand...
probably why you should wear gloves.
I know alot of nurserymen that have gotten fungus infections in thier hands.

dp

OH just ew, yup ew. EW EW EW EW EW EW EW EW EW. Did I mention ew. I think I will wear my gloves from now on.

Isn't reading the labels (and deciphering them!) informative???

The clerk at a local nursery didn't even know that the Milorganite they carry is made from human waste. I didn't read the label but i betcha it isn't specific!!!

Drew, you are a Treasure of information. Thanks!

I'm with Dravencat......sometimes ignorance is bliss.

Double on the ewwwwww. I'm NOT going out to read the label right now, but may tomorrow. And I might even wear my gloves to read the label. :-)

I think I recall something called Millorganite years ago that I believe was the infamous " Municipal Sludge", but since my mind is failing I am probably wrong.

Nah, balvenie... you are probably right, unfortunately.

I suspect that many years ago, before we 'flushed' toxic chemicals down the drains (or even had toxins in our homes via store-bought household cleaners, paints where we wash the brushes, etc.), that Milorganite (fully composted) may have been safe.

Too bad they still sell it... someone as far gone (mentally) as my mother has NO idea that it's a TOTALLY different product these days.

I used Milorganite twenty years ago or so and broke out in hives all over! Now I even walk a wide swath around it in Home Depot. I have been using Miracle Gro Potting Mix. I tried Jungle Growth Potting Mix and it caked and got hard. What potting mix...commercial brand now, not homemade...does everyone prefer?

Pro-mix BX http://www.premierhort.com/website/products/aproducts/aprodprof/aprodpropmix/afpromixproff.html

I use the miracle gro too. But now Im afraid to go down to the basement where I keep the BIG bag. Im afraid to read the label and look up the words in the dictionary. So many years of just plunging my hands down in there.
Putting gloves on to go read the label.lol

Oh, triple Ewwwww! I had no idea that human waste was incorporated into any gardening products.... it seems as if it would be a major health risk (I'm thinking 'cholera'). I'm with you Draven.... GLOVES from now on!

When I can find it, I use the Miracle Grow with moisture control potting mix. If it's not available, I use the regular miracle grow.

Chris