Miracle Grow add

Here ya be, Pro Mix's website
http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/index.htm

they list the ingredients of each type of Pro Mix

Thanks Darius, I really do appreciate what you wrote there. I had no idea there were so many kinds of Pro Mix...or that I was spelling it wrong. There's a space between Pro and Mix.

I'm going to do some reading and then I'll report back here what I've concluded...then anyone who wants to correct me can! LOL!

Ok, I love the Pro Mix site. This is great!

Pro Mix for containers (outside) contains:

Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss
Water Absorbent Polymer
Perlite
Vermiculite
Limestone (for pH adjustment)
Wetting agent

No fert in this one...like Darius said. This looks so simple to mix up. Vermiculite can be hard to find in the big box stores, but I've found it at a local hardware store.

On to the next Pro Mix....

Gardenbeads - First, I see your new here so welcome to Dave's Garden and thank you for your comment! I hope you like it here, I've only been a member for just over 2 months and I love it. Talking to all the other gardeners gives me alot of motivation.
Now, do you give your plants full strength fert every time they get watered or do you make it weaker since they're getting a constant supply? I'm hoping to take better care of our container plants this summer then I did last summer as there was so much going on.

Steve

The Pro Mix Ultimate Container Mix has the same ingredients as the above, only it contains a slow release fert that releases over 9 months. There's no list of the NPK on the site. Dangit. I would love to find that out!! I've never even seen this stuff for sale.

Going to poke around the site some more.

Now I get what this Pro Mix is. It's base is the same as MG, then they add different things to it and sell it as different mixes. They sell the base, then the next step up, and so on....all the way up to the super duper variety that has everything imaginable added to it, I think even bloom booster stuff. Sorry, but I think that's going a bit overboard....

I think at that point you're not even raising nice plants, or being a good gardener...you're just a chemist apply the right stuff at the right time. I don't mean to offend, but when is enough enough? Check out this page to see what I mean...and disagree if you want, it's ok. http://www.premierhort.com/eProMix/Gardening/fGardening.htm

I don't think I even want to go that far w/ this test. What they show on that page must be their ultimate, mega mix...whatever they call it. I'm certain a plant would do great in that stuff, how couldn't it? It's almost like genetically engineering it...to me, anyway.

And, guys, if that's what we're up against in these ads and nursery growers...forget it. I love gardening and my plants, but I'm not doing that. Maybe my thinking is wrong on this, maybe I'm making a long rant about nothing and making a fool of myself, but somehow I see this as cheating and wrong.

If I'm wrong, convince me otherwise.

Heather - I checked out the Pro Mix link and from there the 'Ultimate Seeding Mixture' with some added fert to improve growth and yeilds. When I started my seeds this year I just used an organic seedstarting/potting mix from the hardware store and Jiffypellets. My seedlings have only been growing for a month(some not even that long) at the most and I'm VERY impressed with their size and growth rate! If I don't really check on them for a day, I can see how much they've grown next time I look. Haven't even fertilized yet either, just hose water. It shows to me how important good soil is and that soil can be good without all that added stuff.

Steve

Exactly Steve. Thank you for not thinking I'm totally flipped for saying what I did. I just think it's too much. I can see adding some of this or that, but I don't think you need to add some of every single thing you can! Adding some phosphate to the seed starting mix for better root growth is fine, IMHO...even adding some ferts. But, c'mon!

Because the link I posted seems to not take you to the page I wanted it to here's some info...they are adding to this potting soil:
a fert that releases quickly
a fert that releases slowly over 9 months
a bloom booster
root builders
Things to "improve resistance to root diseases"
water absorbing gels/crystals
pH balancers

All that just seems excessive beyond excessive to me. It's overkill. I would wonder if it'd actually kill some plants w/ too much?

I wouldn't mind using some of those things, but you've got to stop somewhere...

Like I mentioned earlier, I haven't even fertilized my seedlings yet and they're growing like mad. I've never even used any of those things that are on your list of whats in the soil except like MG and a free sample I got once of slow release fert.........which didn't even work. I can still see it in the dirt of some of the house plants. And besides, do most of our outdoor containers even remain planted for 9 months? I would like to try the water absorbing gels/crystals sometime though.

Steve

Hi Steve (sw_gardener), Thanks for the welcome...In answer to your question, my self watering pots hold about 1 1/2 gallons of water at the bottom. I put in the recommended amount of Bloom Plus every time I fill up the reservoir at the base, I believe it is a tablespoon per gallon. In the beginning of summer, that is about 2x a week, when it gets warmer, more often. Hope that answers your question. Also, I have used the absorbing gel you referred to in pots and in the ground, works really well. Just remember to let them soak up some water in a bowl, container before you use them though. You will be able to see how big they get and this will help you to avoid overuse and cause your plants to rot. The gel (I use SoilMoist) is a must for terra cotta planters, especially when they are in full sun. Hope this helps.

Gardenbeads - Yes, thank-you that answers my question :) I'm going to get some of the water gel to put in 2 clay planters I have that sit on the pavement in hot sun most of the day. They always dry out ALOT. And I never even thought about putting it in the ground, but it's a really good idea, especially for newly planted perennials probably.

Heather - I have to confess.............I've never really mixed my own soil before except sometimes I mix compost and peat together for a new planting or when redoing a bed. I usually just use the pre-mixed ones. I'm sure it will still come though, I've tried many new things since I joined DG.

Steve

Replace the clay planters. I potted up about a dozen mystery asiatics in plain clay pots and I'm just kicking myself. They need water almost daily. If I had the room, I'd sink those pots somewhere.

I bought the Premium Pro Mix for the Morning Glories. They do not like ferrtilizer. I also plan to use the Pro Mix to mix with some course sand for the potted Alstroemarias. However, I love MG and will never stop using it for my potted annuals. I personally am not aware of anything out there that can top it.

I actually just got the clay pots this year to replace old ones. The new ones are nice and marbled. From what Gardenbeads said the gel works really well and I've wanted to try it for a couple years now.

Steve

Oh, man. Maybe it's late or maybe you people are just hilarious. There have been maybe 3 threads that had me crying I was laughing so hard, you all made the list! I'm sitting here in bed, DH is sleeping, I was trying so hard to be quiet but my silent laughing was shaking the poor man. LOL -- oh, man. Sorry to bring it up again, Heather, but did you all read the comment from the bone-crushing thread

LOL Beaker, I'm sorry to laugh, but as I was reading the contents of the Pro Mix I just kept thinking, "This stuff would be the worst thing in the world for Morning Glories." I fought the overfertilizing battle with them for a few years now and didn't realize that's what it was. Good luck w/ them!

We need to come up with something of our own that is a makeshift water crystal. I really don't want to try this one myself!! I accidentally left a bowl of water crystals out overnight and it rained. Man, did those puppies swell up! I don't know what to do w/ them now. Do they ever shrink or dehydrate? They look like lime Jell-O. Mine are very old, but I guess they are still good!

Poor, poor Spot. I had almost wiped the images of those cave men from my mind...

I wonder if I apply the water crystals to just the right area of my brain if they'll suck out those images? ....and if they do, will you be able to see the image in the expanded water crystal? There's something to think about as you drift off to sleep Hosta.........

LOL :) I'll watch the thread w/ interest, Heather. Good night :)

Huga :)

Hugahosta - I'm glad you find something amusing about our crazy thread....and now I seem to be finding this thread funny. It must be because, like you, I'm tired....so please don't mind if my comment doesn't make sense :)

Heather - I think heard coconut fiber can be used like the water gel to hold moisture....although I would imagine it couldn't hold as much water.
If we tried our own maybe mix of coco fiber and peat or sphagnum?

Steve

Peat can lose it's ability to hold, or wick water over time...which is it? I can't remember. You two have me goofy now.

I've used coco fiber and sphagnum and really don't care for either. I'm really not trying to shoot you down.

I've only ever used them in the wire hanging baskets...and they dry out very rapidly.

Maybe there would be different results if they were mixed into the soil rather than exposed to the sun and air. It'd be worth trying. I have some of each on hand and could try it.

What's weird is the sphag moss I have here is blonde. The stuff I got last year was a brownish/greenish, muddied natural color. Makes me wonder if this year's stuff has been bleached or something? I'll have to double check it.

Don't worry about shooting me down, I didn't think you were and I'm too tired at the moment to get offended. I've never tried the coco or the moss in the soil myself, thats just what I've read. All the sphagnum I've ever seen is the muddy colour you mentioned, I've never seen it blond before...thats odd. I really should check the dollar store and see if they got some in again...

Steve

Maybe I'm tired. Did I miss something? Is there fertilizer in the Primium Pro Mix?

Regarding the clay pots....I have a lot of them BUT I always seal them first with Terra Cotta Sealer. I've found it at Lowe's and at most big garden centers. The stuff is great because it seals the pot yet still lets it breathe. It retains water better and it also strengthens them. It doesn't change the color and they don't get nasty like untreated ones. A bottle costs about $6.00 and does more than a dozen pots inside and out. You can also buy it online from most garden supply places.

My coco fiber-lined pots dry out rapidly. My solution is to drop them in a tub of water once or twice a week to get fully saturated. Mind you, I'm currently ion south central Florida!

Beaker - Yes, there is fert in the premium pro mix.

Chunx - I will check for the sealer. Do you think they'd have it at HD? And this is probably a stupid question....but what is Lowe's??? I've have never seen them here...

Darius - Thanks for the tip on the baskets, it's a very good idea.

Steve

Chunx, thanks for the tip.

Well, back to HD to look for a peat mix that doesn't have any fertilizer. Any brand suggestions or do I have to go back and try to read this entire thread again.

Steve, 'Lowe's' is a big box store just like Home Depot. Pretty much exactly the same as Home Depot. They must not be in Canada yet.

I've read somewhere that folks who line baskets w/ coco and sphag moss also use plastic grocery bags between the liner and the soil to help hold in water. I'm going to try that this year. I hope it works. I have about 20 of these to go up this year and although I do find watering plants to be relaxing, I don't want to have it turn into a 3 hour ordeal 4 times a week!

I'm just trying to think of anything that holds water well. I'm actually thinking of asking my neice and nephew. For some reason I have a feeling they'd know of something. LOL Don't Nerf footballs hold an incredible amount of water? I know y'all think I'm crazy right now, but that's ok. I'd think a Nerf would be inert.

Beaker, the basic Pro Mix doesn't have fert in it. Other than that I'd look at the prices, the cheaper stuff usually doesn't have ferts. Then read the labels...they have to list what's in it.

Hello everyone, I have used a plastic garbage bag to line my coco liners for a hayrack that hangs on the front of my house as the hot sun blasts on it for at least 4-5 hours. The first year I did not use the bag and I had to water that thing 2-3 times a day when it was really hot. Now I also use SoilMoist gel crystals at the bottom of the bag and this works out really well for me. Also about that gel, the container states that the gel can last up to 2 years so if it is still swelling up, then it is still good. It does go back to normal size after dehydrating so if you don't use it all, you can return it to the container after that.

By the way, some of you gardeners are absolutely hilarious. I am really enjoying this as I have only been reading/responding for about 4 days now...I'm sure the best is yet to come. I love it!

This is strange.......I thought I replied to this thread earlier.......actualy never mind....I just realized I did :)
I've seen plastic bags used before to line hanging baskets, but the person who did it didn't use any moss. So all the black plastic could be seen and it wasn't very attractive.

Beaker - If you're looking for cheap soil, try the WM brand....I think it's called PlantSmart. But beware, it doesn't hold water very well and it's sort of clumpy. I didn't really like it for my plants, but morning glories might like it.

Gardenbeads - Please keep reading/responding. The more the merrier!!!

Steve

I use baby diapers to line my pots and they sure hold lots of water..!!Wet them tho first cause they will puff up..!!

Baby diapers! That's actually a great idea, although hilarious! I could see how that could really work. Great idea, thank you, Loretta! I'm going to try that this year. Oh, sheesh, now I'm going to end up doing an experiment w/ testing differnt things to hold water in lined wire baskets. What are y'all turning me into? I could really do this test easily tho, I have about 12 lined baskets to go up, they'll all be getting new 'blonde' sphag moss this year.

When you use the garbage bag or plastic bag to line them do you put small holes in the bottom of the bag? I know that's a stupid question. You'd have to, right? Otherwise wouldn't the water just sit in there and get really icky and cause rot? Or, what am I missing? Please explain to me. Thank you.

I've used really, really cheap soil too. Just add some of your own stuff to it. Mix in some peat, perlite and sand. That usually does the trick. Mix it very well in a wheelbarrow or something. These other things will improve the drainage and decrease the clumping. You can also add compost, humus, or whatever you want to feed the plants. Mix in some Osmocote for time release fert if you want it. That's basically what I'll be doing to make my own MG soil. And, yes, I've learned that Morning Glories usually seem to love the cheapest soil you can give them!

Heather they work great and your plants thrive in them..At the bottom of mine I put the landscape cloth then 2 grocery plastic bags and 2 baby diapers...I soak my liners and the diapers first...The diapers have a jell in them like those water crystals...They still drain good and your plants thrive in it...I even do this when I plant stuff in the ground..I have 6 window boxes and do the same with those...Make sure you water those diapers first tho or once they get wet your plants will pop up...Ask me how I know... I did it that way last year...Do you a test and you will see how healthy your plants are how how good they grow...I use Miracle Gro potting soil and add bonemeal to it...LMK how it works out for you..!!

Let me know how the diapers work too. I don't know if I could actualy do it though. And if I did, someone I know would probably see me buying them and I'd start some sort of conspiracy. What would I say? 'Oh, I'm buying them for my window boxes'.....? I'd have to go out of town to buy them.

Steve

Heathrjoy,

Would you please post a pic of the baby diaper lined planter for us visual people?

Also, why does "water the baby diaper first" sound so hilarious?

Demstratt: What did you mean by "...make sure its wet first, or the plants will "POP UP?"

OHHHHHHHHHHHH. I figured it out! Those water absorbing pellet will SWELL UP and kick your plants around!

I was all over the baqg of Premium Pro Mix yesterday and didn't see one word about fertilizer. Do I need to go to a company website to find this info out?

I can't remember who, but someone out there is experimenting with (ahem,...very quitely now) feminine products. I was laughing so hard on that thread, I really thought I was going to lose it. I was wondering if potting plants was something I would have to do in the privacy of my home instead of out on the back steps. I never did hear how it turned out, but the gal who was doing this did post that she used the products successfully on a leaky toilet.

And have you seen the feminie products sporting "wings?" Your hanging baskets will simply take off!

Those could be used too..just make sure when your planting them you don't have a delivery as I did...Had them laying all out for him to see...That was kinda hard trying to explain that one..He just looked and grinned as to say oh sure..!!