Tplant
I got 2 more earthboxes because my first ones did real well.
This morning I went to three different stores including Lowes and Home depot to get the potting mix, everything labeled poting mix had fertilizer in it. Doesn't anyone make the plain stuff anymore. I thought that if it had fert added it was no longer potting mix. Have you seen this problem. I ask this on another thread but it was not real current.
Annie
is it really potting mix?
No, it's still potting mix regardless of whether it has fertilizer in it or not. I think there are places to get plain stuff but it's definitely less common. Hopefully someone will come along and have some ideas...I suspect the Earthbox website would probably have a few suggestions or might even sell one that's designed to work with the EB's.
Walmart has plain stuff as well as the Dollar Tree.
Thanks. I will try WalMart when I go there next. Lowes and Home depot are just a quarter of a mile from here but Wal Mart is about 15, It didn't use to matter, if I wanted something from Wal Mart I just went and got it. But with gas high and we're retired it does make a difference now, The stuff at Lowes was on sell so I think I will start with it. Don't have a dollar tree wish we did .
Ah ha ! Someone found it without fertilizer ! I've been looking too, and with the same results.
What was the brand name on the one you found at Wal-Mart ?
I've looked several times at my local Wal-Mart, but haven't seen it.
Maybe I just don't know what I'm looking for.
Also, what size bag did it take to fill your Earthbox ? I have 2 that I need to fill. I know that Miracle Grow makes a 64 quart sized bag, but it has 3 months fertilizer in it also. It's around $ 11.99 at Lowes. I don't know how much I need to buy for 2 EB's.
I would think the one without fertilizer might be a little less expensive.
I had both my earthboxes last summer, but just never got around to buying the potting mix to fill them. After spending $ 80.00 on 2 EB's,
I had to wait to fill them, and then summer got away before I ever got it done.
This year, money is still an issue, so I need to go the least expensive way. Anyone have any helpful ideas what brand, what store, and how many (quarts) I will need? Where did some of you find your best deals on the potting mix without soil or fertilizer in it ?
Also, I'd like to know how much the ones are at Dollar Tree, and what size bags they are, if anyone knows. I can drive into Tulsa where there are Dollar Tree stores, if the price is right. But gas isn't cheap either nowdays. Thanks for any helpful suggestions.
This message was edited Mar 29, 2008 11:44 PM
The soil from the Dollar Tree was "All American." They are 8 lb bags. I only saw 1 twig. Thats not a lot of soil for the price, but it was raining & I was already there! The soil at Walmart was in a red bag. I already used it so I don't know the name. It was a twenty pound bag & it was around $2.
The amt of fert in these soils is so little that it hardly counts. They can't /won't put a large amt of fert in because if they do: it will burn small seedlings and they will get bad press review etc and it costs too much-slow release fert is not cheap.
here is an example of what I am talking about. I transplant very small seedlings into soiless mix with a starter fert and am fertilizing right away with fert. If there was a large/significent amt in there, i promise you that I would have killed the seedlings. I never have.
I also have done PH/EC readings on new bags before I use it and the EC reading (the amt of fert in the medium) is alwasy very small.
Thanks tigerlily for the info. Tplant said on another thread that they didn't have much fertilizer in them. So I went ahead and got some but it is always nice to have a second opinion and additional information
Annie
Thank you to each of you. The information is helpful. I can't wait to set up my EB's. :-))
Our local Walmart, Home Depot and Lowe's all have "off-brands" of potting soil with no fertilizer added. Miracle Gro and other big name brands usually advertise that fertilizer is mixed in with theirs. I find the off-brands just as useable as the much more expensive ones. Just make sure they include lots of organic matter. If you just have to use Miracle Gro, mix it half and half with the cheaper brands and make it go further. The only potting mix I have found locally that is unacceptable is HYPONEX. It contains large amounts of ashes, which are inert, and drains poorly. If you plant with your bare hands, they will be black from the soot if you use HYPONEX. Our Walmart carries that brand, although they have other brands that are quite serviceable.
I really like the Fafard mixes. Only one place out here carries them but I go out of my way to buy them there.
I like Pro-Mix, I'm sick of seeing all these "specialty" mixes personally.
We use Pro Mix for all our seeds downstairs, under lights. We grow 1,200 to 1,500 each year. Once the plants go outside many are directly in the vegetable garden but the others, used for containers, do get the royal treatment with the Fafard mixes. The company is 80 years old so it's not some fly by night operation. Here's an interesting comparison of Fafard and Miracle Gro: http://www.fafard.com/index.asp?p=792
I got my first Earth box last week, can't wait to try it out. I'll probably get a second one soon as well.
Pro-mix will be going in them.
Why is that, Tommy? Such a strong statement . . . Why are you sick of discussions about special soils?
Al
Personally I think the discussions of special mixes are worthwhile. I think it's great knowledge that gets shared in those discussions. Many people will choose to use the pre-made mixes anyway and if that works for you there's nothing wrong with it but there's no reason why other people shouldn't be allowed to discuss the mixes that work best for them.
I like to control my own additives. I just don't care for the added fertilizers, moisture control stuff,etc. Pro-Mix (IMHO) beats them all. It's just right a mix for me. Not heavy, not too light. It's not the discussions I'm sick of! Don't get me wrong!
Speaking only from my own experience I strongly advise one to use only "container mix" and stay far away from anything that says SOIL on their label as it will hold to much water and actually drown the roots. Considering you will be using this same mix for the next four to five years it pays to buy the very best quality mix such as Miracle Grow, Jungle Growth, Sta-Green etc. Don't worry about the fertilizer as their are only trace amounts in them. Another very important fact is to stay away from "Miracle Gro Organic Mix" as it states on the back of the bag "Not For Containers" and an EB is definetly a container. Sorry to come in so late on the input but I just noticed it today!!
Golly, Tplant. If we go by that suggestion, we couldn't use anything that says "Container Soil" on the bag; and we couldn't use any of the container soils I've recommended. After all, it's not what you call the medium you set your plants in, it's what it's made of and how it performs that's of importance. Besides, ALL container mixes are soils.
Some soils are highly inappropriate for use in containers, and some are excellent. I think that rather than relying on what we've already seen to be arbitrary wording on the bags, we should develop a good sense of what an appropriate soil might look and feel like. You can start by asking yourself the question: "Will it retain it's structure and remain well aerated for as long as I intend to grow in it?" If the answer is YES, it's appropriate, no matter what it says on the bag. If it's NO, you'd better know how to amend it to come up with a yes, or avoid it altogether.
I really can't agree with the assumption that bagged soils will be serviceable for 4-5 years. I'd easily make the case that most peat-based soils are well on the way to collapse before the term of a single growth cycle and will probably be wholly inappropriate from a plant's perspective w/o substantial amendment in the subsequent growth period.
Al
Al -- Every season I have to add additional mix in my EBs as it does break down as you imply. My mix is in operation all year as we don't really have a winter. When I prepare my EBs for a new crop I also start all over just like it was brand new by adding the dolomite and fertilizer strip being sure to remove the old fertilizer. As far as mix versus soil. The potting soil in my area, Miracle-Gro potting soil included, contains to much sandy soil and not good for EBs. However, if it works for you then you have a brand unknown my area? Different areas have different labels. I wish I had Farfard available in my area. Earthbox people have a list of preferred brands. However I am talking about use in earthbox containers only. Whether you call it mix or soil take some of the product put it in a bucket, soak it thoroughly and then drain it. Make a ball in your hand and then tap it lightly. If it seems very loose it is OK. If it still remains solid don't use it as it will smoother the roots. Use whatever you think is best. Experience and results are the best teachers. If it works for you then don't change it!