Making Potting Soil

In a previous post, I explained the basic differences between coconut coir and peat moss based potting soils. Now I am going to show you how to make your own potting soil using a peat moss base.

Here’s what you need to make your own organic potting soil:

Sphagnum peat moss – holds water and air; provides little nutriton

Vermiculite – provides minerals (potassium, calcium and magnesium)

Garden lime – provides minerals (calcium) and balances acidity of peat moss

Compost – provides the lion share of the nutrition to the plants

Large bin to mix it all in. Watch the video and you’ll know why you’ll need to use a large bin.

To mix it:

Add the mixture at a close 1:1:1 ratio of the peat moss: vermiculite: garden lime. You definitely want peat moss to be the dominant ingredient. Mix well.

Now that you have the peat moss mixture, add an equal part of compost. Mix well.

Add some water to dampen the mixture. Don’t want to saturate it. Mix well.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nbTWGoxJjs

Meghan June 7, 2009 at 3:39 pm -

I love that you do your gardening outside- but mix up potting soil inside… and that you are mixing it yourself is taking it to a whole new level of home grown. I love it Mike!
Mike Lieberman June 7, 2009 at 4:20 pm -

Thanks Meghan. I did little reading before starting all of this and in the little reading that I did, there was conflicting info. So I figured do both…screw it. Let me learn on my own. I quickly learned not to mix potting soil in a 4 gallon bucket that's painted green and pink stripes…bad move.
Del June 13, 2009 at 6:27 pm -

Mike, When wetting your mixture, all a little Ivory Soap to your water. (I just swish a bar of soap in the water bucket or a couple of drops of liquid Ivory). The soap is a “wetting” agent that will make the soil soak up the water quickly. Looks good!!!
John L June 15, 2009 at 11:09 am -

Great blog post! I love learning about this online as gardening/landscaping are not only hobbies of mine but I actually do a little bit of work like that during the summer months as a second job. I appreciate your content in your blog and wish that you would keep up the good work 🙂
Mike Lieberman June 15, 2009 at 6:25 pm -

Thanks for the tip. I might use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap instead. Would want to stay away from the chemicals in the Ivory Soap.
Mike Lieberman June 16, 2009 at 1:25 am -

Thanks for the tip. I might use Dr. Bronner's liquid soap instead. Would want to stay away from the chemicals in the Ivory Soap.
Jamie Banister January 11, 2012 at 11:02 am -

This is exactly the article that I’ve been hoping to find. I’m just getting started with gardening. Will I be able to find all these ingredients for the soil at my local nursery (or maybe at a bigger place like Home Depot)? I can’t make my own compost in the place where I live.
Mike Lieberman January 11, 2012 at 1:40 pm -

You should be able to find them at your local nursery. Personally I’d stay away from Home Depot as they mostly sell Miracle-Gro and Scott’s products.
Powerser May 15, 2012 at 10:09 pm -

Hey Mike, any idea how much these materials will cost me?
Mike Lieberman May 16, 2012 at 10:14 am -

Depends on where you get them.
Limey September 2, 2012 at 12:49 pm -

Am I reading 1:1:1 peat:vermiculite:lime?
Same volume lime, as peat moss? That is an incredible amount of lime!!! Burn your hands off, let alone the plants. I think about 1 cup lime per cubic feet of final soil mix is plenty, is that a mistake or is there some reasoning? I don’t want anyone to make the mistake if it’s avoidable 🙂