Making Potting Soil

June 5, 2009

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.

Del

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!!!
Mike Lieberman

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.
Meghan

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

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.