Uhhhh Oh. So yesterday I planted some seeds...

[SDSorority]

So yesterday I planted some seeds in pots inside and outside in the ground. I'm doing a veggie garden this year with the norm- tomato, cucumber, radish, carrot, basil, lettuce, pepper... I think that's all. So I got this Miracle Grow Organic Soil mix to use in the pots and outside in the ground (2 massive bags). Well, after I had finished filling my pots with it for the inside starters, and went outside to dump the rest in my garden area, I noticed on the back of the bag it said "NOT FOR POTS".

AGH. Any idea why it's 'not for pots'? Isn't soil... well... soil, no mater if it's outside or inside?? I'm eventually going to transplant the seeds I started inside out to the garden, so the potted soil WILL be outside in a few weeks....

Can you tell I'm new to gardening???

 

[janey99]

I believe that product is to amend existing soil, which means it does not have the proper mix of ingredients to be good growing soil all by itself. My guess from looking at what it is composed of is that the particles are going to be too small/fine to ensure adequate water retention/absorption.

If you plan to transplant to the outside, just keep a close eye on watering the pots until you do. Avoid creating a soupy mess in the pots.

For the soil you've dumped outside, you should really turn it under with the first 8 inches or so of topsoil and then plant in that after you've groomed it.

Good luck and have fun!

Jane

 

[SDSorority]

I believe that product is to amend existing soil, which means it does not have the proper mix of ingredients to be good growing soil all by itself. My guess from looking at what it is composed of is that the particles are going to be too small/fine to ensure adequate water retention/absorption.

If you plan to transplant to the outside, just keep a close eye on watering the pots until you do. Avoid creating a soupy mess in the pots.

For the soil you've dumped outside, you should really turn it under with the first 8 inches or so of topsoil and then plant in that after you've groomed it.

Good luck and have fun!

Jane

Thanks Jane! I'm hoping I didn't ruin my seeds before they started!! We'll see!! I'm waiting a week or two before my next round of planting to spread out the 'harvest'... so maybe I should get some peat for the pots.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't use Miracle Grow specifically, but many outdoor blend bagged soils are intended to be mixed with the native soil to improve it. As such, they contain higher concentrations of fertilizers and nutrients based on the assumption that they'll be diluted. And as Jane said, they lack the moisture-absorbing additives present in potting soils.

Seeds really aren't terribly picky about what you start them in. I've used everything from organic seed starting blend to cheapie top soil with about the same results all around.