Potting Mix vs. Potting Soil

[stephen12]

yeah whatever one has the white Styrofoam will work 

[kathy]

yeah whatever one has the white Styrofoam will work  

Stephen12, this response makes no sense, and never do we mention the styrofoam as a good amendment in potting mix. Kissell, in my opinion, yes a lot more peat moss and perlite would help, I would not add bark, unless you have a way of grinding it up? If you are talking about the bagged bark sold in garden centers/home centers for mulch, this would not be a suitable soil amendment.

[stephen12]

um......okay? i was just giving my opinion. the on ewith the white styrofoam has worked for me. 

[kathy]

I pulled a pjdutche too!

pjdutche how did that work out for you?  Cause I did the same thing...

Actually, I thought potting mix was soil-based...  that the word "mix" indicated it was soil with things like peat moss and perlite mixed into it.  So since 3 cubic feet of peat moss was $10 and potting mix was ridiculously expensive, I decided to make my own.  I had about 50% peat moss, 20% soil, 20% manure, and 10% perlite in my mix, loaded up several boxes, then came across this thread...  

I was thinking about digging out my wet mix from the containers and adding a bunch more peat moss and perlite and maybe some bark to the mix to bring the soil and manure content down to 20% total instead of 20% each...  but I'd like to know if that worked out for pjdutche or anyone else.  Is some soil acceptable?  will it work?  or shut I throw it all away and start over with a completely soil-less mix?

People  You have got to watch the dates on these posts, you are asking pjdutche a question and they have not been on here for a long long time...I did answer you question in my previous post, however. So watch the dates of the posts, and watch the repsonses, there are newbies, that want to be helpful, that don't always have the correct answers....

[kathy]

um......okay? i was just giving my opinion. the on ewith the white styrofoam has worked for me.  

Stephen  My point being giving your opinion on what? Kissell's questions, were specific on what to do to amend the stuff she had, and the other posts about soil/potting mix were ancient. Please, I am trying to be kind here, please pay attention to the date of posts, and please don't post for the sake of posting...I have had 3 private messages already about "roping you in a bit"

[cnbmre]

I find the potting mix at a nursery that grows their own plants for sale, it is what
they use for all their plants.   The bag is large but what I don't use keeps for the
next year.

[writeone]

I find the potting mix at a nursery that grows their own plants for sale, it is what
they use for all their plants.   The bag is large but what I don't use keeps for the
next year.

Are they Earth Box growers? If not, it's not the same thing.

Stephen, We all start out with a huge learning curve. Earth Box is not the same as other planters, thus we defer to the seasoned EB gardeners. We don't care about "hero" status when there is little experience behind it.

I've had hero status for a long time, but I'm only in my second year of EB use.  If I give advice, it's the same advice a seasoned gardener gave me when I had the same question.

Some of us will experiment with something that deviates from the standard EB protocol, but those who do explain the deviation and details about why they are experimenting.

Just relax and enjoy the EB forum as a learner. Most of us are more learners than experts. There are only a handful of experts. It's their years of experience, rather than the number of posts, that give them their status.

Your fellow learner,
WriteOne

[mjb8743]

I find the potting mix at a nursery that grows their own plants for sale, it is what
they use for all their plants.   The bag is large but what I don't use keeps for the
next year.

Are they Earth Box growers? If not, it's not the same thing.

Not necessarily true... my local nursery grows their own plants, and their mix looks just like the Pro-mix. This year they're experimenting by adding rice hulls to the mix. I know by the look and feel that it would be ideal in the EB. They sell a few EBs, but don't use them.

If you want to buy mix from your local nursery, look at it and feel it. You will know if it feels right.

Mickie

[writeone]

I miss communicated. I meant to say that just because it works on all their plants doesn't mean it will work in Eb's. I have no way of knowing that it will not work.

I like your suggestion about noting the texture. I'd have compared ingredients. Sorry for the short, unclear post.

[movrshakr]

I think I'd go with ingredients list as primary, and sometimes that's all you have if mix is in sealed bags, with feel/texture as secondary.  But you certainly can tell quite a bit by the feel.  Amount of water in it at the time will make a big difference though.

[gardendoc]

A potting substrate that works well in traditional containers will work well in EBs. The physical characteristics of the potting substrate are the same whether watering from the top or sub irrigating from the bottom

[stephen12]

@kathy........why are you only criticizing me? other people posted here recently and just because this is an old post doesn't mean other people wouldn't want to look at it??

[Dace]

Hey Stephan.....why don't you go over to the Introductions page and introduce your self to the group? That is a great way to get to know folks here and let folks get to know you :-)

I think that Kathy is reprimanding you because you are giving advice on something that you do not seem to be well educated on. There is not styrofoam in potting mix for example.

Why dont you launch a couple posts in Intros amd My Earthbox with some info about yourself and some pics of your boxes? That would likely stimulate some good conversation here with the other members.

[writeone]

Hey Stephan.....why don't you go over to the Introductions page and introduce your self to the group? That is a great way to get to know folks here and let folks get to know you :-)

I think that Kathy is reprimanding you because you are giving advice on something that you do not seem to be well educated on. There is not styrofoam in potting mix for example.

Why dont you launch a couple posts in Intros amd My Earthbox with some info about yourself and some pics of your boxes? That would likely stimulate some good conversation here with the other members.

I agree. We look forward to getting to know you better, Stephen.

Also note that the context and content of what is written in response to an old post makes all the difference. Depending on that, it can be confusing or not. Also, some of the old post have incorrect information, as the EB science has progressed since then.

Kathy's job is to help the forum run smoothly, avoid confusions, and help members have the best outcome with their EB experience. And though she doesn't like coming off as a tough mama, that's what she has to do sometimes.

It's nothing personal. She had to reel me in a time or two as well. Just stick with us, pay attention, and you'll grow into the flow of the forum. It's a terrific place to learn and share once you understand how it works.

This is one of the few forums that has paid professionals overseeing it. Kathy is the main EB professional on-line. Her presence here is Earth Box's gift to it's gardeners and a great marketing tool to help sell their products.

Let's take more time to get to know each other as Dace suggested.

[stephen12]

okay thanks i guess i will put some stuff down..........