Potting soil mix
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Several potting soil recipes from compost, topsoil and sand to peat-based blends, with how to sterilize the soil.
What You’ll Need
Soil-based mix (heavier than peat mixes, drains well; vermiculite or perlite can replace the sand)
- 1/3 compost
- 1/3 topsoil
- 1/3 sand
Foliage plants (peat-based), either
- 2 parts peat; 1 part perlite; 1 part coarse sand
- OR 1 part peat; 1 part pine bark; 1 part coarse sand
Blocking mix (for soil blocks for seedlings/transplants)
- 30 quarts brown peat
- 20 quarts sand or perlite
- 20 quarts compost
- 10 quarts soil
- 3 cups base fertilizer (equal parts blood meal, colloidal phosphate, greensand)
- 1/2 cup lime
Equipment
- baking sheet
Directions
- If you are using topsoil or soil, sterilize it first: spread it in a tray and bake at 200 F for twenty minutes, stirring every five minutes.
- Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly. (For the blocking mix, a standard 10-quart bucket works as the measure.)
Notes
A bromeliad mix: 1 part peat; 1 part bark; 1 part coarse sand. A seedling mix: 2 parts compost; 2 parts peat moss; 1 part pre-wet vermiculite (handle vermiculite gently so it doesn’t compact).
Safety: Wear gloves and a dust mask with dry peat, perlite, lime, and blood meal; moisten dusty ingredients first. Lime and blood meal irritate skin and eyes. Blood meal attracts dogs, who may dig or eat it; store fertilizers out of reach of pets and kids. Ventilate when baking soil.