Potting Soil Recipe Needed

Discussion in 'HortForum' started by dgleadle, May 29, 2006.

  1. dgleadle

    dgleadle Member

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    I have just moved in to an office with a substantial outdoor balcony, and am in the process of acquiring a considerable number of large pots and planters, in which I intend to plant trees (maples, cedars) and other plants.

    I would appreciate advice on what soil recipe would be suitable for this purpose?

    Lawn Boy has a garden mix that is 75% compost and 25% sand, and I was wondering if I mixed this with a percentage of Perlite, if that would be suitable.

    Any help will be much appreciated.
     
  2. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    get a soilless mix for containers, the topsoil mixes would likely be way too heavy and wet for most containers or pots. if you have large planters or built in containers, consider soil made for greenroofs. Stream Organics in Langley has blends made just for that purpose. lightweight, free draining etc.
     
  3. bcgift52

    bcgift52 Active Member

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    I find the least compaction with Premier's Professional Mix or Pro-Mix #4 in the big black bales, with excellent drainage as well.
     
  4. jimmyq

    jimmyq Well-Known Member 10 Years

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    cost could be an issue, a yard (27 cubic feet) of soil mix from a wholesale supplier may run 30 to 40 dollars where a bale of #4 (3.8 cubic feet compressed) or equivalent may run 20 to 30 dollars itself.
     
  5. Weekend Gardener

    Weekend Gardener Active Member 10 Years

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    I use Sunshine #4 mix for all my containers, with different ammendments to adjust for improved drainage or better moisture retention. But a 3.8 cubic feet compressed bale is a lot of planting media for a balcony garden. You would have to figure out a way to store the remainder. I am not aware that it comes in "half bales", although Scot's make other Sunshine products available in half bales. I get mine from a certain hydroponic store in Vancouver - they have the best price ($20). E-mail me if you need the address. (And they also have lots of used black nursery containers for less than a quarter of the cost of new ones.) Although the initial reaction is that $20 is a lot of money for a potting mix, it is a lot of mix. It actually works out to be an economical mix in terms of cost per gallon of container.

    I add ammendments for the most needy of plants - the miniature roses. For these, I incorporate water absorbent polymer crystals, a slow release fertiliser (Osmocote), alfalfa meal, bone meal and composted shredded pine bark (which I buy in bags from the big box home improvement stores). The latter seems to improve drainage the best. For most other non-fussy plants, I just add slow release fertiliser as per manufacturer's instructions.
     
  6. dgleadle

    dgleadle Member

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    Wow, I haven't posted to forums before and am so impressed with the quick and thoughtful replies.

    My issue is that I do need quite a bit of soil, probably 3 or 4 cubic yards in my trailer, which carries only 1 yard, and 3 or 4 trips to Langley is a daunting prospect. I've done this before to a Langley Nursery and the round trip is at least an hour and a half.

    My office is on False Creek.

    Nor can I practically have the soil delivered, as it is for an office and there is no place to dump the load - I need to transfer from my trailer to a wheelbarrow.

    So, does anyone know where I might be able to get a bulk soilless mix closer to the City?
     
  7. HortLine

    HortLine Active Member 10 Years

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    It sounds like you are on the right track with your idea to mix the sand and compost blend with Perilite. You should be able to buy Perilite pretty cheap in big bags at any nursery or gardening store.

    I know someone who has been very succesful planting trees in a similar mix. They blended everything in a wheelbarrow like a big cake mix. Then water before planting, to see how the soil is draining thru to make sure the mix drains well. Make sure that the water passes through in no more than 20 minutes.

    Costco also used to sell by the bale, called "the Answer", if you are a member, you can check in see if they still do, the information is from 2002.

    However, we called Lawn Boy and they say they have a potting soil ready mix, so you can check and see if it's different than what you were planning. Otherwise, it does sound like you are on the right track.
     

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