I've been using Miracle Grow soil this year for my peppers since my usual ProMix wasn't available. Normally, my garden thrives, but this year has been a disaster. Every single bed and bucket I used the Miracle Grow in is now overrun with Stinging Nettle, which I've never seen before in my area. On top of that, I've got a serious aphid infestation that's out of control! I'm not sure if they came with the soil or if the nettle attracted them, but they're everywhere—crawling on me as I tend to the garden. I've never had such an awful experience in the six years I've been gardening. I'm just feeling frustrated and wanted to know if anyone else has faced similar issues with Miracle Grow or if I'm just blaming the soil for my bad luck?
3 Answers
I've been using Miracle Grow for years and don't usually have pest issues, but it’s pretty dense. I mix it with peat moss to help with that. You might want to try diluting it or switching to a lighter mix. Hang in there; it can be tough out there in the garden!
Yeah, definitely experiment with the mix! Sometimes it just takes a little tweak to make a big difference.
I switched from Miracle Grow to ProMix years ago, and I noticed all my problems just disappeared. ProMix has always worked well for me without the pest issues. It might be a good idea to make that switch if you can!
I’ve heard some complaints about Miracle Grow soil, particularly with fungus gnats. Never had aphids with it myself, but it sounds like your soil might be holding onto more pests than usual. It could be worth looking into some different potting soil next season! Good luck with pest control!
That makes sense! I didn't think about mixing it. Maybe I should give it another shot with some changes.