Hey everyone! I've been struggling to find potting soil that doesn't have a ton of wood in it, and it's really messing with my seed starting indoors. For the past three years, I've had slow germination and poor growth despite using strong lights and fertilizer. I've checked almost every non-premium option at Lowes and Home Depot, but all of them seem to be filled with wood now, even Miracle-Gro! I just bought a big bag of ProMix for $140, which is peat-based, and I'm hoping it'll last until next spring's planting. Does anyone know of any affordable brands that still have solid potting soil without all the wood?
1 Answer
Yeah, I feel you! Most commercial potting soils seem to be focused more on volume than quality these days. Honestly, potting soil isn't ideal for seed starting anyway. Have you thought about using coconut coir? It’s great for seedlings but can be pricey if you have a large garden. Sometimes I sift my potting soil to get rid of the big wood chips and other nastiness, but that's a bit of a hassle. Just keep experimenting until you find what works best for you!
Coconut coir can be pretty expensive! Sphagnum peat moss is a bit cheaper, around $30-50 for a 2.2 cuft size. I've been thinking about trying just peat for starting my seeds too since using potting soil used to work well for me before. Have you considered making your own mix, or maybe using coir bricks for just your seed starting next year?