A soilless potting mix is preferable to using outdoor garden soil for several reasons. And there are many good soilless mixes on the market. However if you need a large quantity of mix or have a need for a special blend, it is often easier to simply create your own potting mix. Here are some basic recipes to try and to improvise with.
Basic Soilless Potting Mix
4-6 parts Sphagnum Peat Moss
1 part Perlite
1 part Vermiculite
Basic Mix with Compost
2 parts Compost
2-4 parts Sphagnum Peat Moss
1 part Perlite
1 part Vermiculite
Basic Mix with the Addition of Nutrients
Add ½ cup each per every 8 gallons of mix:
½ cup Bone Meal(Phosphorous)
½ cup Dolomitic Limestone (Raises soil pH and provides calcium and magnesium)
½ cup Blood Meal or Soybean Meal or Dried Kelp Powder (Nitrogen)
