Potting Soil Recipe

We all know that potting soil is used in gardening and/or different planting systems to give plants a healthy, growing environment. Basically, soil isn't used as an ingredient in making the best potting soil recipe. There are only additives mixed in the soils which gives the necessary nutrients and fertilizers needed to help grow any plant. These additives also facilitate with water retention and good drainage system. Not only the plants, but the potting soil provides a better grounds for the garden and the container in which the plant is as well. Let's take a look at each recipe for potting soil that are mentioned below.

Recipe #1: Organic Mix
This is an organic soil based mix that yields heavy soil than other peat mixes and has better drainage. To reduce root diseases, compost is known to encourage healthier soil mix. You can use perlite instead of sand and add organic fertilizer on the base.

Ingredients

• 1/3 screened mature compost
• 1/3 sharp sand
• 1/3 garden topsoil

Recipe #2: Orchid Mix
Most of the orchids like phalaenopsis and oncidium can be planted with the next recipe. Although it's a very good idea to repot orchids every one or two years as it improves the health of the plants and helps them bloom.

Ingredients

• 6 parts fir bark
• 1 part peat moss
• 1 part medium grade charcoal

Recipe #3: Organic Substitute Mix
This next recipe's formula was concocted by the Farm and Garden Project from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Ingredients

• 10 lbs bone meal
• 5 lbs blood meal
• 5 lbs ground limestone
• ½ cubic yard sphagnum peat
• ½ cubic yard vermiculite

Recipe #4: Prick-out Mix
This recipe is used when you are planting seeds and then transferring them into the ground when the plant reaches its transplant size.

Ingredients

• 2 parts sand
• 2 parts aged manure
• 2 parts leaf mold
• 6 parts compost
• 3 parts soil
• 1 part pre-wet and sifted peat moss
• 1 6 inch pot bone meal

Recipe #5: Tipi Produce Mix
All plant material that comes into any gardens, nursery, or greenhouses can be grown in this mix. This next recipe works well for small and medium plug trays and can grow 1020 flats of peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, squash, cucumbers, and many flowers. You can also fertilize them two times in a week with fish and seaweed fertilizer which is dissoluble.

Ingredients

• 4 cubic ft. bales sphagnum peat moss
• 1 bag coarse vermiculite
• 1 bag coarse perlite
• 5 parts dolomitic limestone
• 10 parts kelp meal
• 10 parts blood meal
• 15 parts steamed bone meal

Recipe #6: Shade Mix
To grow plants in the shade, follow the recipe to yield an ideal soil. Cover both the humus and soil to wipe out roots, clods and formation of large rocks.

Ingredients

• 1 part humus (compost)
• 2 parts loamy soil
• 1 part sand

Recipe #7: Cacti Mix
To plant a Christmas, orchid, and any epiphytic cactus plants, take a look at this simple formula that is mentioned below.

Ingredients

• 3 parts organic potting mix
• 1 part sand
• 1 part perlite

Preparing these recipes at home is always better than buying it from the store and risking if it will work or not. Always select top quality ingredients to make the soil yourself and let your garden prosper. The only difference between a store-bought potting soil and your personal potting soil is your blossoming garden.