Homemade container mix questions

**checkerkitty** · 02-23-2011, 04:55 PM

Well, I've gone and caught the garden bug big time! I have lots of pots but don't want to spend major bucks filling them with potting soil. It's so very expensive. I found a couple of recipes for homemade container mix. The components are inexpensive and readily available:

South East Texas Tomato Festival Container Gardening

What is Pine Bark Fines - Container Gardening Forum - GardenWeb

Has anyone tried anything like these before? I'm going to give it a go but I wanted to see what others gardeners here thought about this. I don't see why it wouldn't work really well.

The main ingredient, pine bark fines or "soil conditioner" is really cheap:
Shop Evergreen 2 Cu. Ft. Organic Soil Conditioner at Lowes.com

I think I'm going to use this for sure to grow potatoes both in a pot and the cheap Lowes shopping bag grow bag. I also have too many tomatoes to go in the ground so I'll try them in pots, too.

Now I just need to finish cleaning the house so I can plant! YAY!

Christy

**frugalfranny** · 02-23-2011, 05:05 PM

If you are using the huge pots.........I don't fill them completely up with potting soil.........the plants need nutrients but not a whole pot of soil.

I use peanuts (the white shipping kind) to make the pots easier to move. Will fill at least 1/3 to 1/2 with peanuts.......then soil.

You can always water with a liquid fertilizer.........if you REALLY think they need it.

**MsMarieH** · 02-23-2011, 05:47 PM

(me too)

But a caution! Do NOT use the new cornstarch ones as they melt away when they get wet... LOL

**checkerkitty** · 02-23-2011, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

If you are using the huge pots.........I don't fill them completely up with potting soil.........the plants need nutrients but not a whole pot of soil.

I use peanuts (the white shipping kind) to make the pots easier to move. Will fill at least 1/3 to 1/2 with peanuts.......then soil.

You can always water with a liquid fertilizer.........if you REALLY think they need it.

That's a good idea, too! I don't think I have any peanuts around but they may be cheap to buy. The last peanuts I had were biodegradable, though. They melted with water.

**checkerkitty** · 02-23-2011, 06:07 PM

OK, hubby needs super glue from Lowes so a-pricing mix components I will go.

**pollypurebred39** · 02-23-2011, 08:06 PM

Thank You! This was EXTREMELY HELPFUL!!! I've been very concerned about the price of container gardening this year.

**checkerkitty** · 02-23-2011, 10:04 PM

I took a trip to Lowes and priced out some things. They didn't have the soil conditioner from the website in stock yet. The garden guy said it would be in within a few days. They had a 3.8 cu/ft brick of peat moss for $9.56. I am looking for a cheap supply of perlite starting tomorrow. I'll check some local feed stores and nurseries. If I can't find it cheap enough locally, I'll be using diatomaceous earth from NAPA Auto Parts as a substitute. A 25 lb bag is $6.10. It's called "Floor Dry". It apparently is more absorbent than perlite so I can probably use a little less.

Oil Dry vs perlite - Container Gardening Forum - GardenWeb

You've got to be sure to get the right part number (8822) to be sure you have the right stuff. I'm thinking I'll mix this in a clean trash can.

**frugalfranny** · 02-24-2011, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by MsMarieH

(me too)

But a caution! Do NOT use the new cornstarch ones as they melt away when they get wet... LOL

Thanks for the heads up MMH.

Trust me.........mine are so old I am sure they are not the cornstarch ones..............but glad to hear that they have started doing SOMETHING with them.

You could even use pieces of styro. from something rec'd in the mail....but more dirt would fall through.......but anything helps.

Just had a thought.................do the "corn starch" ones LOOK any different? Is there something that tells you they are 'that'???

Always good to know.........in case I get something in the mail.

**checkerkitty** · 02-24-2011, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Thanks for the heads up MMH.

Trust me.........mine are so old I am sure they are not the cornstarch ones..............but glad to hear that they have started doing SOMETHING with them.

You could even use pieces of styro. from something rec'd in the mail....but more dirt would fall through.......but anything helps.

Just had a thought.................do the "corn starch" ones LOOK any different? Is there something that tells you they are 'that'???

Always good to know.........in case I get something in the mail.

to me they did look a little different. they were kind of tan. I would just take one from the box and put in a glass of water. If it melts, put them in your compost pile! If not, you have more for your pots.

**checkerkitty** · 02-24-2011, 06:31 PM

Update of prices:

4 cu ft perlite from feed store- $18
1 40 lb bag of dolomite (lime) from nursery- $10

I should have everything for a BIG batch by Sunday.

**marlas1too** · 02-25-2011, 04:18 PM

besides living in orchard area there is also horse,cow,beef and goat/lama farms all over around here and they will just give the stall cleanings for free i like horse as they use sawdust and ill go and get some goat to mix together--i raise potatos in cut down plactic 55 gallon barrels and when they are emptyed i just put the mix into the garden for next year---when you use a cut down barrel just drill holes around the bottom about 2 inches from the bottom so they drain but will leave a little water so the plants will always have water on their roots