How to Mix Your Own Potting Soil

Have you even thought of mixing your own potting soil instead of buying the expensive already mixed bag? Think of all the times you opened that pricy bag of mix and end up with large pieces of bark that were just thrown in for filler. By making your own potting soil, you will know the ingredients well and be able to adjust it for your special planting needs.

Break up Peat Moss:
Peat Moss is a natural and replenishable resource that is created when sphagnum moss is composted. This is used to retain moisture in your potting soil mixture. When you purchase this from your local gardening center it comes rather compressed, and will need to be broken up a bit with your hands. Decide how much potting soil you want to mix up in this first batch, and add half of that amount to a large container or wheel barrow.

Add Perlite:
Perlite is used in this mixture to allow your soil to drain well. Add the same amount of Perlite to your container that you added Peat Moss. Combine these two components well.

Add Dolomitic Lime:
You will now be adding Dolomitic Lime to this mixture to regulate the Ph of your potting soil mixture. Add the Dolomitic Lime at a rate of 1/2 tablespoon for each gallon of potting soil mixture you have created.

Modify Potting Soil Mixture for Cacti and Dry Climate Plants (optional):
If you have cacti or other plants that like a dryer soil, you can make this from your above mixture. To do this mix equal parts f the potting soil mixture you created in steps 1 - 3 and Perlite. This soil mixture will drain quite well for this purpose.

Modify Potting Soil Mixture for Moisture Loving Plants (optional):
You can also modify the potting soil mixture you created in steps 1 - 3 for you moisture loving plants. To create this moisture mixture, you will need to mix equal parts of the potting soil mixture you created earlier (steps 1 - 3) and Peat Moss. This will create a mixture that will retain moisture well.