Not all soils are the same and to help your little green pals grow best you need to determine which soil is best for them. First thing to consider is where will you to grow the plants—say, in a raised bed, in the ground or in a pot. Is it an indoor our outdoor plant. Below, we walk you through some common growing scenarios and the type of soil most appropriate for each
For containers: This applies to both indoor and outdoor plants in pots. You want to use potting soil, which is specifically formulated for pots. It is fluff, light and airy mix that ensures adequate drainage and space for roots to grow. Simply add potting soil to pots and then plant your indoor plants, annuals, flowers, small trees and shrubs directly into it. Ideally, you should replace the potting soil yearly.
For starting seeds:
We use a soilless mix. This mix is super light blends and is perfect for starting delicate seeds. We use a combination of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite, and like the name implies, does not contain organic matter (soil) that could harm tender seedlings.
For raised garden beds: You will use a raised bed blend mix on top of the native soil. Be sure to read labels carefully as some mixes need to be blended into native soil while others you can plant directly into. Be sure to add some compost (encourages earthworms to drag the compost down, plus they create super rich fertilizer while helping to aerate the soil) since it enriches and releases nutrients over an extended period of time.
In garden beds: Healthy, organic soil is the single most important ingredient for thriving, nutritious vegetables which you get by using organic compost. Your garden bed soil needs to be broken up so it is loose and fluffy (filled with air that plant roots need) and be full of health minerals and nutrients, so be sure to add lots of compost to your garden bed.
Fast draining pants: Certain types of plants such as succulents, palms, and citrus trees need fast-draining soil; these mixes ensure good drainage and prevent soil compaction because they are usually a blend of wood fiber (holds moisture), sand (drainage) and perlite (drainage and helps aerate).
