by Susan Klatz Beal

Created on: February 28, 2009

Potting soils are sold everywhere. As soon as the weather starts to warm up, retailers start stocking their gardening gear and supplies. Potting soil will appear on the shelves right next to pots and other things. There are loads of different types and brands of potting soil, but potting soils may not be as great as the manufacturers would like people to believe.

Most potting soils, regardless of the brand, contain some sort of long acting fertilizer. Some soil mixes that represent themselves as moisture controlling use polymer crystals to help hold in water. The crystals work well by themselves because when put in water, they absorb the water and expand. Once they expand to full size, they will hold the water in. These crystals are great for cut flowers.

The typical potting mixes sold by grocery stores, big name retailers and most other retail establishments contain plain old dirt, but little else to amend the soil. Without the addition of any amendments, the soil will probably not drain properly and it will not be loose enough to allow air to flow through it.

Specialty soil mixes that are made for specific plant types such as African violets, orchids or cacti are actually true blends because they contain organic matter in addition to the soil. African violet mix contains a good amount of peat moss, where as orchid mixes will contain more peat moss because orchids traditionally grow in soil-less mixes. Cacti mixes also contain organic matter because that is what is needed to enable the soil to dry out completely.

Unfortunately, the specialty mixes are most often sold in small bags, and the bags tend to be more expensive than the standard potting soil that is sold in large bags. One option for anyone wishing to amend the standard potting soil that is sold everywhere is to purchase separate bags of Perlite and peat moss. When peat moss, Perlite and regular potting soil are mixed together, the result is a planting medium that is much improved over the soil alone.

Some retailers, especially specialty gardening centers may sell a commercial growers mix. The commercial mix will not contain any type of fertilizer, and it will contain a higher quality soil. Some commercial mixes may be blended with peat moss which loosens the soil, allows air to flow evenly through the soil, and also improves the drainage. If commercial growers mixes are available, choose that over the regular potting mixes that are sold everywhere.

Commercial mixes can be amended very easily. Adding peat

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