Is there a difference between potting soil and

Potting soil is lighter, mostly composed of peat moss with some other stuff like pearlite mixed in. It’s primarily used for growing stuff in containers. I have (had?) a really pretty montevilla plant from last summer that I wanted to save so I repotted it in a bigger pot and brought it inside hoping I could overwinter it indoors. I used potting soil to fill the pot and I kind of wish I wouldn’t have because that soil is so light and doesn’t hold water very well at all. Every time I water that plant all the water goes straight through and into the tray at the bottom, and I think it died anyway. 🙄 😕

I bought some potting soil last year that was for raised gardens and it had chunks of wood in it and was really dense. I'm sure that's why some of my plants died because it choked them out.

I haven't decided if I'm doing a garden or not this year but I'll be using the finer Miracle Grow if I do.

When potting soil dries completely out, it is hard to get it rehydrated. It is best to water from the 'bottom up' - if your saucer under your plant is big enough, fill it with water and let it soak up. You may need to add more water to completely get it rehydrated. You can also add water storing crystals to keep your plants hydrated, but you need to have a regular watering/feeding schedule to keep a plant alive and thriving. Letting it get as dry as a popcorn fart, then watering it does not bode well for the plant, I know from experience! LOL I try to pick a day of the week that I know I will be home and set it to my routine.
Cheaper potting soils usually have a lot of filler in them that isn't great. I like Miracle Grow potting soil. It has the timed release fertilizer in it, which is GREAT STUFF! I reuse my outdoor potting soil, so I add the timed release to it every year.

This is what I add for water retention. There are other brands that work great too. I know some use the water beads, but I am not so crazy about having those around with grandkids and pets. The water crystals are smaller and do not expand to large bead sizes. They are awesome to keep the pots hydrated though. I generally water my outdoor plants every day during the summer heat and twice a day if it is hot and windy - but these keep them moist in case I can't get to them:


Use timed release fertilizer when potting plants, for indoor or outdoor. The difference between using this and not is astounding! I still do use some water soluable fertilizer about once a week in the summer for my flower outdoor plants, just to get that HUGE bloom going.


It doesn't have to be this brand, but this is my go-to.

These two things can really improve potting soil that you use over again or cheaper potting soils.

edie3. Happy belated bday!

Garden soil is its own branch of science, but you can break it down into a few basic components - food, water retention, drainage, pH adjustment and organics. All our garden beds and pots start with similar mixes - compost, sand, peat moss and our native clay soil, plus bonemeal and bloodmeal.

The premade store bags are rarely ideal on their own, you have to tailor your mix to the plant's needs and whatever's in the ground.

This is so interesting. All the information I need!

This was a brand new bag so it wasn’t totally dried out when I potted the plant. The saucer is big but it has some pretty deep ridges in it so I think it’s not a great fit for the pot to allow the plant to soak up water from the bottom. My husband (the resident green thumb) has a watering schedule for all the plants so he’s been watering it but the thing still looks deader than a doornail. It was only a $7 plant but it got so full of blooms and pretty I wanted to save it.