6 DIY potting soil recipes
General potting soil recipe for flowers, tropicals, and vegetables
6 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber
4.5 gallons perlite
6 gallons compost
1/4 cup lime (if using peat moss)
1 & 1/2 cup of the DIY container fertilizer blend found below OR 1 & 1/2 cups of any granular, complete, organic fertilizer.
DIY container fertilizer blend:
Mix together
2 cups
rock phosphate
2 cups
greensand
½ cup
bone meal
¼ cup
kelp meal
Potting soil recipe for potted trees and shrubs
3 gallons compost
2.5 gallons coarse sand
3 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber
2.5 gallons composted pine bark
3 gallons perlite
2 TBSP of lime (if using peat moss)
1 cup granular, organic fertilizer (or 1 cup of the DIY container fertilizer blend found above)
1/4 cup organic
cottonseed meal, if growing acid-loving trees and shrubs
Potting soil recipe for succulents and cactus
3 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber
1 gallon perlite
1 gallon vermiculite
2 gallons coarse sand
2 TBSP lime (if using peat moss)
Potting soil recipe for seed starting
2 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber
2 gallons vermiculite
1 gallon coarse sand
3 TBSP lime (if using peat moss)
Seed-starting mixes are lighter and finer in texture. Vermiculite is a better choice than perlite due to its smaller particle size.
Homemade potting soil for transplanting seedlings
2 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber
2 gallons vermiculite
1 gallon finely screened compost
3 TBSP lime (if using peat moss)
2 TBSP granular, organic fertilizer (or 2 TBSP of the DIY container fertilizer blend found above)
Potting soil recipe for houseplants
2 gallons sphagnum peat moss or coir fiber
1.5 gallons perlite
2 cups coarse sand
3 TBSP lime (if using peat moss)
2 TBSP granular, organic fertilizer (or 2 TBSP of the DIY container fertilizer blend found above
