Happy frog,fox farm,pro mix,Or if ur short on cash Kellogg patio plus works well I have a few plants in it and they are doin great.The only thing is it could use a bit more perlite I didn't add any but you could..
You know its funny you say that about the deer in California.I spend alot of time in the woods and the only time iv ever fed a deer by hand was at twin lakes on the eastern sierras.The mountains where I live they just hella run.
coyote urine granules work well just spread once a month or so and they shouldn't come around.This is what My grandmother uses to keep the deer away from her garden and new pine trees..