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Potting soil and grow lights #7601768
06/09/22 10:19 PM
06/09/22 10:19 PM
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,771
Amite county Mississippi
Wolfdog91 Offline OP
trapper
Wolfdog91  Offline OP
trapper

Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 11,771
Amite county Mississippi
What's everyone like as far as store bought potting soil / dirt for raised beds and the like ? We got like 30 different brands and types here at the store and I'm pretty lost , online reviews ain't helping much at all. Haven been able to make compost either so I need to just buy something for the time being
Also for y'all doing indoor gardening, what y'all like for grow lights ?
Thanks smile

Last edited by Wolfdog91; 06/09/22 10:21 PM.
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601773
06/09/22 10:24 PM
06/09/22 10:24 PM
Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
P
Providence Farm Offline
trapper
Providence Farm  Offline
trapper
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Joined: Feb 2020
Posts: 8,860
Indiana
My wife has the best luck with one called happy frog for all her starts. She has tried others when she could not find happy frog and the results were not as good.

If I had more storage I would buy a pallet for her so she does not run out

Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601774
06/09/22 10:24 PM
06/09/22 10:24 PM
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
yotetrapper30 Offline
trapper
yotetrapper30  Offline
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 16,511
Oakland, MS
I just roam the garden center and find whichever bags are busted open and half price, lol. Honestly I see no difference between the StayGreen brand and the Miracle Grow... actually I prefer the staygreen. But for raised beds I just get whatever bags are marked down.


~~Proud Ultra MAGA~~
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601775
06/09/22 10:25 PM
06/09/22 10:25 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
Marty Offline
trapper
Marty  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 20,914
North East Kansas
The local cops see you buying that stuff and they will do a no knock raid on you...


E
'Honey Badger Militia'
Sleep, the anti woke adote.
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601788
06/09/22 10:46 PM
06/09/22 10:46 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
warrior Offline
trapper
warrior  Offline
trapper

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 25,424
Georgia
No real difference here either. Just avoid the specialty types like the cactus soil.

As for grow lights I have good luck with a standard flourescent shop light using a warm and cool bulb to try to get full spectrum. If you can find a full spectrum bulb get that. You want it right on top of your starts as bright as possible. But even more important is a small fan blowing on them to toughen them up and move humidity off of the plants.


[Linked Image]
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601832
06/10/22 12:08 AM
06/10/22 12:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,790
M.T.V. Alaska
Y
yukonjeff Offline
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yukonjeff  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,790
M.T.V. Alaska
The store bought brands are full of chemicals. I wont use them. It's not hard to make your own super soil. It might cost a bit more but you can reuse it forever.

Buy a few bags of compost, I used Dr Earth compost( I think). Then a block of coco choir soaked up. Then add a few bags of earth worm castings, a bag of kelp meal, a bag of alph alpha meal. Some rock dust and sand. Some perlite. Then water it in with Epsom salts and Alo water and sit for a month.


They make some nice 1000 watt LED grow lights on Amazon that are priced reasonable now, like $50.That will cover a 4X4 space.


Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601873
06/10/22 05:29 AM
06/10/22 05:29 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
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danny clifton Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
danny clifton  Offline
"Grumpy Old Man"
D

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,750
williamsburg ks
Old castle makes a bunch of different brands. They buy black KS topsoil from construction sites and manure from dairy's thats been composted two years. Mix them together. No chemicals yukonjeff . Stuff is mixed and bagged on the S.E. side of Paola KS. Shipped all over the country . LOTs of different brand names. Look for the name Old Castle.


Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601882
06/10/22 06:06 AM
06/10/22 06:06 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,536
Sandhills Nebraska
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Gary Benson Offline
trapper
Gary Benson  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,536
Sandhills Nebraska
I do know that MIracle Gro potting mix is the most expensive on the market because of the popular name. I avoid it for sure. I buy what is cheapest.


Life ain't supposed to be easy.
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601891
06/10/22 06:33 AM
06/10/22 06:33 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
330-Trapper Offline

trapper
330-Trapper  Offline

trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 62,658
Minnesota
Usually miracle grow.


NRA and NTA Life Member
www.BackroadsRevised@etsy.com




Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601912
06/10/22 07:13 AM
06/10/22 07:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
N
nyhuntfish Offline
trapper
nyhuntfish  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
Originally Posted by Wolfdog91
What's everyone like as far as store bought potting soil / dirt for raised beds and the like ? We got like 30 different brands and types here at the store and I'm pretty lost , online reviews ain't helping much at all. Haven been able to make compost either so I need to just buy something for the time being
Also for y'all doing indoor gardening, what y'all like for grow lights ?
Thanks smile


On dirt... I have sifted all my own dirt for my combination of raised beds and in-ground beds. Probably overkill but I did it. If you have dirt or rocks-with-dirt like we do in NY, it really works. Let me know if you want to see my sifter and I'll take a picture this weekend. It's a manual sifter but I'm sure you could build something nice especially since I know you weld and made those nice box traps.

I've been "building soil" for years now. I make all my own compost too (in pallets that were only "HT" stamped). I mostly follow MIGardener on youtube. He has changed my life. You're in the south but I'm sure his advice works everywhere.

Also: I remember once calling the MIGardener store in MI and asking the cheapest way to get the dirt for raised beds and they told me. I forgot what it was though. Call them and ask, they have a trick. I think he uses all compost but there is some cheap way. https://migardener.com/pages/contact-us


Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601980
06/10/22 08:46 AM
06/10/22 08:46 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Online content
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Online Content
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G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
do you have the low cost bags of composted cow manuer?

for seed starter I mix composted manure bags with peat moss and it works well I use my cement mixer and mix up a bunch and store it in bukets with lids till I need it again.



you can also put wood and stuff in to cut down on the volume you need to fil for a raised bed branches , wood chips , it will all break down eventually


I have used all compost before for a raised bed and stuff grew very well

you may want to try bag gardening if you have to buy your soil


Last edited by GREENCOUNTYPETE; 06/10/22 08:51 AM.

America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: GREENCOUNTYPETE] #7601982
06/10/22 08:57 AM
06/10/22 08:57 AM
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
N
nyhuntfish Offline
trapper
nyhuntfish  Offline
trapper
N

Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 1,099
New York
Greencountypete's response made me thing of something:

Do you have a "Cooperative extension" associated with a university? Like in NY we have the "Cornell Cooperative Extension."

If so, call them and ask what farms might have organic cow manure (I know, all manure is technically organic but they'll like this statement).

Then call the farmer and ask if you can get rid of it for him and tell him what you are trying to do of course. I did this. It worked. Try it. Unlimited. And you'll often get it from grass fed cows based on your request.



Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7601986
06/10/22 09:05 AM
06/10/22 09:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Online content
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Online Content
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G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
another video for you



America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: nyhuntfish] #7602000
06/10/22 09:32 AM
06/10/22 09:32 AM
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
G
GREENCOUNTYPETE Online content
trapper
GREENCOUNTYPETE  Online Content
trapper
G

Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 18,374
Green County Wisconsin
Originally Posted by nyhuntfish
Greencountypete's response made me thing of something:

Do you have a "Cooperative extension" associated with a university? Like in NY we have the "Cornell Cooperative Extension."

If so, call them and ask what farms might have organic cow manure (I know, all manure is technically organic but they'll like this statement).

Then call the farmer and ask if you can get rid of it for him and tell him what you are trying to do of course. I did this. It worked. Try it. Unlimited. And you'll often get it from grass fed cows based on your request.




horse farm are good often they just keep piling it up so it gets composted and you can just go pull the weeds off the old side of the pile and start digging and fill your truck

I got trailer loads from a horse farm not far away

now if they will move it with the end loader for you then you really are doing well


America only has one issue, we have a Responsibility crisis and everything else stems from it.
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7602026
06/10/22 10:00 AM
06/10/22 10:00 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,457
ny
G
gcs Offline
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gcs  Offline
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G

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,457
ny
Look up hugelkultur, it may help in filling a lot of raised beds.
basically, you put logs, branches, leaves, etc in a pile, or bed then top it with soil, and or compost and plant into that.....would save a lot of soil fill.

Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7602097
06/10/22 11:48 AM
06/10/22 11:48 AM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
pintail_drake04 Offline
trapper
pintail_drake04  Offline
trapper

Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,134
So. IL
I mix my own potting soil, and have for over a decade. It's far superior to the stuff we can buy in the store. I make my own compost, but I can't produce enough for my needs. I bought 22 tons this year so far. At the end of the planting season, often times you can see the Miracle Grow potting mix on a deep discount. I pick them up when they are cheap and they do OK. But I prefer my own mix.

Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7602112
06/10/22 12:09 PM
06/10/22 12:09 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 143
S.C. Montana
M
MTtraps Offline
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MTtraps  Offline
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Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 143
S.C. Montana
Fox Farm sells a couple different soils that are good, Happy Frog and Ocean Forest (what I use) and for lights I ended up liking Spider Farmer LEDs the best (tried a few different types and brands)

Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Wolfdog91] #7602171
06/10/22 01:41 PM
06/10/22 01:41 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,602
smithfield, virginia
F
flash Online content
trapper
flash  Online Content
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,602
smithfield, virginia
Marty,,,,,, lol

Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: Marty] #7602179
06/10/22 01:58 PM
06/10/22 01:58 PM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
B
Bob Offline
trapper
Bob  Offline
trapper
B

Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,960
Northern Nevada
Originally Posted by Marty
The local cops see you buying that stuff and they will do a no knock raid on you...


Not around here they won’t. We can grow up to twelve marijuana plants per household for personal use if you live more than 25 miles from a dispensary

I always just use miracle gro for my indoor plants. I’m no expert though, for me not forgetting to water is a bigger deal than what soil to use lol


"I have two guns, one for each of ya."
Re: Potting soil and grow lights [Re: yotetrapper30] #7602182
06/10/22 02:01 PM
06/10/22 02:01 PM
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,520
Champaign County, Ohio.
K
KeithC Offline
trapper
KeithC  Offline
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K

Joined: May 2009
Posts: 15,520
Champaign County, Ohio.
Originally Posted by yotetrapper30
I just roam the garden center and find whichever bags are busted open and half price, lol. Honestly I see no difference between the StayGreen brand and the Miracle Grow... actually I prefer the staygreen. But for raised beds I just get whatever bags are marked down.


I buy the broken bags from the local feed store for $1.00 a bag. One time I got 37 broken bags that they had put on 3 pallets. They just let it sit unless somebody asks about it.

Keith

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