As a gardener who struggled for years to make my garden flourish, I can attest to the transformative power of creating your own soil mix. There's an undeniable empowerment that comes from understanding and controlling what goes into the very foundation of your plants' growth. It's not just about affordability, although that's a significant advantage; it's about knowing that you're giving your plants the best possible start in growing healthy roots.
To help you get started, think of soil into two categories.
Composition
pH / Nutrients
The Composition of the soil (the % of what its made of) affects things like retention of water and nutrients, aeration, and drainage. This is where you get your sand, clay, coco coir or peat moss, perlite, etc.
The pH/ Nutrients refers to the ingredients that are intentionally added for nutrient intake for plants, support for microbes, and adjustments for the pH scale. This is where you get your worm castings, blood meal, alfalfa meal, dolomitic lime, etc.
The trick to build the right mixture for the best root growth, with the right ph / nutrients for the stage of the plant you're growing.
REMEMBER: Some plants like more acidic soil, while others are sensitive to it. Also, plants need different nutrients at different stages of their growth cycle.
For example: Seedlings need help germinating, they don't need a ton of nutrients at the start. Whereas flowers who are in the blooming stage need a mixture of nutrients to make those beautiful blooms. This is why you sometimes see people germinating their seeds in paper towels and mediums like coco coir (which is ph neutral and has no nutrients).
BENEFITS OF BUILDING YOUR OWN SOIL MIX:
Making your own soil mix for seeds and plants is like unlocking a secret to gardening success. You have the freedom to tailor the mix to the specific needs of your plants, whether they require more nutrients, better drainage, or enhanced moisture retention. Not to mention, you know and have confidence with what is in your soil (no sneaky chemicals from overproduction companies).
By taking this hands-on approach, you become intimately familiar with the ingredients and their effects on plant health. Which also helps you start to learn how
To get started, use the table at the bottom of this page to get a general list of soil ingredients, their uses and sustainability factor.
NOTE: We did not list all nutrients used to building soil. We prioritized the ones we get the most comments about. Compost will be listed in a separate post as there are lots of variances with compost (such as animal derived from, age, methods like kitchen scraps in a vermicomposting bin or bokashi, etc.)
And finally...
When you take the time to create a quality soil mix, you're laying the groundwork for a successful garden ecosystem where plants can thrive.
Beyond the practical benefits, there's a sense of pride and accomplishment in seeing your DIY soil mix yield impressive results. It's a tangible reminder of your dedication to nurturing a healthy and vibrant garden thats also sustainable for the environment.
So, if you've ever felt discouraged by gardening challenges, I encourage you to dive into the world of DIY soil mixes. It may just be the key to unlocking your garden's full potential and experiencing the magic of a flourishing oasis right in your backyard.
Happy growing,
Elizabeth
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We'll be posting our custom soil and nutrient mixes very soon!
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General seed starting mix:
NOTE: Unless noted, we measure everything in parts, which can be any size container.
2 part coco coir
2 part compost
1 part vermiculite
1.5 part pearlite
1 part worm castings
Ingredient | Made of | Uses | pH / Nutrients | Sustainable Alternative | Sustainability of Sourcing |
Alfalfa Meal | Dried alfalfa | Nitrogen, soil structure | Neutral pH, nitrogen-rich | Legume-based cover crops, green manures | Sustainably sourced |
Azomite | Natural mineral compound | Trace minerals, overall plant health | Neutral pH, mineral-rich | Locally sourced minerals or rock dust | Depends on extraction methods |
Bark/Mulch | Composted wood or shredded leaves | Moisture retention, weed suppression | Neutral pH, organic matter | Composted wood chips, shredded leaves | Sustainably sourced |
Biochar | Charcoal or agricultural waste | Soil structure, nutrient retention | Neutral pH, carbon-rich | Locally produced charcoal, agricultural waste-based biochar | Depends on production methods |
Bone Meal | Ground animal bones | Phosphorus, calcium | Variable pH, nutrient-rich | Rock phosphate, crushed eggshells | Sustainably sourced |
Coco Coir | Coconut husk fiber | Moisture retention, aeration | Neutral pH, low in nutrients | Peat-free compost | Sustainably sourced |
Compost | Organic waste materials | Nutrients, soil structure, microbial activity | Neutral pH, rich in nutrients | Worm castings (vermicompost) | Sustainably sourced |
Dolomitic Lime | Calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate | pH adjustment, calcium, magnesium | Variable pH, calcium, magnesium-rich | Agricultural lime, crushed eggshells | Sustainably sourced |
Fish Meal | Ground fish | Nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium | Variable pH, nutrient-rich | Composted fish waste, seaweed extracts | Sustainably sourced |
Green Manure | Cover crops and/or composted manure | Soil fertility, nitrogen fixation | Variable pH, nutrient-rich | Legume-based cover crops, composted manure | Sustainably sourced |
Green Sand | Minerals like glauconite | Potassium, iron, magnesium | Alkaline pH, mineral-rich | Locally sourced minerals | Depends on extraction methods |
Gypsum | Calcium sulfate dihydrate | Soil structure, drainage | Neutral pH, calcium, sulfur | Crushed eggshells, agricultural lime | Sustainably sourced |
Kelp Meal | Dried seaweed | Trace minerals, growth stimulant | Alkaline pH, rich in nutrients | Seaweed extracts, composted seaweed | Depends on harvesting methods |
Perlite | Volcanic glass | Aeration, drainage | Neutral pH, inert | Rice hulls, crushed volcanic rock (pumice) | Sustainably sourced |
Peat Moss | Decomposed sphagnum moss | Soil conditioner, water retention, aeration | Acidic pH, low in nutrients | Coir (coconut husk fiber) | Negative impact on habitats |
Pumice | Volcanic rock | Aeration, drainage | Neutral pH, inert | Crushed glass, expanded clay pellets | Sustainably sourced |
Rock Dust | Mineral-rich rocks and/or seaweed | Trace minerals | Variable pH, mineral-rich | Locally sourced mineral-rich soil, seaweed extracts | Depends on extraction methods |
Vermiculite | Natural mineral | Aeration, water retention | Neutral pH, nutrient-free | Coconut coir, composted rice hulls | Sustainably sourced |
Worm Bin Castings | Composted organic waste | Nutrients, microbial activity | Neutral pH, nutrient-rich | Composted manure (from herbivorous animals) | Sustainably sourced |
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