Okay, so I’ve been meaning to get into this whole “DIY potting mix” thing for a while now. My indoor plants have been looking a little… sad. Store-bought soil just doesn’t seem to cut it, and I figured, why not try making my own? I’m no expert, but I’m documenting my first ever attempt to mix my own potting soil.
Getting Started: Gathering My Supplies
First things first, I needed to gather my ingredients. I didn’t want anything too fancy, just some basic stuff I could find easily. I did some reading on Google, and came to a formula.
- Peat moss: I got a big bag of this. It’s supposed to be good for holding moisture.
- Perlite: This looks like little white popcorn. Apparently, it helps with drainage, which is super important.
- Vermiculite: Similar to perlite, but holds onto nutrients more, from what I read.
- Compost: I used some from my own backyard compost bin. Free fertilizer, right?
- Some gardening tools: like big pot, scoop.
The Mixing Process: Getting My Hands Dirty
I laid down a big plastic tarp in my backyard because I knew this was going to get messy. Then, I just started dumping stuff into my big mixing tub. I didn’t really measure anything precisely, I just eyeballed it. I went for something like:
- 2 parts peat moss
- 1 part perlite
- 1 part vermiculite
- 1/2 part compost
I used a trowel to mix everything up. It was actually kind of fun, like making a giant mud pie! I made sure to break up any big clumps of peat moss or compost. The goal was to get everything evenly distributed.
I added some water slowly and mixed it. I wanted the mix moist, not making mud water.
The Result: My Very Own Potting Mix!
And that’s it! I ended up with a big tub of fluffy, dark brown potting mix. It looked and felt way better than the stuff I’d been buying from the store. I used it to repot a couple of my sad-looking plants, and I’m really hoping they’ll perk up.
I’ll keep you guys updated on how my plants do with this new mix. Fingers crossed I didn’t mess it up! This was my first time, so it’s all a learning experience. If any of you have tips or tricks for making potting mix, let me know in the comments!
