What is the Difference Between Potting Soil and Potting Mix?
Potting soil and potting mix are two different materials used to plant and grow plants. While there are some similarities between the two, they also have quite a few differences.
Potting Soil
Potting soil is a blend of organic material that contains essential nutrients for proper plant growth. It contains soil-based matter, such as compost, peat, manure, and bark, as well as mineral content like perlite and vermiculite. It is typically a nutrient-rich soil, great for planting and nurturing bedding plants and vegetables.
Potting Mix
Potting mix is lightweight, typically soil-less blend of sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. This blend is able to hold moisture and facilitate gas exchange for root growth. It usually contains no fertilizer and little to no nutrient content. To supplement the nutrients, you may need to add liquid fertilizer or organic matter, as well as calcium and other micronutrients to the mix.
Key Differences
- Nutrient Content: Potting soil is more nutrient-rich than potting mix, making it great for vegetable and bedding plants.
- Materials: Potting soil usually contains soil-based matter like compost, while potting mix is usually made from peat moss and other lightweight materials.
- Fertilizer: Potting mix usually does not contain fertilizer, while potting soil usually does.
In summary, potting soil is better for planting and growing vegetables, bedding plants, and other container-grown plants. It contains more nutrient content than potting mix, and is usually pre-fertilized. However, if you are looking for a lightweight mix to use in small containers, potting mix is the better option, as it is more easily handled and requires the addition of fertilizer.
