Almost lost my whole tomato crop because I used cheap potting soil instead of the good stuff

I went with the $3 bag from the hardware store last spring and my plants were yellow and sad for weeks before I figured out it had no real nutrients, switched to a $12 mix from the nursery and the difference was night and day. Has anyone else dealt with mystery soil that just drains away all the water?

2 comments

2 Comments

anna_hill1mo ago

I mean, I kinda feel like the $12 bag isn't always a guarantee either. I got a fancy organic mix once and it was basically just bark chips that never held moisture. Maybe it's just me but sometimes the cheap stuff works fine if you just add some compost.

jake_hall881mo ago

Did that cheap stuff have those little white styrofoam beads in it? My neighbor bought some discount potting soil that was basically just perlite and dust, and it went from soaking wet to bone dry in like two hours flat. I ended up having to water his plants for him three times a day while he was on vacation (which was a pain, but I felt bad). Made me realize sometimes the "good" soil is worth it just for the peace of mind, you know?