Now that you have your FarmDaddy Self Watering Garden Container and you have your dream garden in your mind, it’s time to get to work! What’s holding you back? Well, not knowing the best potting soil to use with your garden container is probably the first block you will run into.

Believe it or not, one of the first decisions you will need to make about how to use your FarmDaddy garden box is going to be about dirt. Not all dirt is as good for your plants as another. Your plants will need the right kind of nutrients and ingredients in the soil they are planted in to truly thrive in the FarmDaddy garden container. Some call this process finding the best growing “media” for your plants.

We will break down what you need to know to make sure you are choosing the best growing media to use in your FarmDaddy Self Watering Garden Container.

What’s the Difference Between Potting Soil and Potting Mix?

Before diving in any further, we need to make a correction. This guide isn’t about finding the best potting soil as much as it is about finding the best potting mix.

There is a distinction between these two. It is common for people to use the terms interchangeably, though. The primary difference between potting soil and potting mix is that potting soil may or may not contain dirt, or soil, but potting mix is a soilless growing media. Because potting mix is sterile, it does not include pathogens such as fungus or other diseases, making it safer for your plants.

This is why we strongly encourage the use of a high-quality organic potting mix instead of the potting soil you might find at your local supermarket. It provides a safer and more stimulating environment to encourage your plants to thrive.

Why You Need the Best Potting Soil for Your Plants

When you match your plants with the best potting mix for them, then they will be able to thrive and grow, producing more than you ever thought possible. Why does the right potting mix matter, though? Here are a few reasons why:

Wicking, some potting soil or potting mix can distribute water more evenly than others so your plants get the exact right amount of water. Other options will retain water rather than disperse it, making it more difficult for your plants to get the water they need.

The right potting mix can help prevent plant disease. Certain soil can carry disease that will either affect the plants directly or can have harmful consequences for your plants. Some diseases, though, simply make your produce less flavorful. Which is why you need to make sure you are using the best potting soil or potting mix for your plants.

If you want to deter insects and weeds, then finding the best potting mix is essential. Potting soil or regular soil can contain mixtures of manure or compost that will attract all kinds of insects. The same is true for weeds that can use these materials to feed on.

Aeration is important for healthy roots and the potting mix or soil you use can help or hinder the ability of your plants to breathe. Otherwise, you could suffer from root rot and kill your plants.

These are just a few of the many reasons why it is so critical to find not just the best potting soil for your plants, but to focus on the best potting mix for growing in a garden container, specifically.

What to Look for In the Best Potting Mix

Plants require three essential minerals: nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. The percentage concentration of these macronutrients will be labeled on potting soil and potting mix. This is the first step to choosing the best potting soil (or best potting mix) for your garden container.

The second step you will want to judge is the density of the potting mix. The best potting mix is light and fluffy. When wet, it should not be too dense or else the plant's roots may be suffocated or become rotten or moldy. Your plant won't be able to develop and grow its roots through the soil if the earth gets extremely hard after watering.

If you are wondering how to determine a good potting mix before using it, then try picking up the bag to determine the density of the potting soil or mix before making a purchase! It shouldn't be too heavy. If there are multiple sizes of bags with different varieties of potting mix, then your best bet is usually on the lighter option for roughly the same volume of potting mix. 

One last thing to look for is any kinds of potting soil that might be plant-specific when it comes to the nutrients they provide. For example, certain flowering plants will require special nutrients, so if you know you are going to grow these in your FarmDaddy Self Watering Garden Container then be sure to use the best potting mix for your plants.

Explore More About Growing Your Own Produce

At FarmDaddy, we believe that everyone should be able to grow their own healthy and organic food affordably. Read more about it over on the Our Vision and Our Story pages. Also check out our Planting Guide for more information on how to plant in the FarmDaddy.

If you are stuck on choosing what plants to grow in your FarmDaddy garden container, then we have a nutrition guide that will help you choose the most nutritious produce for you. We would love to help in any way we can if you run into any trouble or need to ask some question. Simply contact us and we will get back to you as soon as we can. Otherwise, explore our blog for updates and more tips, tricks, and inspiration for all things FarmDaddy gardening.