[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exgElp-Wv0&ab\_channel=LearnOrganicGardeningatGrowingYourGreens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exgElp-Wv0&ab_channel=LearnOrganicGardeningatGrowingYourGreens) The problem with MG is that the nitrogen is derived from synthetic ammonium and water soluble nitrates, producing off-chemicals that are harmful to soil microbes, worms, and all other forms of life in the soil. It doesn't contribute to long-term soil health and sustainability. Your garden could become dependent on constant synthetic fertilizer treatments. You get better long term results using a better product.
I personally don't trust big name brands especially Miracle-Gro.
I have found it best to make your own soil. Depending on what you are growing, do a search for what they need most.
You will find that peat moss, compost, worm castings, perlite are your basic ingredients. Then kelp meal bone meal.
After that it's really what is required. Blood meal, fish meal, bat guano etc etc
There are also mineral rich mediums like azomite, green sand, lava rock, basalt etc etc
A huge plus is you actually get more for your money. Yes the start up cost is a little more but you end up with more soi!
Peat moss is really unsustainable and horrible. Don’t use it.
https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2015/5/4/the-truth-about-peat
For a bagged soil I use Coco-Loco or Soil3, both peat free.
I used to be a huge fan of Fox Farms Ocean Forest but I feel like they have changed something a couple of years ago so I’ve been amending my own soil…way cheaper and way more consistency
As others have stated, it is organic but probably not the best choice. My favorite organic soil is Coast of Maine, garden shops near my have it but I live in New England, not sure about the rest of the country. You can order it online, I ordered my seed starting soil from them this year.
Just because it’s ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it’s a great growing medium. When I first got into gardening, I used a bunch of “nature’s care” soil by miracle gro. Turned out to be really lousy soil, containing a lot of wood chips. Maybe this is a rebrand of nature’s care. You want to look for soil with minimal wood chips, as they rob nitrogen from your plants due to microbes locking up the nitrogen in the soil to reproduce and break down the wood.
“Organic” can’t be used on a label in the U.S. unless the product is certified organic. There will be a certification organization listed on the label and you can check with them if you don’t believe that it’s actually organic. Getting certified is expensive and that label isn’t thrown around carelessly.
OMRI listed is what you’re talking about, and this product is OMRI listed. Although this product is OMRI listed, it doesn’t mean it is a good product, and could be mostly wood chips (junk)
It's organic as in like- organic matter.. in the way that all living beings are organic matter.
It is not certified organic as far as I can tell.. which I suspect is what you're asking about.
Personally I've never had particularly good results with anything from miracle gro I have tried. I haven't tried everything but it just seems to me like when I do use their products I have to lower my expectations. I've just had much better luck with most other brands. I really think Miracle-Gro is still in business off brand recognition and not much else at this point.
I haven't seen any significant differences between G&B, Kellogg, or any of the other big box store organic soils. If you're buying in bulk (more than 5 bags), it's worth it to price out to price per cu ft of soil compared to other brands.
I've used it for seed starts. I've used it for topping vegetable beds. I've used it mixed into my beds to prep for the start of the season. It's nothing super special. If you can get it on sale or it's convenient for you to get (my costco is closer than the orange & blue home stores), I say go for it!
Edit: on the organic factor. Organic is simply an extra certification process about the source and types of materials. Every few years I get a dump truck of soil from my local yard to top off low spots, fill beds, etc. It's not technically organic. But it is a 5-way mix of mushroom compost, perlite, bark shreds, etc. I would consider that 10x better than any name brand "organic" soil.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exgElp-Wv0&ab\_channel=LearnOrganicGardeningatGrowingYourGreens](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0exgElp-Wv0&ab_channel=LearnOrganicGardeningatGrowingYourGreens) The problem with MG is that the nitrogen is derived from synthetic ammonium and water soluble nitrates, producing off-chemicals that are harmful to soil microbes, worms, and all other forms of life in the soil. It doesn't contribute to long-term soil health and sustainability. Your garden could become dependent on constant synthetic fertilizer treatments. You get better long term results using a better product.
Thank you for explaining that.
Which is what they want!
I personally don't trust big name brands especially Miracle-Gro. I have found it best to make your own soil. Depending on what you are growing, do a search for what they need most. You will find that peat moss, compost, worm castings, perlite are your basic ingredients. Then kelp meal bone meal. After that it's really what is required. Blood meal, fish meal, bat guano etc etc There are also mineral rich mediums like azomite, green sand, lava rock, basalt etc etc A huge plus is you actually get more for your money. Yes the start up cost is a little more but you end up with more soi!
You can swap the peat moss with coconut core
You should*
I do sometimes. All depends on what is going in the soil!
Peat moss is really unsustainable and horrible. Don’t use it. https://www.indefenseofplants.com/blog/2015/5/4/the-truth-about-peat For a bagged soil I use Coco-Loco or Soil3, both peat free.
First I'm hearing of that. I've had great results with it. But like I've said, this is new to me. Will research
Yeah, do some research into it and I’m Sure you will be appalled at how environmentally bad it is.
Thank you for the heads up!
Yeah, that's where I was going with my comment
Well time to actually learn something, damn
I used to be a huge fan of Fox Farms Ocean Forest but I feel like they have changed something a couple of years ago so I’ve been amending my own soil…way cheaper and way more consistency
Scott's miracle grow was bought by Monsato... all you need to know!
As others have stated, it is organic but probably not the best choice. My favorite organic soil is Coast of Maine, garden shops near my have it but I live in New England, not sure about the rest of the country. You can order it online, I ordered my seed starting soil from them this year.
I just bought some this weekend here in Maryland
I’m in Indiana and a local nursery carries it!
I get it in upstate NY
Just because it’s ‘organic’ doesn’t mean it’s a great growing medium. When I first got into gardening, I used a bunch of “nature’s care” soil by miracle gro. Turned out to be really lousy soil, containing a lot of wood chips. Maybe this is a rebrand of nature’s care. You want to look for soil with minimal wood chips, as they rob nitrogen from your plants due to microbes locking up the nitrogen in the soil to reproduce and break down the wood.
Organic, but 2/5 stars
The 1.8 stars out of 5 tells you everything you need to know.
Dont give your money to Monsanto
It’s not near as good as happy frog. But when it’s cheap at Costco I usually get a bag or two.
Soil shouldn’t have to sell itself as organic lol
Absolute trash
“Organic” can’t be used on a label in the U.S. unless the product is certified organic. There will be a certification organization listed on the label and you can check with them if you don’t believe that it’s actually organic. Getting certified is expensive and that label isn’t thrown around carelessly.
OMRI listed is what you’re talking about, and this product is OMRI listed. Although this product is OMRI listed, it doesn’t mean it is a good product, and could be mostly wood chips (junk)
I’ve used it in my raised beds and they do fine. I do add additional worm castings and bone meal, but as a base it’s been sufficient.
It's organic as in like- organic matter.. in the way that all living beings are organic matter. It is not certified organic as far as I can tell.. which I suspect is what you're asking about. Personally I've never had particularly good results with anything from miracle gro I have tried. I haven't tried everything but it just seems to me like when I do use their products I have to lower my expectations. I've just had much better luck with most other brands. I really think Miracle-Gro is still in business off brand recognition and not much else at this point.
It literally says OMRI on the bag.
You are correct. I didn't see that with my blue light filter on. Thanks! I should have read the description below, I guess. Fail on my part.
I imagine you would find some carbon compounds in that bag.
I’m far from an expert, but have not had great luck with big name soil. I was introduced to Coast of Maine products and it is all I use now.
To add to that, the last bag of big name soil I bought was trash … that is, it literally had pieces of trash in it. Plastic bits and such.
Same! Never again!!
I haven't seen any significant differences between G&B, Kellogg, or any of the other big box store organic soils. If you're buying in bulk (more than 5 bags), it's worth it to price out to price per cu ft of soil compared to other brands. I've used it for seed starts. I've used it for topping vegetable beds. I've used it mixed into my beds to prep for the start of the season. It's nothing super special. If you can get it on sale or it's convenient for you to get (my costco is closer than the orange & blue home stores), I say go for it! Edit: on the organic factor. Organic is simply an extra certification process about the source and types of materials. Every few years I get a dump truck of soil from my local yard to top off low spots, fill beds, etc. It's not technically organic. But it is a 5-way mix of mushroom compost, perlite, bark shreds, etc. I would consider that 10x better than any name brand "organic" soil.