Best complete bagged soil Fox Farm or Roots Organics
- Thread starter jackbog
- Start date
Vindicated
Well-Known Member
Between Ocean Forest and Roots Organic, I noticed the Roots Organic felt lighter, appeared to be more breathable, and typically feed for few weeks longer. I'm not 100% sure, but I could swear I thought my plants even grew faster in the Roots Organic. However, the Ocean Forest was half the price. And by the end of the season, all the plants harvested about the same.
That got me thinking, I wonder how cheaper soils measured up. So I tried a few brands at home depot.. earth gro, super soil, kellogg patio plus, mel's mix, Miracle Grow Organic, and MG with Six Month Feeding, etc.
For the most part, the same results happened. Some plants had growth spurts early on, but in the end they all evened out. There was some soils that stood out, which was Roots Organic and Kellogg. The Roots usually did better, but not by very much. So I ended up sticking with the Kellogg. Mainly because it performed better then the Ocean Forest, almost as good as Roots Organic, but only cost $4 a bag. It was even cheaper then the Miracle Grow stuff and is completely organic.
The only thing I didn't like about Kellogg's soil was that it was heavy in bark. I don't know why it bothered me, maybe just because it felt heavier and like it wouldn't hold as much water as the coir based FF and RO, but yet it did the job. I'm sure it wasted a bit more water, but it didn't dry up hard like the MG or any of the peat moss based soils.
Also, I think a big reason why the soils evened out so much is that I didn't just let the plants die when the soil stopped working. I continued to watch and take care of my plants. If they needed something, I fertilized them.
That got me thinking, I wonder how cheaper soils measured up. So I tried a few brands at home depot.. earth gro, super soil, kellogg patio plus, mel's mix, Miracle Grow Organic, and MG with Six Month Feeding, etc.
For the most part, the same results happened. Some plants had growth spurts early on, but in the end they all evened out. There was some soils that stood out, which was Roots Organic and Kellogg. The Roots usually did better, but not by very much. So I ended up sticking with the Kellogg. Mainly because it performed better then the Ocean Forest, almost as good as Roots Organic, but only cost $4 a bag. It was even cheaper then the Miracle Grow stuff and is completely organic.
The only thing I didn't like about Kellogg's soil was that it was heavy in bark. I don't know why it bothered me, maybe just because it felt heavier and like it wouldn't hold as much water as the coir based FF and RO, but yet it did the job. I'm sure it wasted a bit more water, but it didn't dry up hard like the MG or any of the peat moss based soils.
Also, I think a big reason why the soils evened out so much is that I didn't just let the plants die when the soil stopped working. I continued to watch and take care of my plants. If they needed something, I fertilized them.
jackbog
Active Member
Thanks vin great stuff thanks dice good stuff too i have tried RO Greenfields with nothing else added to it in a 150 gall smart pot and it did wonderful i was very impressed i also do outdoor. FF soils sound great too i would like to give some of there soils a shot too. I might try to mix them together with some pro mix and worm castings too.
grownbykane
Active Member
i just mixed a fresh batch of super soil using 2 bags of roots original, 1 bag happy frog, and 1 bag ocean forest as a base. i am hoping a little diversity is beneficial, as i have run all roots thus far. any one else try anything similar?
kane
kane
grownbykane
Active Member
that is correct. i added bloodmeal, fish bone meal, bat guano, epsome salt, dolomite lime, azomite, humic acid, kelp, and worm castings. this mix allows to add nothing but water from seed to harvest (though i have recently started using AACT and have been pleased with results).
kane
kane
Good post. I like the Kellogs too, but haven't used for weed yet, just general gardening. I'm currently testing Roots, HF, and Kellogs together in some big pots.
Vindicated
Well-Known Member
Cool man. Take some pictures and let me know how you do.
As you command. About 8 days from planting. They both get about the same sun duration but at different times. However, second pot really cooks due to the two walls and less breeze. Top of pepper really fried at first whereas pepper in first pic is fine. R.o. water so all organic.
excerpt from another thread;
I recently mixed some Kellogs in a 4" layer about a foot down in some big pots, sort of a supersoil. Above that the soil is a mix of Happy Frog, Roots, and Kellogs (soil) and Espoma or Kellogs fert. Planted peppers, gomphrena, salvia, and vinca. They sat for about 8 days in the hot desert sun, stunned by the uv and extra fert but they did not burn. This morning I can see they are all about to take off. I wanted to see their response to the intense desert sun and extra fert - they seem to be doing very well.
excerpt from another thread;
I recently mixed some Kellogs in a 4" layer about a foot down in some big pots, sort of a supersoil. Above that the soil is a mix of Happy Frog, Roots, and Kellogs (soil) and Espoma or Kellogs fert. Planted peppers, gomphrena, salvia, and vinca. They sat for about 8 days in the hot desert sun, stunned by the uv and extra fert but they did not burn. This morning I can see they are all about to take off. I wanted to see their response to the intense desert sun and extra fert - they seem to be doing very well.