The Scam Bagged Soil Companies Don’t Want You To Know

Share:

Ever felt like bagged soil prices are out of control? It’s not just you, there’s a big marketing trick at play, and it’s costing you.

Most of the time, those pricey bags labeled “Orchid Mix,” “African Violet Mix,” “Seed-Starting Mix,” or “Cactus Blend” are all just minor variations of basic potting mix, cleverly repackaged to make you spend more.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to take one affordable bag of standard potting mix and turn it into the “specialized” blends these companies sell, for a fraction of the cost.

Step 1: Understanding Potting Mix Basics

Most potting mixes are soil-less, meaning they don’t contain actual soil.

Instead, they’re typically made with peat moss and may contain additives like perlite, vermiculite, or a small amount of fertilizer.

These components work well for most indoor plants and help improve drainage and aeration.

Step 2: Sifting the Potting Mix

To make different blends, the first thing you’ll need is a quarter-inch mesh sieve.

This step will separate the larger particles from the finer ones in your potting mix.

Sifting out the mix gives you two main by-products:

  • Larger particles (for use in orchid mixes)
  • Finer particles (for other plant-specific mixes)

Step 3: Orchid Mix

Orchid mixes tend to be expensive, often due to minimal differences in texture.

For orchids like the Phalaenopsis, which grow attached to trees in the wild, a medium that mimics their natural environment works best.

Orchids don’t do well in soil because it retains too much moisture, which can lead to root rot.

  • DIY Tip: The larger chunks you sifted out serve as an ideal orchid medium. Orchids need bark-like material with plenty of air spaces, so this works perfectly! If you find a little perlite in your sifted mix, that’s okay too, it’s inert and won’t affect the plant.

Step 4: African Violet Mix

African violets prefer a soil-less mix that’s pH-neutral and not too rich in organic materials.

They’re prone to root rot if they sit in moist, dense soil. Many commercial African violet mixes achieve this by adding dolomitic lime to reduce peat moss acidity.

Luckily, most potting mixes already contain dolomitic lime.

  • DIY Tip: After sifting, use the finer particles for African violets. These save you nearly $10 on a specialized “African violet” blend. There’s nothing unique about these pricey mixes that you can’t make yourself from a standard potting mix.

Step 5: Seed-Starting Mix

Seed-starting mixes are often simply fine-textured potting soil.

They don’t contain larger particles that could interfere with delicate seedlings.

The difference is barely noticeable, so why pay more?

  • DIY Tip: Use the finer sifted particles for your seed-starting mix. This way, you’ll have more control over the growing environment for your young plants without the added cost.

Step 6: Cactus and Succulent Mix

Cacti and succulents require well-draining soil to prevent root rot.

Most commercial cactus soils simply add sand to a standard potting mix to boost drainage.

  • DIY Tip: Mix the finer potting particles with a bit of sand for a homemade cactus and succulent blend. Sand improves drainage, helping the soil dry out faster, which is ideal for plants that prefer “dry feet.”

Step 7: Raised Bed Soil

Here’s a surprise: Raised bed mixes are essentially the same as standard potting mixes, just marketed differently.

They may come in larger bags, but the ingredients are nearly identical.

  • DIY Tip: Skip the “raised bed” label and use any remaining potting mix from your original bag. If you need additional nutrients, simply add compost or a balanced fertilizer.

Don’t Be Fooled by Clever Marketing

Garden centers sell an array of “specialty” soils, each claiming to meet unique needs.

In reality, these small bags often cost a premium for very little added value.

The same way all fluoride toothpastes are mostly alike, the various bagged soil types at the store are often just repackaged versions of each other.

Buying one bag of potting mix and customizing it yourself can save you a ton of money.

Wrap-Up

By following these steps, you can take a $5 bag of potting mix and create multiple “specialty” blends.

In total, you’d spend about $30 if you bought these mixes individually, but with a few simple adjustments, you can make each blend yourself at a fraction of the cost.

Gardening doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated—you just need a bit of know-how.


I hope this guide saves you money and makes gardening less complicated. If you found it helpful, be sure to share it with a friend who might benefit. Happy gardening!


Share: