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Was looking for some good potting mix. Found this at a very low price.
Earlier price was $5.99
Hortico 25L All Purpose Potting Mix for $2 (Was $5.99) @ Bunnings
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This is a really useful fact sheet and I wish more people knew the basics of potting mix rather than just purchasing based on price.
The number of times I've been at Bunnings and seen people (often young couples) loading up on the cheapest mix… Out of curiousity last year I bought a bag each of the cheapest non-standard mixes on sale and did a pH test. The results were WILD. Most of them were acidic pH 4.5-5 with one very alkaline pH 9.
I didn't test the physical properties of the mixes (drainage etc) but one mix was composed of very strange material which had a synthetic smell (it was organic material, but couldn't identify). I'd be worried using something like this.
And so with the whole cost/benefit argument, planting into it would probably see the plants dead ASAP negating any savings. Generally the best value I go for is the 50L Osmocote premium bags at Bunnings (https://www.bunnings.com.au/osmocote-professional-50l-premiu…).
While you can save money buying it in loose bulk from a landscape supplier, you would need to test the material being sold as they are generally non-standard mixes. Essentially, potting mix is bloody expensive no matter how you cut it, so do your homework before buying.
As I recall, of the bags of this product on offer, the Hortico general purpose standard mix, I found lots of fungus gnats emerged soon after use which is bad news. That could be due to additional factors rather than due to manufacturer, but still a worry.
Best of luck gardeners!
awesome information….thanks muchly AvvY
No worries. I should make clear that I don't recall the pH of this product (Hortico general purpose) to be that bad, think it was around neutral, and have used it for a number of plants where I didn't want additional fertiliser included. Results have been pretty good aside from the fungus gnats. For $2 a bag, it'd be worth testing one and seeing if it's fit for purpose. But don't necessarily load up the trailer!
Well the acidic soil would be good for some blueberry plants.
I just stick to Osmocote Premium plus. Stuff works well and buy the 50Kg bags from the garden centre outside and not the small garden indoor section
@alabatusa: True, though this is a very specific and limited example which most people wouldn't be going for. And even then, if the product has such chemical properties should state as such. The fact they are acidic is indicative of poor production.
+1 for the big Osmocote premium bags
Thanks AvvY, I've taken a recent love of gardening and looking at the endless rows of different potting mix utterly stumps me. Osmocote Pro is what I shall now purchase, here take this gold star *
@Hinee: You're very welcome. Gardening can be very mystifying and difficult to navigate at first. I was in the same boat and went off to study horticulture and then science so I could see through all the BS consumer horticultural nonsense.
The Osmocote bags are the job for most applications (natives and orchids etc would still be better off in specific mixes). I should say, I am in no way affiliated with that company despite my promotion. It's just my observation of what Bunnings stock. Mind you, if you have access to an independent nursery, they will likely stock other brands and may offer better value. The most important aspect in all this is buying a certified product - the fact sheet linked above is testament to this. I also recommend Handreck and Black's book on the subject for more detail https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/9552415
Also, if you're wanting sound scientifically backed horticultural knowledge, check out Linda Chalker-Scott's work https://puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs/ . She runs a Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/GardenProfessors/ . This is northern hemisphere based, but some sound information to be found.
I agree with the 50L Osmocote. I'm in the garden maintenance business and we buy this stuff all the time. Good quality, good value.
I save the cheap nasty Hortico compost for customers I don't like. It's absolutely rubbish.
You could say that is … dirt cheap … (CSI theme starts)
YEAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Cheers pricehipster
thanks buddy…sounds good.
40 bags = 1m3 = $80 that's enough for a small garden plan…I haven't checked prices personally but I've heard over the years randomly that when needing a lot you're better off ordering from a landscape supplier instead.
I think there was a previous potting mix deal with a comment or two with an example of the price difference actually if anyone happens to know which one.Paid $90 for a cubic metre of potting mix at my local dump last weekend. Think he was generous so did get a little more i reckon. Best way to go if you need a lot.
This. I just created a 3m cubed planter. Used ANL rate varies from 50-80 per cubic metre. But pretty syre they game me way more than i ordered. Good quality too
$50/m2 of top quality garden soil, better quality than this.
That's a lot of $ per square meter! What about delivery fee? My local would charge around $60 to $80 for delivery.
and u need to take it to the garden too…
@ihbh: but these are easy to carry. for loose soil, need wheelbarrow and shovel and have to load and unload
I'd imagine it's a cubic meter. Soil usually occupies three dimensions in our reality.
Does this potting mix have traces of weeds?
Components CAS Number Proportion Risk Phrases
Inerts - to 100% -
Mineral fertilisers - 1-<10% -
Composted/aged bark or sawdust - >60% -Go for scotts potting mix..much better than this..
Depends what you need it for. At least this has a black tick, unlike some of the others.
What is a black tick?
Meets Australian Standards for a 'regular potting mix'
Red tick is for premium iirc.
It's a bad idea to put potting mix in a garden bed - use a mix of garden soil and compost/cow manure.
i buy cheap mix and add own fertilise and wetting agent …… seems to work out cheaper and you get the mix you want.
I wouldn’t buy potting mix unless it has a red tick which is premium.
You want your plants you buy to thrive why save on cheap potting mix.
Where do you find the tick? I couldn't spot it from the link.
On front of bag, bottom right
Gotcha, thanks. :)
I wouldn't buy a car unless it's electric
Still $5.99 at my local Bunning [Byron Bay], just rang and he didn't know anything about it.
lazy byronians
It’s $5.99 at my local Bunnings (Dandenong, Vic).
Great price, but if you've spent $10 or more on a plant, I'd suggest getting premium potting mix that costs $10-15 a bag. A nursery would be your best bet for this. Not a whole lot more and way better quality.
It adds up though. $10 extra a bag for 50 bags and suddenly you've spent $650 instead of $150
Fair call. I was basing that on the assumption of a pot plant amount of soil. But for a larger job requiring 10 bags, I'd still consider buying premium soil delivered by the cubic meter over buying this cheap stuff if your planting decent plants that cost a bit.
yeap 50 bags x 25L = 1250 L
or 1.25 M3-50 bags x $10 = $500
-50 bags x $15 = $750So $500 to $750 for 1.25 M3 is extremely expensive
When you can order a cubic metre of veggie garden mix at a landscape seller for about $127 or less (includes shipping)
even the link says $5.99 now, Can anyone confirm if they get it at this price in any store?
Promotional period has ended.
damn really,
lucky I bought a few bags last night and wanted to go back tonight to get some more.Promotional periodmistake has endedFTFY
I am planning to setup a raised garden bed, will this type of mix be good for that ?
Just get it from your local landscape supplier. You should be able to get a cubic meter of good quality soil for $40-50 (plus delivery if you don't have a trailer handy).
Veggie mix. Usually a mix of compost and top.soil
what is the composition of soil in veggie mix and potting soil?
I bought both types of bags and cannot tell much difference
Very few "soils" sold by the 25ltr bag contain any soil they are infact compost not soil.
Actually they do contain some soil
because if it was just compost
it would have composted/disappear already…
I went to Bunnings today to buy some other things and there were people staring blankly at the Hortico potting mix hahaha
Is it good though?