Peppers

Potting soil update: Kellogg vs Black Kow vs Pro-Mix


A few weeks ago, I posted in this sub explaining that I was testing three different brands of organic potting soil (listed in the title).

So far, I can report that Pro-Mix is kicking the other brands’ butts.

My watering and feeding schedule has been the same for all of the pepper plants, and we’ve had quite a bit of rain the past month, so I haven’t had to water manually all that much.

It may not be as clearly visible in the images provided, but the six plants potted using Pro-Mix organic garden mix are greener, leafier, and overall healthier. The other 12 plants using Kellogg and Black Kow are leggier and lighter green.

A key observation is that Pro-Mix seems to drain a hell of a lot better than Kellogg or Black Kow. Both sets of pots using Kellogg or Black Kow are heavier and notably wetter on the bottom.

Earlier today, I transplanted a few struggling plants from the Kellogg and Black Kow sets into Pro-Mix, and I noticed that the soil around the roots was denser and wetter—likely causing the light green color and limited growth of those plants.

I ordered four raised garden beds this past weekend, so these 18 plants will eventually make their way into those once they arrive and are built. I plan to use the hugelkultur method to fill the beds, but I won’t be experimenting with soil past the potting stage.

TL;DR – For me, the results are pretty clear at only three weeks. The pepper plants love the Pro-Mix, even with the extra rain we’ve been experiencing here in NJ.

by EverbodyHatesHugo

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