Crafting the Ultimate Super Soil Mix
Our Guide to 15 Essential Amendments
In the quest for gardening excellence, the journey begins beneath our feet — in the soil. A rich, nourishing soil is the cornerstone of a healthy garden, providing the foundation for plant growth, vitality, and productivity. But what transforms good soil into super soil?
The answer lies in a carefully selected blend of 15 soil amendments, each playing a pivotal role in enhancing soil health and plant well-being.
This guide delves into why these amendments are crucial and how they come together to create a super soil mix for your garden.
The Importance of a Super Soil Mix
A super soil mix transcends ordinary garden soil by incorporating a variety of organic and mineral amendments.
This blend nourishes plants and improves soil structure, enhances moisture retention, boosts microbial activity, and ensures long-term soil fertility.
By addressing the diverse needs of plants at different growth stages, a super soil mix supports sustained growth, resilience against pests and diseases, and bountiful yields.
The 15 Essential Soil Amendments
Each amendment links to our dedicated amendments section, with more details about that specific amendment. Below, we've included the exact ratios, with a link to each amendment in our storefront, so you, too, can craft the perfect super soil blend.
Coco Coir: A sustainable peat moss alternative, coco coir excels in water retention and aeration, providing a fluffy texture ideal for root development.
Worm Castings: In Nature's perfect plant food, worm castings enrich the soil with essential nutrients and beneficial microbes, enhancing soil fertility and plant health.
Perlite: Known for improving soil aeration and drainage, perlite prevents soil compaction, allowing roots to breathe and grow freely.
Vermiculite: This mineral helps retain moisture and nutrients, slowly releasing them to plants, which is vital for seedlings and moisture-loving plants.
Rice Hulls: Adding structure to the mix, rice hulls improve aeration and drainage while also being a sustainable amendment option.
Azomite: A rock dust packed with trace minerals, azomite replenishes the soil, promoting plant vigor and disease resistance.
Feather Meal: A slow-release nitrogen source, feather meal supports lush vegetative growth and is especially beneficial for leafy greens and lawns.
Kelp Meal: Rich in micronutrients and growth hormones, kelp meal stimulates root development and stress tolerance in plants.
Biochar: This stable form of carbon improves soil structure, moisture retention, and nutrient-holding capacity while also sequestering carbon.
Gypsum: Adds calcium and sulfur to the soil without altering pH, breaking up heavy clay soils and improving soil structure.
Langbeinite: A source of potassium, magnesium, and sulfur, langbeinite addresses the comprehensive nutrient needs of plants without over-saturation.
Oyster Shells: Ground oyster shells condition the soil, providing calcium for plant health and helping to balance pH levels.
Orchid Bark: Improves drainage and airflow in the soil mix, mimicking the natural growing conditions of epiphytic plants.
Mycorrhizae: These beneficial fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhancing nutrient and water uptake.
Bone Meal: A phosphorus-rich amendment, bone meal is crucial for root development, flowering, and fruiting.
Creating Your Super Soil Mix
Combining these 15 amendments involves balancing their proportions to meet your garden's specific needs.
Start with a base of coco coir or garden soil, then incorporate each amendment according to the needs of your plants and the existing soil conditions.
Here's our recommended ratio of each amendment to make our super soil mix. Included is the approximately (rounded) number of ounces of each amendment to use for one, two, and five-gallon applications:
| Amendment* | Ratio | 1 gal | 2 gal | 5 gal |
| Coco Coir | 27.00% | 34.5 | 69 | 173 |
| Worm Castings | 20.00% | 26 | 51 | 128 |
| Perlite | 10.00% | 13 | 26 | 64 |
| Vermiculite | 10.00% | 13 | 26 | 64 |
| Rice Hulls | 5.00% | 6 | 13 | 32 |
| Azomite | 4.00% | 5 | 10 | 26 |
| Feather Meal | 3.00% | 4 | 8 | 19 |
| Kelp Meal | 3.00% | 4 | 8 | 19 |
| Biochar | 4.00% | 5 | 10 | 26 |
| Gypsum | 2.00% | 2.5 | 5 | 13 |
| Langbeinite | 2.00% | 2.5 | 5 | 13 |
| Oyster Shells | 2.00% | 2.5 | 5 | 13 |
| Orchid Bark | 3.00% | 4 | 8 | 19 |
| Mycorrhizae | 1.00% | 1 | 2 | 6 |
| Bone Meal | 4.00% | 5 | 10 | 26 |
| 100% | ~128~ | ~256~ | ~640~ |
*The links to each amendment will take you to our storefront at Bloom & Garden, where you can purchase in various sizes/volumes.
'Super Soil' Blend Conclusion
The journey to a thriving garden starts with the soil. By integrating these 15 essential amendments, you create a super soil mix that not only feeds your plants but also nurtures the soil ecosystem. Embrace the power of this super soil mix to unlock the full potential of your garden.
Ready to transform your garden with our super soil mix? Explore our full range of soil amendments at our online store.
