What Is Miracle-Gro Self Feeding Soil Mix?

Soil Mixes

• Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Flowers and Vegetables is made to be used in the garden as you would use topsoil. It is formulated from peat moss, composted forest products, aged rice hulls, manure, a wetting agent and a slow-release fertilizer that feeds for up to three months. There are specific formulations for Florida, California and Texas. Miracle-Gro also offers soil mixes specific to roses; palms, cactus and citrus; and trees and shrubs. Soil mixes are not meant for use in containers.

Potting Mixes

• Miracle-Gro Potting Mix, for use in window boxes, patio pots, houseplant pots and other containers, contains sphagnum peat moss, composted bark, perlite, a wetting agent and a slow-release fertilizer that feeds for up to six months. Perlite is a naturally occurring volcanic rock full of air pockets that hold moisture and nutrients. Miracle-Gro also makes specific potting mixes for African violets and cactus.

Fertilizer

• The fertilizer used in both the soil mix and potting mix is Miracle-Gro Continuous Release Plant Food. The nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) rating for the soil mix is 15-5-10 and for the potting mix 21-7-14. The fertilizer is derived from manure, ammonium nitrate, ammonium phosphate, calcium phosphate and potassium sulfate.

Using

• Wear gloves when using mixes with added fertilizer. When planting outdoors, amend native soil with an equal part of soil mix. Settle the plant in the hole and water deeply. When potting a plant, fill the container to the point where the plants will be placed, then fill in around them. Water well to settle the soil and add more potting soil to within 2 inches of the top of the container.