ProMix is usually my mix of choice, and it works well in containers with added fert. But in the heat of summer, if it drys out, it really dries badly. I've tried adding Soil Moist crystals but sometimes I think that's worse- they seem to suck the moisture from the soil as it gets really dry.

I water daily but, if we go out of town, gets to be a lot to expect from my neighbors to watch all these pots.

I'm wondering about MG moisture control potting mix. I know many of you are MG fans. Have you used the moisture control soil, and were you happy with it? Does it retain too much moisture? I don't want things to rot.

Any thoughts appreciated.

Karen

Another thing you can do is move all your containers into one spot, part shade is nice is you can do it, and set up a hose with timer on the spigot programmed to water for a couple of hours each day. Test it out for a couple of days before you leave so you're confident in its working to your desire. You can then get away without any worries.

Karen

In other words, it works fine as long as you don't run into weather problems, too much rain, not enough rain and then a deluge of rain from a thunderstorm, etc. or if you overwater the container as well.

A friend tried it a few years ago and was satisfied with it for about a month, then she got daily thunderstorms for about 3 weeks and the soil was so wet the roots of her plants started to rot.

She was able to save some of the plants by repotting them in the regular MG potting mix and never used it again.

Another friend tried it by mixing containers with half regular MG potting mix and half with the moisture control. That proportion didn't work either, the soil got way to wet and stayed that way and she lost several containers full of plants.
She went back to the regular MG potting mix as well.

I've never had any problems using just the MG potting mix for all my containers.

I cover the top of the soil with a layer of potting mix also. I water them well and being on a permanent water restriction in my town, only able to water every other day, I soak them well on the days I can water and they've all been fine for several years now under the water restrictions.

Fran

That moisture control mix looked and felt like it contains a whole lot of coir. Doesn't look or feel like it can hold a plant in a pot. Odd.

I used my regular ProMix and moisture crystals in my bloommaster baskets. They don't get much direct sun so don't dry out so much.

Karen

I used the moisture control last year but it wasn't the MG brand, more like a chain store brand. It was really good and I also mulched. I think PV was the one who told me to try the mulching.

I owe you an e-mail. I haven't forgotten.

Tiffy

This moisture control stuff if really odd-feeling. Very fluffy, feels like straight coir. I only tried that once for inside plants and came close to killing everything, so time will tell how I do with this stuff. If anyone should know potting mix, it's PV, so if she likes it, that's saying a lot.

Thanks, Everyone, for the input.

Karen

My pots grew Lantanas, Verbenas (annual), Milkweed, Buddleia, Petunias, and Hostas.

I use about an inch or so on top of all my pots, including all the veggies I grow in pots, tomatoes, peppers, cukes, lettuce, carrots, beets etc.

Not only does it help to keep the moisture in the soil, it helps to keep the weeds from growing in their as well.

Fran

Karen

I've never used the MG Moisture Control mix, and I've given up on MG potting mix in general. Used to use it exclusively since it was the easiest available in my area, but the last several years I've been very disappointed with it. Found a nursery where I can get Fafard, so that's what I use now.

Depending on what's going in the pot, I might add some moisture pellets, but everything gets mulched. I like pine fines too, but pine bark is what I usually get around here. But I've used stones, crunched up newspaper (!), whatever. These days I'm using cocoa shells, bought in error a couple of years ago - 2 cu. ft. of the stuff lasts a l-o-n-g time.

PV