Buying soil the options can make one confused as there is so many many different types. What are all these different types and what kind do I need? The simple answer is if you’re buying to start seeds, fill containers, or pot up the ingredients should be peat moss/coir, perlite or vermiculite. It may also contain a wetting agent and lime. If a bag contains soil it is for use in raised beds or filling in low spots in your yard.

Soilless mix– this is used to start seeds. The mixture is sterile, finer material than potting soil/mix, and has little nutrients. The ingredients will be peat moss/coir, perlite or vermiculite, maybe a wetting agent, and lime. The purpose is to get seeds to germinate and start the process of growing. When potting up one should use potting soil/mix

Potting soil or potting mix (both of these are the same thing) They have the same ingredients as soilless mix, but these usually have compost or a fertilizer to help plants grow.

Garden soil: is living and contains sand, silt, clay, and organic matter. It is good for gardens and raised beds. Garden soil is not good for containers or starting seeds. Soil is too dense and doesn’t drain well.

3 or 4 way soil: is usually made up of soil, compost/manure, peat moss, and sand. The kind of mixture you get is dependent of whether you 3 or 4 way. This type of soil is used for raised beds and filling in low spots in yards.

Dirt: is different than soil. Dirt is dead and therefore will not support life. Dirt can be turned into soil by adding compost and other organic matter.

Now if all that sounded confusing and you’re still confused as to what you should buy. This is the type of soil I buy. I use it to start seeds and pot up plants It is lacking nutrients so I water my plants with a seaweed fertilizer once I pot them up. In the beginning I use a weak solution as I have a 55 gallon barrel in my greenhouse and mix the fertilizer in there. Later on when I move to hose I fertilize my plants once a week using one of these.

Now stores/brands do like to confuse people, which is why you should always look at the ingredients. Like this example. By just calling it organic soil one would assume it is not good for using for seed starting or containers, but looking at the ingredients one can see it is suited for it. This another example of a brand trying to trick people. This brand contains soil so it is only good for raised beds or filling in low spots in the yard.

In conclusion the simplest bag of soil to buy is one that contains peat moss/coir, perlite or vermiculite . Starting seeds in a soil that has nutrients added won’t do any harm. I have done a lot of searching on the online stores and most places tend to sell potting soil/mix with added nutrients. I couldn’t find soilless mix or one that is similar to what I use. Just remember the big no no is if the bag contains soil, than take a pass. Hope this post makes understanding soil as clear as mud!