Soil for good drainage?

Does anyone have any suggestions on soil for indoor growing? I tried an organic soil from lowes and im getting horrible drainage. I even added vermiculite. If anyone could suggest a soil id really appreciate it!

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I like to add Perlite to my soil. You can pick it up at most hardware stores, heck Walmart probably carries it too.

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Thanks, do you have a ratio you use soil to perlite?

I love Mother Earth Coco Peat. It’s a soil, but it has a decent amount of coco in it. I’ve never had any issues with drainage and I’ve been using it for several years now.

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I just add perlite also. Living soil so mine stays moist anyway. I eyeball it. Probably 10% for me anymore. Others will have different ratios. Pick 1. They all work.

I use roots organic original, has enough perlite drains excellent and the plants love it

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I mix my stuff in a wheelbarrow FF, Perlite and worm castings plus some DynoMyco. I typically split 2 bags of perlite up between my 4 7 gal containers.


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Thanks for all the help!

@Bobbydigital recommended Roots Organics Original to me.
Haven’t switched since… Stuffs awesome.

I start in rapid rooters then transplant to solo cups the to one gallon plastic then to 7 gallon fabric… Usually don’t have to feed through most of veg.

Highly recommended it!

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That’s the way I do it as well. Equal parts soil, peat and perlite. I add lime, michro bugs and dry organic fertilizer oyster shell if I got it all in the wheelbarrow to cook a few days

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Roots original is the only soil I have used, and see no reason to change. I suggest that one look at the ingredients in it. It drains great and holds ph well. It is not too hot, and has just enough nutrients to get off to a good start with water only.

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Using vermiculite may have contributed to the drainage problem. Vermiculite is often used as a water retainer. It has some many surface areas that water can attach to. It is often used in 100% peat for that reason.

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Well, damn…

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I’ve used in peat and in pots outside. I thought I would put some in coco. Not a good idea. Fortunately it was a transplant pot and did not contaminate too much of the remaining coco. After I added a couple more bricks and perlite I managed.

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When I was using perlite in coco I just added it until it looked good. To much perlite increases water intervals later in the grow.

Add another tally to Roots Organics original, it’s probably the most consistent I’ve used and very forgiving.

Also think adding 20-30% large chunk perlite would have solved this.

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