Menards no longer sells pro mix

[JRinPA]

You're welcome. I've never been to the greenhouse place. The produce supply in Leola is where I get agribon and such, some seeds. They are about 5 miles apart, I guess. Basically when I was introduced to Nolt's by a friend, he said that is not like a big store to window shop. Generally they want you to send in your order first and they have it ready the day you come. It is all in the catalog.

How far are you from Harrisonburg? The guy that told me about nolt's has since taken over his family's farm down that way.

[Seven Bends]

How far are you from Harrisonburg? The guy that told me about nolt's has since taken over his family's farm down that way.

It takes 1.75 to 2 hours to get to Harrisonburg from here. It's southwest of me in the Shenandoah Valley. Lots of poultry farms out that way.

[rdback]

How far are you from Harrisonburg? The guy that told me about nolt's has since taken over his family's farm down that way.

It takes 1.75 to 2 hours to get to Harrisonburg from here. It's southwest of me in the Shenandoah Valley. Lots of poultry farms out that way.

...and a beautiful place to live!

[Seven Bends]

How far are you from Harrisonburg? The guy that told me about nolt's has since taken over his family's farm down that way.

It takes 1.75 to 2 hours to get to Harrisonburg from here. It's southwest of me in the Shenandoah Valley. Lots of poultry farms out that way.

...and a beautiful place to live!

Definitely true. Describing it as "lots of poultry farms" doesn't really get that point across well, sorry!

[maxjohnson]

So I finally went to Zettler Hardware, and okay first their prices for typical items are really high. It's sort of like Ace Hardware, and there is limited of anything garden related. But I was able to get the employee to order three bags of Pro-Mix, took 3 days to arrived and they called me to pick it up. Was $22.99 per 2cuft bag, ended up to $75 total for three.

I noticed that TrueValue have compressed bale pro-mix that can be ordered to the store, but none of them are close to my area. And they also are more expensive now.

20240420_182308.jpg

I am aware aside from demand there are political and logistic things Canada related that is causing price increase for peat moss and the shipping of it here to US. But basically have to get used to reusing old potting mix for my containers. Might have to give that Sunshine brand a try.

[AKgardener]

I personally didn’t like the sunshine mix none of my seedlings liked it .. just my personal experience but again it could of well been my own fault but I won’t be buying it again..

[JRinPA]

Now that it is into mid April and I really don't need any, I have seen Pro Mix a couple places. Two weeks back, walmart had two types. Neither were BX. Small bags, one was the loose pink potting mix like above, and one was 1.1cuft compressed, red label I think, for about $20 ea. A feed supply I stopped at today had BX, I think BX myco Bio, for 47.99 for the 3.8 compressed. I priced the straight peat but already forget. Either 17 or 23 or 27 and that is quite a spread and I am ashamed of that. Bad day all around.

I think I am just going to use compost with some perlite for rain gutter pots this year. So far the onions and lettuce love it, the only two of 18 pots that are out there. In my situation, peat moss was one thing at $9 for 3 ft or $11 for 4 ft, but mid $20 range like last year...$50 bucks for peat with some fancy stuff myco bio and a small percentage of perlite is just insane to me, since I'm not selling stuff and passing that cost on.

I wanted some in January and February, I don't feel like I need it now with warmed up compost piles.

[Ginger2778]

I asked the Menards FB page and they confirmed that the ProMix is being discontinued They're going to start carrying SunGro Sunshine Mix #4 as an alternative but it's not available at most places yet and they said it won't start being more available until later this month. Listed at 17.99 for 2cu ft. https://www.menards.com/main/outdoors/g ... 034794.htm

From what I understand, the SunGro is basically Lamberts, it's very good stuff.

[Kurt]

Today at Diamond R dealer here BX at 38/00 per bale,44 for HP.

[MissS]

I bought the SunGro Sunshine mix and so far I'm having good luck with it both as a seed starter and a potting mix. If I have any complaints, it's that it's a little heavy on the perlite and i have to remove some from the top for seed starting.

[maxjohnson]

Comparison between Sunshine Mix #4 vs Pro-Mix Premiun Potting Mix

Sunshine seems to have a lot of perlite. It is drier and the bag is lighter.
ProMix is more dense and mostly peat moss.

20240528_182826.jpg

20240528_185114.jpg

Sunshine:

20240528_182347.jpg

ProMix:

20240528_182354.jpg

Just for public service, I will compare them, two containers each. About 5-gallon containers, 3 scoops of Osmocote per container, 1 bellpepper and 1 dwarf tomato in each. My guess is the yield will turn out the same.

Sunshine mix have a lot of perlite than most potting mix, I assume it is high porosity, but they have some silica ingredient that is supposed to help with water retention. I assume it will require more watering than ProMix. But all containers will have saucers in the bottom, I refuse to do without.

I think I will buy plain peat moss and fine sized pine bark to mix with the Sunshine mix, in order to get more potting mix for less money. And because I prefer a little less porosity than what I'm seeing.

[JRinPA]

Having rarely (never?) done straight containers that get top watered, what is the "saucer in the bottom"? The bowl that the pot sits in?

For my rain gutter grow type wicking pots, I would choose that extra perlite, probably, but then dilute it with added compost, so...

Thanks for the comparison pics.

[maxjohnson]

Having rarely (never?) done straight containers that get top watered, what is the "saucer in the bottom"? The bowl that the pot sits in?

For my rain gutter grow type wicking pots, I would choose that extra perlite, probably, but then dilute it with added compost, so...

Thanks for the comparison pics.

Saucer for all containers, saves me time watering. Of course people are more concerned with PFAS in food and fertilizer these days. So YMMV.

20240529_172203.jpg

20240529_172250.jpg

I bought those 16" Hydrofarm green saucers 5 years ago on amazon for a massive discount on clearance. Not sure I'm willing to pay $45 after tax for a 10-pack today.

20240529_172545.jpg

Even with 50/50 peat moss + sunshine mix, then fine pine bark added the porosity still seem to be higher than regular Promix.
About $40 after tax for these three, almost 6cuft, instead of $58 for three sunshine mix.