Mixes for organic potted plants require the addition of nutrients from such sources as bloodmeal, bonemeal or rock phosphate. Locally available sources of nitrogen might be animal manures, fish products, dried blood,and legumes such as alfalfa or clover. Phosphorus can be supplied by bonemeal or rock phosphate. Wood ashes contain 1 0% potassium. Vermiculite also contains some potassium.

Mix #1: The classic soil formula

• 1/3 mature compost or leaf mold, screened
• 1/3 garden topsoil
• 1/3 sharp sand

This mix results in a potting soil that is heavier than modern peat mixes, but still has good drainage. Compost has been shown to promote a healthy soil mix that can reduce root diseases. Vermiculite or perlite can be used instead of sand. To this base can be added fertilizers.

Soilless:

• 1/2 cu. yd. sphagnum peat moss
• 1/2 cu. yd. vermiculite
• 10 lbs. bonemeal
• 5 lbs. ground limestone
• 5 lbs. bloodmeal

Mix #2:

• 40 quarts sphagnum peat moss
• 20 quarts sharp sand
• 10 quarts topsoil
• 10 quarts mature compost
• 4 oz. ground limestone
• 8 oz. bloodmeal (contains 10% nitrogen)
• 8 oz. rock phosphate (contains 3% phosphorus)
• 8 oz. wood ashes (contains 1 0% potassium)

Mix #3

• 2 parts vermiculite
• 3 parts peat
• 2 parts perlite
• 2 parts cow manure
• 3 parts topsoil
• 1/2 part bonemeal

Mix #4

• 1 part peat
• 1 part bonemeal
• 1 part perlite
• 1 part compost (of leaf mold)
• 1 part worm castings (optional)

Mix #5

• 9 quarts compost
• 1 cup greensand
• 3 quarts garden soil
• 1/2 cup bloodmeal
• 3 quarts sharp sand
• 1/2 cup bonemeal
• 3 quarts vermiculite

Eva Sommaripa's Mix
An organic grower in the east says that she has successfully used really well-rotted leaf mold as a starting mix, without mixing it with vermiculite or soil. Her usual recipe is:

• 1 part peat
• 1 part vermiculite
• 1 part compost or soil

Stern and Henderson Mix
Finally, here's a recipe used by David Stern and Elizabeth Henderson of New York. It is mixed in a wheelbarrow and the ingredients are sifted through quarter-inch hardware cloth.

• 2 buckets (5 gal.) well-matured compost
• 1 bucket peat moss, or 11/2 bucket peat and 11/2 bucket well-rotted tree stumps
• 1 bucket vermiculite
• 1 bucket last year's recycled potting soil or garden soil
• 1/2 coffee can (1 -lb size) lime
• 1/2 coffee can greensand
• 1/2 coffee can of bonemeal or colloidal phosphate
• 1/2 coffee can bloodmeal
• 1/2 coffee can kelp meal
• For melons, add 1 bucket sand