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doublej

doublej

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where are you guys getting your medias at? Amazon?
Not sure if I trust just anywhere. Walmart? They have a shit load. The local garden store here just has the commercial grade ff, cheap run of the mill soils.
Just thought I'd ask.
 
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Sometimes, the grocery store!

I went grocery shopping today.....

And saw this Out in the garden department. I can buy packer briskets, oaxaca cheese, 2lbs of seedless grapes, and now Fox Farm weed farming stuffs in one location. 🫠 The crazy thing about this...10-15 years ago around here a cop seeing a bag of Fox Farm in a car during a traffic stop was...
budbuilders.org budbuilders.org

Amazon, True Value Hardware, or Ace Hardware for Coast of Maine Stonington soil and other brands like Roots or Fox Farm. The two hardware stores with ship to store features are often the best deal if there's a store near you.

Ebay, in particular a seller who goes by Spreetail, has some of the best deals on Roots soil brands. I can vouch for this being clean, warehouse stored, bug free soil

Security Measure | eBay

www.ebay.com www.ebay.com

Another good ebay seller is Esbenshades Garden Center. They're also on Amazon

Security Measure | eBay

www.ebay.com www.ebay.com

Most online grow stores charge freight shipping rates on soils but sometimes there's deals with free shipping at Grow Green Michigan's Dank Deals
growgreenmi.com

DANK DEALS!

GrowGreenMI.com - The World's Largest Hydro Store! Thousands of items in stock and DANK DEALS on the best brands
growgreenmi.com growgreenmi.com

I have seen Promix red bales at Walmart too.

Sometimes when using google shop for a particular brand a rare deal may pop up.
For example, I've been wanting to try GreenGro Pride Lands soil. I've seen Stoney use their amendments or teas and he likes them so the soil has been on my radar.
Stonington got a little spendy on Amazon so I started shopping for alternatives.
My first choice was Roots GreenFields and I bought it off Ebay.
But days later I found a deal on Pride Lands so I ordered it. I fully expect this order to be cancelled though because it only charged me $26 to ship 5 bags and it's usually a freight rate of like $200-$400. We'll see what happens but at least I have the Greenfields already if the Pride Lands gets cancelled
 
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I purchase most of my potting soil here:

www.growgeneration.com

Grow Generation | Hydroponics Store & Grow Supplies

Explore GrowGeneration, the largest hydroponics store in the U.S., offering grow lights, nutrients, tents & more. Shop online or find a store near you.
www.growgeneration.com www.growgeneration.com

You will find them in many legal states. About a month ago, I bought 4 bags of Fox Farm's Ocean Forrest. 1.5 cu ft bags were $13.30 a piece with my growers club discount.

Edit: I purchased it from our local brick and mortar store. I did not order it online.
 
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doublej said:
where are you guys getting your medias at? Amazon?
Not sure if I trust just anywhere. Walmart? They have a shit load. The local garden store here just has the commercial grade ff, cheap run of the mill soils.
Just thought I'd ask.
Click to expand...
Hardware stores carry a supply. Home Hardware, Rona,Home Depot, Garden shops.

My main 3 are ABS Greenworld VPW30, Most of the Promix brands BX.HP,Myco's, some that come from costco, walmart in 2 colored 1/2 bricks seem a bit hot but any of the other Promix in large bales seem good.Sunshine mix #4 also works the same for me.
 
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Bandit420 said:
Sometimes, the grocery store!

I went grocery shopping today.....

And saw this Out in the garden department. I can buy packer briskets, oaxaca cheese, 2lbs of seedless grapes, and now Fox Farm weed farming stuffs in one location. 🫠 The crazy thing about this...10-15 years ago around here a cop seeing a bag of Fox Farm in a car during a traffic stop was...
budbuilders.org budbuilders.org

Amazon, True Value Hardware, or Ace Hardware for Coast of Maine Stonington soil and other brands like Roots or Fox Farm. The two hardware stores with ship to store features are often the best deal if there's a store near you.

Ebay, in particular a seller who goes by Spreetail, has some of the best deals on Roots soil brands. I can vouch for this being clean, warehouse stored, bug free soil

Security Measure | eBay

www.ebay.com www.ebay.com

Another good ebay seller is Esbenshades Garden Center. They're also on Amazon

Security Measure | eBay

www.ebay.com www.ebay.com

Most online grow stores charge freight shipping rates on soils but sometimes there's deals with free shipping at Grow Green Michigan's Dank Deals
growgreenmi.com

DANK DEALS!

GrowGreenMI.com - The World's Largest Hydro Store! Thousands of items in stock and DANK DEALS on the best brands
growgreenmi.com growgreenmi.com

I have seen Promix red bales at Walmart too.

Sometimes when using google shop for a particular brand a rare deal may pop up.
For example, I've been wanting to try GreenGro Pride Lands soil. I've seen Stoney use their amendments or teas and he likes them so the soil has been on my radar.
Stonington got a little spendy on Amazon so I started shopping for alternatives.
My first choice was Roots GreenFields and I bought it off Ebay.
But days later I found a deal on Pride Lands so I ordered it. I fully expect this order to be cancelled though because it only charged me $26 to ship 5 bags and it's usually a freight rate of like $200-$400. We'll see what happens but at least I have the Greenfields already if the Pride Lands gets cancelled
Click to expand...

I'm about a 45 minute drive from "Grow Green Michigan" where Grow Generation is right here in my home town. I've been to "Grow Green's" several times. Their price for Fox Farm's Ocean Forest was about the same (app $13.30 a bag) at that time. It's a great place to shop especially with those "daily deals." For me it was easier not to make the drive.
 
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I've been bumping into that freight thing as well. Idk, amazon makes me think of some rotten wear houses for some reason. Might be me. Hearing growers talk usually hits with me.
Anyway thanks
 
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I have always got good soil from amazon.
Last time [ month ago] the Stonington was $45 a bag but delivered in 2 days.
Last time [ just this winter] I purchased from my local grow store the Ocean Forrest came with thrips.:mad:
I'll keep trusting Amazon, just a shame price went up $15 a bag.
I mix the Stonington with their Quoddy bay compost which is well under $20 a bag so some savings there.
I like and my plants like 1 part compost to 2 parts soil.
Seems a lot of growers do well with Pro mix which is the most affordable when purchased in bales.
 
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doublej said:
I've been bumping into that freight thing as well. Idk, amazon makes me think of some rotten wear houses for some reason. Might be me. Hearing growers talk usually hits with me.
Anyway thanks
Click to expand...

Amazon has been one of the best for me on quality but it's regional. Only recent issues I've had are mushrooms in the soil from GGMi. I like amazon more than the local garden center with Fox Farm stuff because theirs is all outside on pallets getting rain and Sun. The grocery store FF is just spendy and I can spend that same cost but have it delivered to my door.
Just make sure amazon soils has free returns then there's no risk. That's what gives Amazon the edge over others for me unless the others' price is too good to pass up.
But for real dude if I got a bad bag of dirt from amazon I'd file the return for free UPS store drop off, they email the code, and I'd leave the bag of dirt on the counter at UPS ;bo
 
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Bandit420 said:
Amazon has been one of the best for me on quality but it's regional. Only recent issues I've had are mushrooms in the soil from GGMi. I like amazon more than the local garden center with Fox Farm stuff because theirs is all outside on pallets getting rain and Sun. The grocery store FF is just spendy and I can spend that same cost but have it delivered to my door.
Just make sure amazon soils has free returns then there's no risk. That's what gives Amazon the edge over others for me unless the others' price is too good to pass up.
But for real dude if I got a bad bag of dirt from amazon I'd file the return for free UPS store drop off, they email the code, and I'd leave the bag of dirt on the counter at UPS ;bo
Click to expand...
I suppose roots white bag is like the strawberry ff
 
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steamroller said:
I have always got good soil from amazon.
Last time [ month ago] the Stonington was $45 a bag but delivered in 2 days.
Last time [ just this winter] I purchased from my local grow store the Ocean Forrest came with thrips.:mad:
I'll keep trusting Amazon, just a shame price went up $15 a bag.
I mix the Stonington with their Quoddy bay compost which is well under $20 a bag so some savings there.
I like and my plants like 1 part compost to 2 parts soil.
Seems a lot of growers do well with Pro mix which is the most affordable when purchased in bales.
Click to expand...
Bugs we don't want 🎯
 
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Pipecarver said:
Hardware stores carry a supply. Home Hardware, Rona,Home Depot, Garden shops.

My main 3 are ABS Greenworld VPW30, Most of the Promix brands BX.HP,Myco's, some that come from costco, walmart in 2 colored 1/2 bricks seem a bit hot but any of the other Promix in large bales seem good.Sunshine mix #4 also works the same for me.
Click to expand...
Sunshine is what i was using before #4 & advanced. I'm on the fence about how involved I want to be. I was going to run a couple autos to break in the new garden. So am on the fence
 
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For years I've gotten my promix at a local garden center, a few minutes away. Then they raised the price near $50 for each 3.8 cu. ft. bale, I said fuck it and now get them delivered for around $85 from amazon. This local garden center stores them outside, and they are always dirty, ripped and wet. Now I get them delivered in a nice box, and always fresh and in good shape. And I'm too old to be moving bales in and out of the suv to the garage.

I was a dir. of operations for a chain of garden centers in maryland for years and I always kept them covered, in a shed or garage for this reason. They come from Premier on pallets, which are easily moved in and out and around. By the way, fork lifts are a lot of fun to play with. lol
 
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MiGrampa said:
I'm about a 45 minute drive from "Grow Green Michigan" where Grow Generation is right here in my home town. I've been to "Grow Green's" several times. Their price for Fox Farm's Ocean Forest was about the same (app $13.30 a bag) at that time. It's a great place to shop especially with those "daily deals." For me it was easier not to make the drive.
Click to expand...
I think potting soil is too hot and heavy, not enough perlite and too many nutes for seedlings. I know that's what the stuff is for but, twisted and off color starting leaves is what I've seen from it. Promix/peat based mediums have a starter charge but they're not hot and I'd consider them almost inert.
 
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I've not used soil in awhile now but may be better off buying in bulk to make your own mix or get to composting, and just add perlite?

When I did use soil I mixed it with extra coco and perlite.
 
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I’ve purchased growing medium from local hardware stores, hydro shops, big box stores and amazon.

Amazon can be pretty expensive for delivery, everywhere else is hit and miss on availability and no matter what, they have whiteflies as soon as you water them the first time.

I’ve also seen that most any decent quality soil will work acceptably, however, you need to understand what the soil is providing the plant (as opposed to what your nutrient application supplies). By this, I mean the issues of pre-fertilized soil (how long will it last before you need to add nutrients), buffering (how does it affect ca-mag Levels for the plant, water retention and compaction over time. It’s easier if you know the soil qualities before you start as opposed to the early learning curve of figuring out your soil qualities.
 
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TomH said:
I’ve purchased growing medium from local hardware stores, hydro shops, big box stores and amazon.

Amazon can be pretty expensive for delivery, everywhere else is hit and miss on availability and no matter what, they have whiteflies as soon as you water them the first time.

I’ve also seen that most any decent quality soil will work acceptably, however, you need to understand what the soil is providing the plant (as opposed to what your nutrient application supplies). By this, I mean the issues of pre-fertilized soil (how long will it last before you need to add nutrients), buffering (how does it affect ca-mag Levels for the plant, water retention and compaction over time. It’s easier if you know the soil qualities before you start as opposed to the early learning curve of figuring out your soil qualities.
Click to expand...
Yep that's why I ask.
 
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Called and talked to a lady, she says some things listed online may not be available because of the computer systems between the 2 stores is not updated always. Orders are good to make. Anything not available will be refunded
 
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doublej said:
Is that that the right COM?
Click to expand...

Yes.
Here's the total on that soil lol

Screenshot 2025-02-24 092740.png

Pride Lands seems to be the only one with a USPS or UPS option for less than $25 to ship 5 bags.

You don't need that seedling mix from CoM. Stonington is fine for seedlings. Every seedling sprout I've started in the past 2-3 years has gone direct into Stonington w/ no issue. Before that, direct to either Roots Greenfields, Roots Original, or Fox Farm Happy Frog.
Really haven't come across a soil too hot for sprouts since Vermifire and that's not around anymore. Maybe Roots Lush would be too hot but doubt it because I've put seedlings of other plants in that stuff without issue.

Your old Sunshine Mix is on Amazon w/ free delivery if you wanna pick up where you left off in the hobby

Black Gold is also on there from the same folks who make Sunshine #4. Old school favorite soil before all the brands like Roots and others came around. I was very close to choosing this but found Greenfields cheaper...

 
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doublej said:
Called and talked to a lady, she says some things listed online may not be available because of the computer systems between the 2 stores is not updated always. Orders are good to make. Anything not available will be refunded
Click to expand...
Nice they are 'close' to me in Mass.
I'll have to check them out when cruising weather arrives.
One thing did stand out to me as a flag though.
They sell clones.
That means there could be issues with materials stored there?

I signed up and put 4 stonington and 1 seedstarter in my cart.
$119.
Shipping said $582~!🤯 I am in NY and closer than anyone else.
I think I will wait till the weather improves..
1740412484268.png
1740412551534.png
 
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