Pro Mix Potting Soil Review (vs. Miracle-Gro)
Do you have a favorite soil mix? I do! I first tried Pro Mix potting soil for seed starting in my 2021 garden. After planting SO many seeds indoors over the years using Miracle Gro soil, I noticed tons of gnats. So, I decided I needed a change and tried ProMix soil. I’ve never looked back!
Back in 2020, I got serious about gardening. The pandemic inspired many new gardeners to try a quarantine garden, and while I wasn’t new to gardening, I definitely dove back in head first.
I asked about favorite potting soil brands in one of my Facebook gardening groups and discovered a lot of gardeners actually don’t strictly use Miracle Gro potting soil! Some mentioned Black Gold soil and others mentioned FoxFarm.
Some serious gardeners talked about how they make their own DIY potting mixes every year. It sounds like it works out cheaper and involves a true labor of love!
Numerous recommendations poured in for Pro Mix soil, so I decided to give it a whirl.
(Spoiler: I couldn’t be happier!)
What is Pro Mix potting soil?
Pro Mix potting soil is peat-based potting soil designed for indoor and outdoor plants as well as seed starting and other garden needs. The ingredients are carefully selected to support vigorous growth, better moisture management, improved nutrient uptake, larger root systems, and healthier plants overall.
What is in Pro Mix potting soil?
The Pro Mix moisture mix contains Sphagnum peat moss (80-90%), natural coco coir fiber, perlite, ground limestone (for pH), mycorrhizae, and an undisclosed wetting agent. The organic garden mix contains a bit less peat but also includes Gypsum. Meanwhile, the Pro Mix All-Purpose Mix includes Canadian sphagnum peat moss, peat humus, perlite, limestone, and mycorrhizae (PTB297 technology).
Benefits of Pro Mix Soil
I loved Pro Mix soil from the first time I tried it back in 2021. It is now my go-to potting mix for the foreseeable future.
In my opinion, these are the best benefits of Pro Mix Potting Soil:
- Clean – From the first time using it, Pro Mix Potting Soil just felt cleaner and higher quality than any other potting mix I’ve used to date. The mix just didn’t feel as dirty as traditional potting soil.
- Affordable – The bag of Pro Mix ended up costing me about 40% less than the equivalent amount of Miracle Gro Potting Mix. The 2cu ft value pack saves money and includes a LOT of potting mix!
- Compressed – Two cubic feet of potting mix fit into that bag of Pro Mix! It’s packed in tight to take up less space. The compressed potting soil limits packaging, resulting in 2x less bags per package.
- Convenient Package – The convenient packaging has a sturdy handle and a boxy shape that fits well in storage when not in use. The Pro Mix bag also holds its form after opening, keeping your garage and other spaces neat.
- No Gnats – To my pure delight, I didn’t notice any fungus gnats, fruit flies, or other pests emerging from the soil. It’s been amazing, to say the least.
- Recyclable Bag – It’s always great to see a company making an effort to a greener lifestyle!
Where to Buy Pro Mix
I purchased Pro Mix Moisture Potting Mix (with the dark pink label) and also the organic mix (with the yellow label) at the Pottstown Walmart two or three times now. I also buy it at the Bechtelsville Walmart, or another local Walmart.
Sometimes it goes out of stock if you wait too long. It is difficult to find during the off-season (late fall, winter). So my best personal advice is to plan ahead and buy an extra bag to have on hand.
You can also check your local hardware or home and garden stores, like Home Depot and Lowe’s, as well as Amazon.com. If you go to ProMixGardening.com, you can also search for a store near you.
Pro Mix Soil Video Review
Pro Mix Potting Soil vs. Miracle Gro Potting Soil
In my experience comparing Pro Mix Potting Soil vs. Miracle Gro Potting Mix, I found Pro Mix to be the superior product. For years I’ve used Miracle Gro potting soil and I will continue to use it here and there. As far as indoor gardening and seed starting, though, I will rely on Pro Mix as long as it’s available.
Here’s the breakdown of Pro Mix vs. Miracle Gro potting soils:
- Cheaper – Pro Mix wins this category as the 2 cubic foot bag of compressed soil was only $12.88 at Walmart. Looking at Lowes or Home Depot, I’ve seen the same about of Miracle Gro mix for close to $20.
- Better Quality – I enjoyed the texture, composition, and cleanliness of using Pro Mix potting mix far better than the Miracle Gro mix. As I write this, gardening season is currently over here in PA Zone 6b, but I can’t wait for seed starting to run my fingers through the mix as I plant tons of seeds all over again.
- Value – I feel that the amount of Pro Mix provided in the compressed packaging is very fair for the cost and happily continue to be a repeat customer for this product. When Miracle Gro potting mix goes on sale, I will happily still buy it for my outdoor garden beds and containers.
- Purity – When comparing Miracle Gro potting mix to Pro Mix potting soil, I felt the contents of both seemed to have good purity. However, I liked the look and feel of Promix better and also found less trouble with soil gnats (fungus gnats?). Promix may also be a good option if you are trying to avoid fertilizers already being included.
Sometimes I struggle with maintaining proper moisture for young seedlings. I don’t think I had as much trouble this year using the Pro Mix Moisture potting mix, but I’ll try it again for next growing season and report back.
So Which Is It?!
Truthfully, I do like both brands and would happily use either in seed starting, filling flower pots or containers, and amending outdoor raised beds as needed.
Both companies offer quality products, and it was a nice change trying a previously unknown, new brand and product.
However, if I had to pick just one, I’d buy ProMix soil again and again. I would also be sure to fertilize my plants as needed or give seedlings some nutrients when appropriate.
Disclaimer: I am NOT compensated by Pro Mix nor do I have any relationship with the brand or its company. I am just a happy consumer. 🙂
Favorite Uses
Personally, I love the moisture mix for plant propagation. I successfully rooted a fig cutting in soil using the Pro Mix moisture mix.
FAQ
Pro Mix Reviews
If you would like to see what other people are saying about Pro Mix, I think that’s a great way to discover if it’s right for you and your gardens.
Check out these Pro Mix reviews I’ve rounded up to help you learn even more about this product:
Pro Mix Reviews for Premium Organic Garden Mix (Yellow bag)
- Home Depot – Home Depot Pro Mix Customers share insights on their Pro Mix experiences.
- Walmart – Walmart Shoppers give their feedback on Pro Mix organic soil.
Reviews for Pro Mix Premium Moisture Potting Mix (Pink bag)
- Home Depot – Shoppers at Home Depot give feedback on Pro Mix moisture potting mix in the pink bag.
- Walmart – Walmart Shoppers share their opinions on this potting mix.
You can also check Amazon for reviews on Pro Mix products like PRO-MIX Premium Organic Vegetable & Herb Mix (2 cu. ft.) Promix Soil. (Learn more about it or buy it here.)
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Again, I buy my Pro Mix soil at Walmart because it’s convenient with curbside pickup and it’s the cheapest in my area. Your mileage may vary so see where you can find Pro Mix near you and compare costs!
Conclusion: Pro Mix Is an Awesome Compressed Potting Soil!
In case you skipped ahead to the ending, here it is in black and white – I love Pro Mix soil! I definitely recommend it and I buy it every year.
It’s as “clean” feeling as I think soil can be. No problems with gnats. Plants do well. Seedlings start out great.
No complaints here!
What’s your favorite potting mix? Have you tried the comparison of Miracle Gro potting soil vs. Pro Mix potting soil?
Do you have any other feedback or stories to share about this compressed potting mix option?
Shout out in the comments below so we can track everyone’s favorite brand and experiences!
Happy Gardening!
12.14.21 – Edited to add video and update spelling of Miracle Gro.
04.20.23 – Updated to improve spacing, made images full size, and added FAQ. Added reviews section with links, new photos, and a heading for conclusion. Republished from original date Nov. 15, 2021.
I started using ProMix last year and I am hooked. Exactly as you described in your article. I believe Miracle Grow is messing with consumers and offering an inferior product while rebranding the good stuff and charging a higher price…no good. ProMix is my go-to potting soil for now. I’m exploring Coast of Maine via Amazon. Bought couple of bags when there was a price drop but haven’t used it yet.
Thanks for a good article.
Hi Helen,
Great to hear from you! Thanks for taking the time to share your experience and comment. I am so in love with ProMix and will continue to buy it. I hope others will give it a chance. I haven’t tried Coast of Maine but will look into it and would love to hear your thoughts on it after you try it. So glad you liked the article – thanks for the feedback. Always makes my day when I hear from someone like you who took the time to drop me a line. 🙂 Happy Gardening!
Hello gardeners, I have been using Pro-Mix for over 15 years. I have 2 small greenhouses (for fun) and I worked in a large retail green house way back in– well way back. I was recommended to Pro -Mix by commercial growers I purchased plants from and have used it ever since. You are so right it is economical, clean and consistent. My tip to share too seed starters is to use a thin layer of fine ground sphagnum moss on the surface when sowing and use it to also cover seeds. I use No-Damp-Off but I have also ground my own from long fiber used for orchids. When planting varieties that like cool germination this can prevent many rot, damp-off and bacteria problems. Pro-Mix drains very well and is very good to use with seedlings that do better with bottom watering, ie Vinca. Happy Spring
Hi Susan,
Lovely to hear from you! I am so glad you’ve shared the tip on sphagnum moss – I sometimes have issues with watermelon seedlings damping off. Your greenhouses sound amazing! Thanks very much for sharing your experience – loved hearing from you. Happy Spring!
My fiancee’ and I purchased the 2cu.ft (two in one), bag of pro mix potting soil from our local Walmart last week (2/15/22). We transplanted a nice sized fiddle leaf fig, and also a nice sized schefalera (both were about 3-4 ft tall). We transferred them to large pots that measure 12 inches tall by 14 inches in diameter. We had enough mix to do them both and even had mix left. We had used some miracle grow potting mix the week before that repotting peace lillie’s. I definitely like the pro mix better, and it was cheaper, we paid $12.88 for the 2cu.ft. bag. I like the higher moisture content of the pro mix, which means less watering, plus the perlite is a must with the schefalera and the fiddle leaf fig. I loved the article, and look forward to reading more.
Hi James, Nice hearing from you – thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice comment. Your plants sound beautiful and I hope they thrive for you and your fiancee! (Also, best wishes for your upcoming wedding!) I loved hearing that you liked the article and also that you had good experiences using Pro Mix. I was so happy when I found it – and love recommending it to others whom I hope will also find the same quality and performance. I couldn’t agree more – the $12.88 price tag is incredible for how far a single bag of this stuff stretches. Perlite is definitely key – excellent tip. Thanks again for your helpful and kind comment and I’d definitely love for you to come back to my site and share your feedback and insights anytime. Wishing you all the best! – Kate
I’d like to know when people talk about especially liking the perlite, they don’t add more to Pro Mix right it already has perlite right? I’ve only been gardening & growing indoor & outdoor for 5-6 years & found Miracle-Gro not holding up to it’s standards-thank you!
Hi Donna, great point! It’s easy enough to amend something you already like to make it better. Some gardeners have soil recipes where they make their own mixes depending on their needs. I hope to do this one day as well. In my experience, Pro Mix does already have perlite, although some may like to add more. I am constantly working to make the soil indoors and outdoors better – we have rocky clay so it’s a tedious job. 🙂 Happy Gardening!
Many years ago when I started my gardening “career” I became interested in reading various scientific field trials. While informative, these published trials are a tedious read. But then, the idea occurred to me that I could easily run my own trials. What a momentous change that was for me. I discovered that a lot of my “favorite” practices (and many recommended practices) didn’t produce significantly improved results.
Several years ago, I did my own trial that involved using Miracle Gro potting mix compared to my home-made concoction (I forget the precise mixture but I used peat moss, perlite, compost and an organic, balanced fertilizer – Gaia 4-4-4). I planted two identical tomato plants in two separate pots and filled each pot with the different potting mixes.
At first, the Miracle Gro pot noticeably exceeded the other pot. But as the season progressed, my home mixture caught up and surpassed the Miracle Gro. I concluded that the organic fertilizer provided longer-term nutrient availability than the Miracle Gro.
Hello Captain Ron! Lovely to hear from you and this wonderful anecdote of your gardening soil experiments with tomatoes. I have so many of these in my mind and hope to do some more side-by-side gardening experiments as well. 🙂 This is wonderful that you’ve pinpointed a highly successful soil concoction – thank you so much for sharing it with us. I would love to try your mix in one of my garden beds this year and see if I can improve some of our plants’ performance as well! Thanks again for sharing these great tips – I hope more readers will give it a whirl as well. 🙂 Happy Gardening!
I used Miracle Gro potting soil for quite a few years, however, the last time I used it I had major problems with it so I switched to Pro Mix. What a difference! The plants were much stronger from germination on. No more problems with a bad batch of Miracle Gro that myself and many other growers had. Miracle Gro got many bad reviews that year, but never acknowledged the problem.
Hey Rick! Thanks for sharing your experience! I remember that and also had a bad batch that year. So many negative reviews and no answers. I am glad you had such a positive experience using Pro Mix as well! Did you end up adding any particular fertilizer or compost to the soil?
I am going to try Pro Mix vs making my own. My question is…..do you get it wet before planting seedlings? What about in containers and raised beds?
I will start some seedlings and later put in raised beds.
Thank you so much for this review!
Kathleen Mullen
Hi Kathleen! Great hearing from you – thanks for your comment. It’s a great question! I do wet the Pro Mix a bit when planting and as often as needed during the growing process. Sometimes I find it easier to plant the seeds, then water, and water as needed, and again when transplanting. Some gardeners like to make a bin of the potting mix, dampen it, and then use that for seed starting. I enjoy the process of spraying the tops of all the planted egg cartons or what-have-you with water once planted. To each their own! I hope this helps. Best wishes and happy gardening!