Soil mix? Garden soil, Topsoil?

Hello folks hopefully a quick question regarding soil. I apparently need a combination of compost and garden soil for some of my potted plants. I have bags of compost. I am reading that garden soil is topsoil (which i can find easily online) with added nutrients. Unless im looking in the wrong places I cant seem to find garden soil as easily available. I dont want to have to dig up any borders to get 'my garden soil' and am guessing the soil from my garden isnt the same as garden soil. When i look for garden soil online, i get Topsoil, or Compost - its driving me bonkers! Thank you in advance!

 

Topsoil is fine. Most GCs and DIY stores stock it. You can also get John Innes composts, which are soil based. The J.I. thing is just a formula.
It depends on what you're using it for, but most plants are fine with a bit of compost and soil mixed together. You can add grit for containers if it's something that needs sharper drainage.
It's only a problem if the soil you buy is very acidic or very alkaline, and the plant you're growing would be adversely affected by that, in which case the J. Innes mixes are best.

 

Garden soil is topsoil. The stuff you buy in bags is just good quality (hopefully!) garden soil, sterilised and sieved. John Innes 3 has quite a lot in it.

 

What are you planning to grow in your pots @MJ76? Some plants prefer less rich soil or require more drainage than others. I use a blend of soil based compost, MPC, grit or gravel, with proportions depending on what I am growing and for how long.

 

Interesting. I used to always add soil to a mix for pots, but in recent years (last 10+) I've not. Fortunately I have access to unlimited horse manure which is my substitute for part of the bulk. Depending on the plants requirement either more or less grit/perlite gets added ditto JI base in varying small amounts. I've not as yet found anything that suffers from it. Acidic plants are a different ball-game and are forever being tended, especially the blueberries.

 

Thank you for the answers folks, im repotting a red robin which I believe likes the soil neutral or slightly acidic.

 

Thanks Fairygirl, when you say the JI is soil based - does it still need soil to be added or is it like premixed ready to go?

 

If you look at the various types of JI composts, you'll see what they're designed to suit. I don't use them myself, but lots of people do. Some are for general shrubs, some are for acid loving types etc.
You would normally use them on their own, but it would always depend on how and what you're growing, and your climate. This is why location is so important. For example, I wouldn't need to water potted shrubs at this time of year, while people in very dry areas would.

Your location will also dictate how well those particular Photinias do. They always look terrible here over autumn/winter, especially the standards, because the climate just doesn't suit them.

 

You dont need to add anything to a JI compost, it is a soil based compost that is ready to go.

That said I often add either some multipurpose compost or sharp sand as some times it can vary, (just like all kinds of compost, be it peat free or peat based its never quite the same twice), just to open it up and make it less "muddy".

You can buy JI in no1, no2, no 3 and seed versions, for potting on shrubs. in general, you would mostly go for No3 as it has the most fertiliser.

You can get an ericaceous version, but you would only use that on lime hating plants.
Its not widely available I dont think but I sometimes see it.

 

Thanks for clarifying that @pete. As I said, they aren't something I ever use, but it's one of those things that often crops up, and I can understand that it's very confusing for someone who isn't aware of all the ins and outs

 

Thank you again =) think thats all questions answere much appreciated

 

For a Red Robin, I’d use John Innes no 3 with a few handfuls of multipurpose compost to lighten it up a bit. You could also add a few handfuls of grit to help with drainage.

 

I'd think the most important thing is to have a suitably sized pot - ie a pretty big one, or else you'd have to keep taking it out and doing some root pruning, and keeping the top reasonably well trimmed.