Miracle-Gro Expand 'n Gro Concentrated Planting Mix, Just Add Water for up to 3X Expansion, For Container and In-Ground Use, .33 cu. ft. Expands up to 1 cu. ft.

First thing I read regarding this product's qualities: Great substitute for garden soil or potting mix. After purchasing 5 bags of this product and planting my 3 ea./20" containers I've learned that this is a soil additive. Everything is already planted and in place. Now all I can do is cross my fingers and hope my plants thrive. How misleading to advertise as a soil substitute! Hoping to ensure healthy plants I have combined a topping of chopped hay, Organic Worm Castings - All Natural Soil Amendment, Soil Builder, and Fertilizer, 3 Pound Bag, black dirt and no float Cyprus mulch. Also mixed hay mulch in the planting mix as well. Added Jobe's 06328 Bone Meal Fertilizer Spikes, 50, Natural and utilized Safer Brand 5450-6 Garden Fungicide Ready to Use 32 Ounces as a safety upgrade to stop any mulch mildew, etc. Now what to do next year as these are perennials and I do not have available free dirt of my own as I live in an apartment. What I should have done in the first place is purchase black dirt and combined that with this product. Ugh, always one step forward and 50 steps back. Hoping that my patio garden has not become my money pit :( I have begun my begonia bulbs indoors with the assistance of the Grow Light for Indoor Plant Growing LED Grow Light 9 Dimmable Settings, Horizontal Plant Growth Lamp for Indoor Plants with Red/Blue Spectrum, Adjustable Gooseneck, 3/9/12H Timer (Red). Included the Amazon product headings where applicable. Planted 04/29 and the growth rate varied while the very last one of 5 appeared on 5/30/2021. Next step is hang outdoors once the weather stabilizes with constant warmer nights, etc and wait for the blooms of my Non-Stop Begonia Red in my 14" Resin Woven Hanging Basket, Espresso Brown, Hangings Basket. My patio holds my hydrangea, dianthus, and these red begonias. Will update as the summer continues.

There are some small pieces of white plastic here and there that look like bread ties. The "expand" part hasn't been great so far; it's been almost 18 hours since I set it up and I'm questioning whether there's been any expansion or not (still letting it dry a little more to see for sure, though). I bought it for 6" pots in my apartment because I can't lug heavy bags. It's not good for indoor use; I had to use a styrofoam cup & cover it with my hand to dish it into the pots to reduce airborne dirt and that still didn't help (the dirt just flies into the air and coated everything). It also has a noticeable odor that reminded me of their liquid fertilizer for blooming indoor plants. I've used their indoor plant potting mix before and would recommend that - my violets transferred well into it and thrived. This, however, would probably work best mixed into topsoil outside for an outdoor garden - it definitely helps retain moisture. I can't say I'm dissatisfied since I haven't grown anything in it yet, but I am dissapointed as it doesn't seem like it will suit my needs.

Always use Miracle Groe

They weren't kidding about this stuff expanding. I thought I put enough in the container. Added water and ba-boom, too much soil. I had to let the excess dry out and store it a couple large Ziploc bags. It does hold water quite well. It may look and be dry on the surface but down by the root ball the hydrometer is still showing high moisture level.

It was loose, felt like it was broken, though I knew to add water. Little expansion of material which felt shady to me (and I'm dedicated to the Miracle Gro brand), and I just wasn't impressed. Will not repurchase.