Most asked questions about Potting Mix

If you wish to garden in a vegan-friendly way, avoid all products that are labelled as or use the words "organic" and/or "natural" in the name or on the packaging. These products often contain animal derivatives like manures, blood & bone, fish meal, feather meal, etc. This means you should not use Scotts Osmocote PLUS Organics, Scotts Performance Naturals or Debco Organic potting mixes. Scotts Osmocote and Debco potting mixes (and controlled release fertilisers) that DO NOT use the words organic or natural on their labels do not contain any animal derivatives, making them suitable for vegan-friendly gardening.

Our potting mixes are formulated to remain in good condition for at least 2-3 years from the time the bags are opened, without 'slumping' (breaking down and losing volume). Most plants outgrow their existing pots within that time frame, so the potting mix should still be in good condition when repotting or transplanting into the garden becomes necessary. Plants that remain in pots for years at a time should be potted up into fresh mix at least every three years or, if they're too large to completely repot, at least have the top 10cm or so of mix removed and replaced with fresh mix. Regular applications of Osmocote controlled release fertilisers every 6 months (except All Purpose which is a 12-month formulation) will work in conjunction with premium quality mixes to maintain plant health.

Osmocote Premium Potting Mix (orange bag) is a quality mix that contains Osmocote controlled release fertiliser that feeds plants for up to four months, water-smart technology to assist in the absorption and retention of moisture for healthy growth and growth stimulants to encourage strong roots for vigorous growth. Osmocote® Premium Plus Superior Potting Mix  (blue bag) is a premium mix containing Osmocote that feeds plants for up to 6 months, a wetting agent to aid moisture absorption and retention and water-storing crystals to hold moisture and release it back into the mix as plants need it as well as the benefits previously listed for Osmocote Premium.