Marianne's Response

Why is my potting soil heavy and wet?

I bought the Osmocote Potting Soil and it was so heavy and wet. Just like mud. I planted a pot and now it is just dry chunks. Is this normal for this potting soil?

Posted by mary gray on August 24, 2014

Marianne's Response

No. It sounds like your bag of soil sat out in the rain and was saturated with water. The organic matter in the soil does a good job of storing moisture but in your case with the soil enclosed in plastic it did too good of job. When I open a bag of Osmocote potting soil it is always light and fluffy and a bit moist, but not wet. Don't let that soaked soil go to waste - either mix it into your garden beds (you don't want to waste any of the fertilizer already in the soil) or mix it half and half with a fresh bag of potting soil. I store my potting soil under cover and away from rain, and I roll up half opened bags and clip them closed with a clothes pin. This keep the soil moist but not wet until it is time to plant again. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti