Go to lowes and get a bag of peat for $9*** or what Joe mentioned..
ok two things, one they seriously sell 40 pound bags for 1.29$??? wow! lol also, whats the difference between topsoil they sell, and topsoil i can go into the woods and get myself?? i admit that my backyard isn't a good place to get it because of possible chemicals in the soil
Check the ingredients. A lot of commercial soils and substrates will add chemicals to the bag which may or may not be safe for the T. They do sell brands that are chemical free though such as what xhexdx suggested. I happen to use topsoil from a gravel yard and really only started using it because we had to buy a buttload of it anyway for xeriscaping the yard.
exactly, but my point is, if there selling top soil with no additives, its just plain dirt, why should i buy their plain dirt, instead of going out into a less populated area and getting my own??
That's the million dollar question isn't it? I honestly don't see much of a difference in buying store-bought top soil and soil that you sterilize yourself. You just have to be careful where you get it as some areas use pesticides even if it's not someone's yard. Store-bought brands will be safer in that regard as long as you buy one without additives. So, unless you are certain that the topsoil you are digging up has not been exposed to pesticides, chemicals, or contaminated run off, then I would probably buy store-bought brands if you want less of a risk. However, I will say that I've used dirt from outside before with no issue.
Because the dirt you get from outside is full of bugs, mites, seeds, fungi...
Which the majority of that can still be sterilized and sifted out of the dirt. It's a lot more work but it is still possible to do. I've also bought plenty of bags from the store that had the same issue with fungi and bugs flourishing in the packaging. So the main reason I would probably buy from the store rather than dig up substrate would be the time and effort I would have to put into sterilizing it before using.
I'm not the one who posted this thread. :?
I also didn't quote you in my response.
Ah okay. I'm just giving information based on experience, readings, and practices of myself and others with much more experience than I. I didn't mean to offend you if I did.
Ive used bark from the outdoors as well. I just baked it in the oven to kill any pest or fungus I couldn't see. Stunk for a bit but better than any mites or anything like that. My question would be could the OP bake the soil to kill any unwanted guest? I don't know if it's plausible or not just kinda throwing it out there.
yes i was going to bake and or freeze it
i am the same way, but the only problem with this is, if i spend my last penny, i wouldn't have any money left to buy food for them :?
:? i get about ten large for a dollar at my lps im not aspose to get that many but well im a regular
i mean ill give you a dollar man you dont live but twenty mins from me