Comparison: Best Soil Mix For Microgreens (Updated | Nov 11th)

A good microgreen mix needs a fine, well‑aerated texture that holds moisture without becoming waterlogged. Look for ingredients like peat moss, coco coir, perlite, and worm castings that provide both drainage and nutrient retention. A balanced pH (around 6.0‑6.5) helps seeds germinate quickly and produces vibrant, healthy greens.

Peat‑based mixes, such as Gardenera’s blends, usually offer excellent water‑holding capacity and a slightly acidic environment that many microgreens prefer. Peat‑free mixes, like the Seedling Seed Starter Soil, rely on coco coir, biochar, and other renewable materials, providing similar aeration while reducing environmental impact. Performance is comparable, but peat‑free options may require a bit more monitoring of moisture levels.

For bulk production, Gardenera’s 10‑quart (≈9 L) Premium Potting Mix gives a generous volume of pre‑blended, nutrient‑rich soil at a competitive price per quart. The Minute Soil compressed coco coir bricks expand up to 15 times, delivering a lot of usable medium for a small storage footprint, which can be cost‑effective if you prefer to add your own fertilizer. Consider the total cost of the mix plus any supplemental nutrients when calculating value.

Yes, several options emphasize sustainability: the Seedling Seed Starter Soil is peat‑free and packaged in carbon‑neutral, resealable bags; Back to the Roots uses upcycled plant matter and wood fines with no imported peat; and Minute Soil’s coco coir bricks are made from renewable coconut husk fibers. These products reduce carbon footprint while still delivering strong performance for microgreens.

Pre‑added nutrients, like those in Gardenera’s mixes, give a convenient, ready‑to‑go start and can produce flavorful microgreens without extra steps. However, they may limit your ability to fine‑tune nutrient levels for specific varieties. Adding your own organic fertilizer lets you customize nutrition, but requires careful dosing to avoid over‑fertilizing and affecting taste.

A quality seed starter mix, such as the Seedling Seed Starter Soil, works well for most microgreens because it offers good aeration and moisture control. Dedicated microgreen blends, like Gardenera’s, often include extra worm castings and lime to boost nutrient density and pH stability, which can improve growth speed and flavor. If you grow a wide variety of greens, a versatile seed starter mix is sufficient, but for premium results a specialized blend may be worth the extra cost.

Compressed coco coir discs (Minute Soil) are lightweight, compact, and expand dramatically with water, making storage and transport easy for small spaces. They are peat‑free, renewable, and provide excellent water retention while still allowing strong aeration. Bulk potting mixes give you a ready‑to‑use medium but require more storage space and can be heavier to handle.

Both Gardenera products share the same ingredient list—Canadian peat moss, coco coir, perlite, worm castings, and lime—but they are marketed under slightly different titles; the core formulation is identical. Compared with brands like Miracle‑Gro or Espoma, Gardenera focuses on a hand‑mixed, small‑batch approach with a higher proportion of organic amendments, while the others often include synthetic fertilizers or a broader ingredient spectrum. The choice comes down to whether you value a fully organic, nutrient‑rich blend versus a mix that may include added fertilizers for faster growth.