It's easy and fun to mix up a big batch of potting soil. Plus, it's cheaper than buying pre-mixed bags.

These recipes are from a book by Alice and Brian McGowan, Bulbs in the Basement Geraniums on the Windowsill. With perhaps the exception of Turface, all ingredients should be readily available at nurseries and garden centers.

The McGowans wrote that Turface "consists of calcined clay, which is clay that has been heated, in a process similar to the firing of clay pots, until the moisture is removed. In their texture, the small angular bits of baked clay resemble kitty litter; the color is of terra-cotta pots." Further, Turface prevents soil compaction and has a unique ability to hold moisture.

The dash of lime is necessary to counteract the acidity of peat moss.

All-purpose mix
1 part peat moss
1 part sand
1/4 part Turface
1/4 part compost
dash of lime

Succulent mix
3/4 part peat moss
1 part sand
1/2 part Turface
1/8 part compost
dash of lime

Tropical mix
1 part peat moss
3/4 part sand
1/4 part Turface
1/2 part compost
dash of lime