Why does every container gardening soil recipe have 10 ingredients?

[u/SashaNatureNomad]

Am I the only one who thinks most container gardening advice overcomplicates soil?

I've been growing vegetables in containers for a few years now and every spring I see people recommending these crazy mixes with 8-10 ingredients.

Meanwhile some of the healthiest tomato and pepper plants I've grown were in plain potting mix with extra perlite mixed in.

What actually made the biggest difference for me wasn't fertilizer schedules or fancy amendments. It was stopping the use of garden soil in pots.

The year I figured that out was the year everything suddenly started growing normally lol.

Curious what everyone here uses. Do you buy bagged mix, make your own, or just use whatever is cheapest and available?

And has anyone actually compared the results side-by-side?

[u/Sowing_Seeds1990]

This may be a case of what some see as success versus others. I'm not saying you weren't successful, but if you are using plain potting mix and you are not fertilizing, I just don't see how you could possibly get the same results that someone gets when they are fertilizing. I've used cheap potting mix with great results as long as I fertilized and amended with some compost. Because I use a lot of it, I decided to make my own the last couple years, which is basically 60% coco coir, 20% perlite and 20% compost. Then I add slow release fertilizer when I plant and again monthly along with a little more compost. I also add bone meal when I first plant but not anymore until the next growing season. I also use a water soluble fertilizer every 1-2 weeks through the growing season. Potting mix by itself has pretty much zero nutrients unless you pay for the more expensive ones that do come with a little bit in there, but even then it washes out with the rain and watering so I just can't imagine someone using plain potting mix and not fertilizing would have very good results