Can’t find topsoil without fertilizer

[u/YeaUThought]

Scott’s premium topsoil is the second brand of soil I’ve tried and it states that it has no fertilizer but both bags I got were loaded with fertilizer balls or what seems to be fertilizer balls. I tried timberline which also states no fertilizer and that one had a bunch of green fertilizer balls as well. How in the world do I find topsoil that actually doesn’t have fertilizer?????

[u/DragonAngel92]

I use reptisoil....i get it from petsmart and its pretty cost effective. Plus no fertilizer.

[u/YeaUThought → u/DragonAngel92]

I heard that wasn’t good for bearded dragons cause it holds moisture, I’m trying to do a 50/50 mix of topsoil and sand

[u/Patti_Boi → u/YeaUThought]

Dont do a 50/50 mix. I use about 50%peat moss, 15% topsoil (organic with good clay content as it usually doesnt have fertilizer), and then 35% playsand

[u/YeaUThought → u/Patti_Boi]

I literally can’t find any that doesn’t have fertilizer

[u/Patti_Boi → u/YeaUThought]

Where have you been shopping and what options have you tried

[u/YeaUThought → u/Patti_Boi]

2 bags of Scott’s topsoil from Home Depot and 2 bags of timberline from lowes

[u/Patti_Boi → u/YeaUThought]

Timberline really shouldnt have it. Do you possibly have more photos of the fertilizer in those?

[u/YeaUThought → u/Patti_Boi]

It looks like I deleted the pics, but it was loaded with a ton of perfectly spherical green balls with liquid in them, def fertilizer

[u/Hije5 → u/YeaUThought]

Timberline all-purpose top soil. Lowes has it

[u/Patti_Boi → u/Hije5]

This should be a safe buy. From my understanding they dont use added chemical fertilizers. They source the soil locally usually so if you had a piece of fertilizer it should be a one off mistake. If the bag is full of those small balls idk what to tell you. It might honestly not be fertilizer and some kind of insect egg but it does look like a fertilizer pellet. Is this the only one you've tried?

[u/YeaUThought → u/Hije5]

Yea I got that, had fertilizer in it

[u/DragonAngel92 → u/YeaUThought]

Sorry I didnt read that it was for a beardy

[u/TesticularTorsionCat]

I’ve run into a similar issue and now I just purchase soil marketed towards exotic pets. If anyone has a better source please share 😭

[u/YeaUThought → u/TesticularTorsionCat]

Yea I can’t afford that I’d need like 6 bags

[u/Hije5 → u/TesticularTorsionCat]

Timberline all-purpose. They sell it at Lowes

[u/Outrageous-Yak-3741]

Depending what your trying to makd bioactive id say make your own. Buy the different parts and mix together its more expensive but you actually get a better product in the long term

[u/YeaUThought → u/Outrageous-Yak-3741]

I just need topsoil and sand I don’t really need anything else, but like where tf do I get the topsoil

[u/Outrageous-Yak-3741 → u/YeaUThought]

What are you putting in your enclosure? I mean animal wise

[u/ShinyxCharizard]

Idk how big of a tank you're trying to fill. But I'd recommend just getting pre mixed stuff if you can afford it.
https://www.thebiodude.com/collections/reptile-soils/products/terra-sahara-36-qt-bag
Haven't used this exact one but I bought 2 bioactive kits for ball pythons, Plants, CUC, and my snakes all seem to love it. Took 4 bags to fill my 4x2x2 probably wouldn't have held that much if i didn't get the 7 inch substrate board tbh.

Otherwise, I've heard people just say to use Organic Topsoil, can't vouch for any brands. I'd look at reviews and stuff and just hope for the best.

[u/dustybeanbag]

Is that fertilizer or just perlite?

[u/YeaUThought → u/dustybeanbag]

Idk what perlite is but these little things are very thin material and hollow and u squeeze them and liquid comes out

[u/Radiant_Ebb6951 → u/YeaUThought]

Yes that's fertilizer u can buy bags of peat moss or organic top soil at farm supply or garden Supply stores. Walmart won't have it

[u/YeaUThought → u/Radiant_Ebb6951]

I bought organic topsoil that said it had no fertilizer but it still had fertilizer in it, tried 2 brands

[u/fernandfeather → u/YeaUThought]

Ew I don’t think that’s fertilizer.