Expand 'n Gro (TM) Concentrated Planting Mix review

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Hey hey! So this year, I am really trying to gain a green thumb since we finally moved into a house that gets enough sunlight to grow veggies and flowers. We've got our garden in {i posted pics last week} and now I'm working on potting some flowers. I was excited when a couple weeks ago, Miracle-Gro sent me a sample of their new  Expand ‘n Gro™ Concentrated Planting Mix to try out.

I was pleasantly surprised at how light the bag was. The bag was very easy to handle because it was so light. 

What Makes Expand ‘n Gro Concentrated Planting Mix so Different?

  Expand 'n Gro is a unique blend of Miracle‐Gro plant food and coconut coir fiber that is compact, lightweight. It is a concentrated planting mix that expands up to 3 times when mixed with water. And it feeds plants for up to 6 month and retains up to 50% more moisture than basic potting soil.

What is it made of?

Expand 'n Gro is made of Coir which is a lightweight, all‐natural material derived from coconut husk components called pith and fiber. The honeycomb shaped, sponge‐like structure of compressed coir pith re‐expands when water is added to it. When the coir is re-expanded, it offers several benefits for plant growth, including improved moisture control and bulk density. And because coir contains a great deal of lignin, a slowly decomposing organic polymer, Expand ‘n Gro continues to benefit native soil for years.

1.  I filled my planter about 1/3 full with Expand 'n Gro.
2. Then I added water and mixed it around. {it took a lot more water than i ever thought it would!}
3. Here it is all ready to go.
4. I then planted my flowers in my planter was normal.

Here is my planter 1 week after planting...

What I liked about Expand 'n Gro:

1. How lightweight the bag was. So much easier to handle!
2. You need less bags since it expands.
3. I liked that the bag is recloseable in case I don't use all of it, I can just zip it shut.
4. The coir didn't feel as dirty as dirt.
5. Was easy to handle.
6. Holds water and helps my plants nourished for beginner gardeners like myself :)

What I didn't like about Expand 'n Gro:

1. Stirring and mixing the coir was more work than normal dirt.

Here's a video on Expand 'n Gro.....

GIVEAWAY: If you'd like to try a sample of Miracle-Gro® Expand ‘n Gro™ Concentrated Planting Mix to try out yourself, simply leave a comment on this post and 1 lucky reader will win a free sample! ends 4/25/12

Fine print: winner will be chosen using random.org. Open to US residents only. Must be 18 years old or older to enter.