Critical BuildASoil reviews
Every review rated 1, 2, or 3 stars — 489 total. We publish them all, unfiltered, alongside the positive ones. A growing product that works perfectly for every customer every time doesn't exist, and we'd rather you see the whole picture.
228 3-star·96 2-star·165 1-star·1.8% of all reviews
A note from BuildASoil
Over the last 13+ years, we've grown into a much better company — and a lot of that growth came directly from our critical reviews. Every 1, 2, or 3-star review on this page taught us something. New formulations, better packaging, improved shipping, clearer instructions, stronger customer support — almost all of it traces back to a customer who took the time to tell us what wasn't working.
If you haven't tried BuildASoil in a while — or you tried us early on and it didn't go great — we'd genuinely love another shot. We get better every year, and we have the receipts to prove it. See what's new at buildasoil.com →
Showing 151–175 of 453 critical reviews
Steve J.
Is it mix in with the total soil in the pot or total coco coir
on BuildASoil Mineral Kit - For Coco Coir →The minerals and nutrients for building soil are to be mixed into the entire base mix of soil. The base mix consists of the following at 1:1:1 ratios. The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss or Coco Coir, Aeration Material, AND Compost and/or Worm Castings.
Please don't hesitate to send us an email at support@buildasoil.com or give us a call at 855-877-7645 with any further questions or concerns.
- Branson
Tyler
Great Product. But something happened between shipping and receiving. The ferment was spoilt before I received. I've boughten this product serval times. But buildasoil will not even listen to my complaint or give me actual time of day. Lesson learned, I'm no longer ordering ferments online especially not from buildasoil. Sorry nothing personal it's just business.
on Sprouted Quinoa Ferment →Bryan k.
This product was advertised as being 3.0 because it has 3 compost. A bas youtube video explained this same fact. Now it has 2 compost but they have not acknowledged this to public and have not changed labels on bag or pic of product in site to make it accurate! Cmon guys this is a lawsuit waiting to happen😬 THIS PRODUCT IS 2.0 NOW!
on BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0 →Jamie r.
I'll say the shipping sucked. Shipping is included in the price, so if you pay for overnight shipping and get it 2-3 days after it shipped. You will not get anything from anyone to compensate you for your loss.
Even though it says ships overnight and shipping included in price. I paid for it in the price of the product and didn't get over night shipping!
I couldn't see the mites but the rove beetles were alive.
on Beneficial Insect Combo Packs (Small) →Ryan A.
I told you guys to cancel this order, but you sent it to me anyways
on Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss →Backyardcultivation
The original ones before BAS started making it themselves were double the size and packed right. Was plenty to cover 6, 45 gallon pots. Now I just put down a new one and it covered 4, but not how I would like them to be covered. I could understand if maybe the mentioned it was less and it was priced accordingly but they are priced more and don’t mention it’s way less. I let the bag sit for 2 weeks and it was barely inoculated, just big balls of saw dust that were inoculated with some straw.
Now I gave it 3 stars because it’s still decent mulch, and I need to buy another one in order to complete the job. They should either add way more straw, or make it cheaper though.
on Blue Oyster Mushroom Straw Log (Living Mulch) →Henry
If you want to spread some in your soil as pest management it works but dont let the mustard seed meal touch the stalk of your vegetables it will kill them. The mycelium that eat the mustard will also start eating any plant material that is touching the seed meal.
on Mustard Seed Meal →Zeke
I ordered the blue oyster mushroom logs twice. The first time the logs were over two feet long and packed with substrate that grew pounds of blue oyster mushrooms as a bonus before i used it as mulch. So i reordered. The second blue oyster mushroom log order the logs were half the size not packed and did not grow anything at all and did not cover half as much as the first order as mulch. And it was more expensive the second time. So five stars the first time. One star for the second. Not sure if i will order that again and risk getting another order like the second.
on Blue Oyster Mushroom Straw Log (Living Mulch) →B. L.
I liked the older version of this better when the logs were used and had a ton of mycelium. Now these arrive as wet straw with little to no visible microbial life, which is disappointing. It’s nice to use these right away when you get it rather than having to wait a week or two for colonization, but whatever. It works.
on Blue Oyster Mushroom Straw Log (Living Mulch) →Chuck D.
28g quinoa, soak overnight, ready in one/two days max. Blend and add to 5G water. Much cheaper, no smell, bomb results. Not sure why this is even sold let alone the bad smells and bad packaging. Doubt this review will be up long, so take it and run with it! Same goes for alfalafa seeds and corn eventhough the sprout process takes longer.
on Sprouted Quinoa Ferment →Ron P.
I haven't made a final judgement on the product. It arrived late because it busted open in the mail. The second batch sent to me also busted open and I received a leaking bag full of ferment. I received a letter from the post master, and my whole post office reeked like porto john, my trunk of my car reeked, and where the bottle exists now reeked for days until I washed the bottle. All it takes is a little styrofoam seal and some glue. I'm not the first to have this problem.
on Sprouted Quinoa Ferment →Daniel J.
It's less potent than I need, same thing just 3x weaker.
on BuildASoil Quillaja Saponaria Extract Powder 20 →William H.
I had all kinds of problems with your "dry" worm castings. When I contacted your team about it, they said just add water. I mean, come on man.
I tried to use my discount code, couldn't get it to work. I again contacted your team and they were not willing to make it happen. It's a 10% discount. Come on man.
I am disappointed with my purchase and will be happy to take my bussinnes elsewhere.
Sincerely,
William Hather
on #1 BuildASoil Worm Castings →cody h.
these did not work at all DESTROYED MY ROOTBALL ON EVERY PLANTER was so frustrated just trying to keep my root ball from crumbling apart instead of easily coming out payed a lot for my seed these stupid planters almost RUINED will never use again should take off the site
on Grassroots - Transplant-Inator →Jordan M.
I’ve bought quite a few bags of this vermicompost and usually love everything about it, unfortunately this most recent order overall seemed of lower quality than I expect from COWOCO. The texture felt more muddy and there were quite a few round buckle sized chunks that I broke down with my hands that almost feel more like a clay material than compost. Hopefully it’s a one off and scaling hasn’t affected the quality of all batches.
on Colorado Worm Company Premium Vermicompost Worm Castings →PATRICK H.
The mulch was fine when I got it, but I ordered it when your boss was bragging about shipping time. I needed it in the time it was supposed to ship not 10 days later. And that was my best case dealing with this company.
on Certified Organic Straw Mulch →Hans B.
I really like BuildASoil and what they do. I'm giving a 1 star because Zach Branson (Customer Service) was such a jerk. I payed for a Take N Bake soil kit. It took a few weeks but I received everything except a 2 OZ pack of Saponaria (20$). No problem. I already had some so I was fine. So I messaged customer service to simply inform them. I know what it's like to run a business. I would want to know that. So I just spent like 375$ on my first order and it's taken 2 weeks to get. Zach's response was to provide proof (photos of my order) to prove my claim. There is no claim Zach. I was just letting you know. Burnt out Zach ??
on BuildASoil Take 'N Bake - Artisan Soil Building Kit →Steven B.
Description says "looks like small/medium perlite" but there are some pieces as big as 3/4 "
Other than that its a pretty good deal.
on Small Black Lava Rock →james h.
This is my third bottle of thermX- 70 and it does not create hardly any foam at all when used in same amounts as previous bottles.
on Yucca Extract - Therm X-70 →Justin G.
Two weeks after top dressing, I started showing signs of potassium deficiency.
on BuildAFlower Top Dress Kit →Mike E.
Still a great product ! I think I'm spoiled since I purchased the original Q , before there was 60 and 20 . The only reason for the 4 stars is because it's not as good as the 60 ! I use alot more Q to get the foam to really get goin , as apposed to just a sprinkle of the original. Haven't decided wht I will do when I need more sappanin .
on BuildASoil Quillaja Saponaria Extract Powder 20 →Andrew F.
Use these bags for live mulch..Usually great but this last order was a bag of wet straw with little to no inoculation.
on Blue Oyster Mushroom Straw Log (Living Mulch) →Jerry D.
Some of the large pieces I don't care for but everything else is fine.
on Small Black Lava Rock →