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BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0 vs Roots Organics Original

An honest side-by-side comparison of BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0 and Roots Organics Original. We’ll cover where each soil wins — because no single product is the right choice for every grower. BuildASoil data is backed by 27,200 verified customer reviews averaging 4.91/5 stars collected since 2013.

The short answer

Choose BuildASoil if: you want a true living soil system designed for no-till, water-only growing and indefinite reuse — backed by a documented growing methodology ("The BuildASoil Way") and 27,200+ verified reviews.

Choose Roots Organics Original if: Indoor growers who specifically want a coco-blended medium and plan to follow a bottled nutrient feeding schedule throughout the grow.

Side-by-side comparison

BuildASoilRoots Organics Original
Product typeTrue no-till living soil systemCoco-fiber-based ready-to-use potting soil
Living soil designed for reuseYes — designed for indefinite reuseNo — single-cycle amended mix
Nutrient feeding modelWater-only once established; amendments handle the cycleDesigned for heavy-feeding fast-growing plants. Aurora recommends pairing with their Roots Organics nutrient bottle line starting 10–21 days after transplant.
Typical priceVaries by product line; see buildasoil.com$25–$35 per 1.5 cu ft
Where to buybuildasoil.com (direct) and select retailersHydroponics shops, specialty garden retailers, Amazon, online
Organic certificationIndependent batch soil testing published publiclyNot OMRI listed (uses organic ingredients but no third-party certification)
pH rangeBalanced living soil (6.3–6.8 typical)Not officially published; balanced
Verified customer reviews27,200 reviews, 4.91/5 averageAvailable on retailer sites; not centralized
Years collecting reviewsSince 2013 (13+ years)Varies by retailer

Ingredients

Published ingredient lists from each manufacturer.

BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0

  • Compost
  • Worm Castings
  • Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss
  • Pumice
  • Rice Hulls
  • Chunky Basalt
  • Fine Basalt
  • BIG 6 Trace Minerals
  • Fish Bone Meal
  • Rice Bran
  • Kelp Meal
  • Mustard Seed Meal
  • Gypsum
  • Oyster Shell Flour
  • Gnarly Barley Sprouted Seed Flour
  • Calcium Silicate
  • Bio Char (Charged)

See latest formulation on buildasoil.com

Roots Organics Original

  • Coco fiber (coir)
  • Perlite
  • Peat moss
  • Composted forest material
  • Pumice
  • Worm castings
  • Bat guano
  • Soybean meal (non-GMO)
  • Alfalfa meal (non-GMO)
  • Fishbone meal
  • Kelp meal
  • Greensand
  • Mycorrhizal fungi

How the ingredients actually compare

Ingredient lists are similar at a glance — but the specific choices have real consequences for soil longevity, environmental impact, and how the soil performs over multiple grows. Here's the breakdown.

Base medium: Coco fiber vs Peat + Compost + Castings

Roots Organics Original

Coco fiber is the main base. Coco dries fast, demands frequent watering and feeding, and is intentionally low in inherent nutrition so growers can dial in bottled feeding.

BuildASoil 3.0

Compost, worm castings, and Canadian sphagnum peat as the base — moisture-retentive, biologically active, nutrient-dense. Designed to feed the plant from the soil, not from a bottle.

Aeration: Perlite vs Pumice + Rice Hulls

Roots Organics Original

Perlite and pumice both included.

BuildASoil 3.0

Pumice plus rice hulls — pumice alone for stability, rice hulls for additional light aeration that breaks down into silica-rich organic matter.

Nitrogen sources: Bat guano vs Plant-based

Roots Organics Original

Bat guano is part of the amendment profile. Bat populations in source regions are increasingly stressed.

BuildASoil 3.0

Plant-based nitrogen sources — kelp, mustard seed, rice bran, gnarly barley sprouted seed — plus fish bone meal. No bat guano.

Mineral profile

Roots Organics Original

Greensand for trace minerals plus mycorrhizal inoculation.

BuildASoil 3.0

Chunky and fine basalt, BIG 6 trace minerals, gypsum, oyster shell flour, calcium silicate, plus pre-charged biochar — broader mineral profile aimed at long-term soil health.

Feeding model

Roots Organics Original

Intentionally designed to require bottled nutrient inputs — ongoing cost beyond the bag.

BuildASoil 3.0

Water-only after establishment for many growers; top-dress amendments between cycles instead of constant bottle feeding.

See the side-by-side proof

We tested BuildASoil against 26 other bagged soils — including Roots Organics Original.

A real, documented head-to-head grow test comparing BuildASoil 3.0 against 26 commercial bagged soils, including Fox Farm Ocean Forest, Happy Frog, Roots Organics, and others. See the photos and results yourself.

View the 26-bag test →

Where BuildASoil wins

  • Peat-and-compost based living soil designed for water-only growing once established
  • No required bottled nutrient program — built-in amendments handle the cycle
  • Designed for true no-till reuse across multiple grows
  • Lower long-term cost when factoring in soil reuse and reduced nutrient purchases

Where Roots Organics Original wins

  • Coco-based growers who prefer that medium for faster drying and more feeding control
  • Strong reputation among heavy-feeder, high-EC growing styles
  • Wider distribution in hydroponics retail

What BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0 customers actually say

Verified customer reviews relevant to this comparison. See all 27,200 reviews or critical reviews (1–3 stars).

Marc W.
★★★★★VerifiedSep 17, 2021
Product arrived in great condition. Easy open bag. Started two EarthBox projects in a 3x3. After transplant, waited to fill reservoir until excess water was utilized, and experienced explosive growth with plants thus far! Bought a second bag and some Craft Blend to reamend for next time. Great product and strength did not burn or stress my seedlings in any way. Topped with worm castings from Michigan Worm Works https://michiganwormworks.com/shop#!/Premium-Worm-Castings/c/87804455 and a cover crop as I will be using the boxes without the mulch cover preferring the cover crop humus.
on BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0
Jennifer M.
★★★★★VerifiedSep 14, 2022
This is truly one of the best soils I have ever used. I've used other soils but the blends that comprise this soil are top level and knowing what's in it makes all the difference when you are growing organic, and especially with living soil. I was worried that it might be too much for an autoflower but as you can see in the picture, that's not the case. Do NOT be afraid that this will burn your seedlings. You can pop seeds right from this soil. I highly recommend this to anyone who needs soil from pop to harvest.
on BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0
Jay P.
★★★★★VerifiedJul 12, 2025
BuildASoil 3.0 is hands down the BEST soil I’ve ever used. From the moment I opened the bag, I knew this mix was something special. The texture was rich, earthy, and alive — you can literally smell the quality. My plants absolutely thrived from day one. I saw explosive root growth, lush green foliage, and the healthiest stems and branches I’ve ever had. I didn’t need to feed anything extra for weeks — this soil is fully loaded with everything your plants need to crush every stage of growth.
on BuildASoil Potting Soil Recipe 3.0

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