Gold Label Special Mix - 45 Litres - Pre-Fed Peat and Perlite Soil Mix
Best for: soil growers who want a ready-fed, high-drainage growing medium that doesn't need amending or feeding for the first few weeks.
Our thoughts
A lot of "ready to use" soil mixes still need you to add perlite, lime or feed before they actually perform. Special Mix comes fully loaded - peat, perlite, minerals and a pre-charged feed already in the bag - so you can pot straight into it without doing any of that legwork yourself. Good option if you want soil growing without turning it into a mixing project.
Gold Label Special Mix is a complete, ready-to-use soil substrate built from Swedish virgin white peat and high-grade perlite, blended with Swedish clay, lime, minerals and trace elements, then pre-fertilised with an organic fertiliser charge. The peat and perlite combination is chosen for aeration and drainage while still holding a serious amount of water - a single gram of the mix can hold around ten grams of water, which is a notably high figure for a soil-based substrate.
Because it's pre-fed, Special Mix carries enough nutrient charge to support around two to three weeks of growth without any additional feeding, making it a genuinely plant-and-go medium for the early stages of a grow. It's supplied in 45 litre bags.
How it compares
Special Mix sits at the higher-nutrient end of Gold Label's soil range.
- Gold Label Special Mix Light uses the same peat and perlite base but with a lower nutrient charge, making it better suited to cuttings and seedlings that don't need feed straight away.
- Standard multi-purpose compost has no comparable pre-feed or perlite ratio, meaning you're mixing in your own amendments and starting a feed programme from day one.
- Coco coir has no natural nutrient charge at all and needs a full feed schedule from the first watering, unlike a pre-fed soil mix.
If you want a soil medium that's genuinely ready to plant into without extra prep, Special Mix does more of the work upfront than most alternatives.
Usage guidance
Special Mix is designed to be used straight from the bag.
Potting up
Fill your pots directly from the bag with no need to add extra perlite, lime or base nutrients before planting.
Early feeding
The pre-fertilised charge covers roughly two to three weeks of growth, so hold off on additional feed until you see growth slow or leaves start showing early signs of hunger.
Watering
The high water-holding capacity means it's less prone to drying out between waterings than lighter mixes, but keep an eye on drainage in smaller pots to avoid waterlogging.
Choosing the right version
If you're starting cuttings or seedlings rather than potting on established plants, the lower-fed Special Mix Light is the more appropriate choice from the same range.
Technical specifications
- Base materials: Swedish virgin white peat and perlite
- Additional components: Swedish clay, lime, minerals, trace elements
- Feed charge: Pre-fertilised, organic fertiliser (approx. 2-3 weeks of growth)
- Water-holding capacity: Approx. 10g of water held per 1g of mix
- Bag size: 45 litres
- Preparation needed: None - ready to use from the bag
- Manufacturer: Gold Label
- Related product: Gold Label Special Mix Light (lower nutrient charge, for cuttings/seedlings)
Who this is for
- Soil growers who want a genuinely plant-and-go medium with no mixing or amending
- Growers moving established plants or rooted clones into their final container
- Anyone who wants a pre-fed head start on the first few weeks of growth
- Growers who prefer soil's forgiving nature over the precision demands of coco or hydro
Best suited to potting on rather than starting seeds or fresh cuttings - use the Light version for that stage instead.
Our take
Special Mix does exactly what a "complete" soil mix should - peat, perlite, minerals and a feed charge, all in one bag, with nothing extra to buy or mix in before you plant. The water-holding figure is a genuinely useful practical detail for anyone who's had a soil mix dry out too fast.
Does exactly what it should, day in, day out, for soil growers who want to skip the DIY mixing stage. Worth having as your go-to bag of soil if you're potting on rather than starting from seed.
