Service description
Bagged potting mix is rarely ideal for herbs. This hands-on course teaches you the science behind soil structure — drainage, aeration, water retention, and pH — and shows you how to blend your own mixes from widely available Canadian ingredients. You will create three core blends: a Mediterranean herb mix, a moisture-loving herb mix, and a general-purpose indoor blend. No special equipment is needed beyond a bucket and a trowel.
- 01
Who will get the most from this course
This course suits complete beginners who want to understand what they are putting their herbs into from the very start, and it suits intermediate growers who have been using bagged mix for years and cannot quite work out why their plants keep struggling. Both groups leave with a clearer picture of what soil is actually doing for a plant.
If you have ever wondered why one herb thrives in a pot while a neighbour in the same mix slowly declines, the answer is almost always in the soil structure. This course makes that reasoning accessible without requiring any background in botany or chemistry.
- 02
The science behind soil, explained plainly
The course begins with the fundamentals: drainage, aeration, water retention, and pH. These are not abstract concepts here — each one is explained in terms of what it means for a specific herb family and what goes wrong when it is out of balance. Mediterranean herbs like thyme and rosemary need very different conditions from moisture-loving herbs like mint or chives, and the course makes that distinction concrete.
Understanding the underlying reasons for a blend means you can adapt when an ingredient is unavailable or when a new herb arrives that does not fit neatly into an existing recipe. The course teaches a way of thinking, not just a set of steps to follow.
- 03
The three blends you will create
By the end of the course, you will have made three core blends from scratch: a Mediterranean herb mix designed for good drainage and lower moisture retention, a moisture-loving herb mix that holds water longer without becoming waterlogged, and a general-purpose indoor blend that works across a wider range of species.
All ingredients used in the course are sourced from Canadian garden centres and hardware stores. The included sourcing guide describes the ingredient types to look for rather than directing you to any particular brand, so the course works regardless of which stores are convenient for you.
- 04
What you need to get started
No special equipment is required beyond a bucket and a trowel. The course is genuinely hands-on in the sense that the lessons are designed to be followed alongside the actual blending process, not watched in advance and then attempted separately.
A basic pH test kit is helpful but not essential. The course demonstrates both meter-based and strip-based pH testing and explains clearly when pH adjustment actually matters for the herbs you are growing — which is not always, and the course is honest about that distinction rather than making the process feel more complicated than it needs to be.
- 05
Everything the course includes
Your enrolment covers the full set of video lessons, three printable blend recipes with precise ratios, a pH testing walkthrough, and an ingredient sourcing guide written specifically for Canadian garden centres. Private community forum access lets you ask questions as you work through the blending process, and lifetime access means you can return to the ratios and recipes whenever a new herb joins your windowsill collection.
A CRA-compliant digital receipt is issued at the time of purchase. The bundle option pairs the course with a soil blending kit so that your first lesson begins with the right materials already in front of you.
- 06
At the potting bench, nothing is rushed
Soil blending is one of those skills that rewards patience. Getting the ratios right, understanding what each ingredient contributes, and learning to adjust by feel as much as by measurement — these things settle in gradually, not all at once. The course is paced to reflect that.
Yoga y Esencias Academy developed this course because the available guidance on potting media was either written for commercial growers or assumed access to ingredients that are not widely available in Canada. Every ingredient, every ratio, and every sourcing note in this course has been chosen with a Canadian home grower in mind, working with what is actually on the shelf at a local garden centre.
What the service includes
- 8 video lessons (approx. 3 hours of content)
- Ingredient sourcing guide for Canadian garden centres
- Three printable blend recipes with ratios
- pH testing walkthrough
- Private community forum access
- Lifetime access to course materials
From browsing to your first lesson
- 1
Browse and choose
Read through the course descriptions and decide which topic fits where you are right now. If you are unsure, the Foundations course is almost always the right starting point.
- 2
Enrol and pay securely
Complete your purchase through the secure checkout. Tax is calculated based on your province and added at checkout. A CRA-compliant receipt is e-mailed to you immediately.
- 3
Access your course
Your course appears in your account dashboard right away. If you ordered a starter kit, a tracking number is sent by e-mail within 1–2 business days.
- 4
Watch, pause, rewind
Work through the video lessons at your own pace. Every lesson can be rewatched as many times as you like. Download the PDF resources to keep alongside your plants.
- 5
Ask questions in the forum
Post a question, share a photo of your progress, or browse what other students have asked. The forum is included with every course and has no activity requirements.
Price
| Individual enrolment | $69 |
|---|---|
| Gift enrolment (e-voucher) | $69 |
| Bundle with Soil Blending Kit | $109 |
Gross prices are for guidance only. You will receive an exact quote before work begins.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I buy the ingredients in Canada?
The course includes a sourcing guide pointing to ingredient types available at most Canadian garden centres and hardware stores. No specific brand is required.
Is this course only for beginners?
It suits beginners and intermediate growers. If you have been using bagged mix for years and want to understand why your herbs struggle, this course explains the underlying reasons clearly.
Do I need a pH meter?
A basic pH test kit is helpful but not essential. The course shows both meter-based and strip-based testing, and explains when pH adjustment actually matters.
