Decline in product quality, very slow germination and growth, bad product

In August 2023 I bought 3 bags of Culterra potting soil from our local nursery.

I mixed compost in moderation, with the potting soil which contained large, chunky pieces of wood. Some that looked like pieces of palm branches, I had to tear smaller.

As a rule, I always only buy Culterra's potting soil, however, after the last 3 bags I bought I will never buy their products again.

The potting soil has large pieces of wood and chips in it and it caused many of my seeds not to come up. I have never experienced such "chunky" potting soil before. Not only have I lost many seeds, I have also lost time in plant maturity because I had to plant some more seeds in different soil.

I ended up having to re-plant all my plants, using large amounts of garden soil with the potting mix. After watering, the soil runs down and only chunks of wood remain at the top.

Because of my unhappiness with the potting soil, I sent a mail to Culterra with my complaints attaching pics that I took. I received a friendly response from Nicolla who said she would escalate my complaint.

After that, I was contacted by Elsie, the Culterra representative here in my area.

She sent a mail to Culterra head office to ask if I could perhaps receive some kind of compensation for my unhappiness with their product.

She told me that the raw material supplier that Culterra always used, had been on strike and that other suppliers were being used. She also said that some people complained about the consistency of the previous potting soil mix and that it was adapted to accommodate their requests.

After a few days she called me back and told me that head office will not be compensating me at all, either in soil or financially.

Then she continued to tell me that Culterra supplies to many people and that I am the only one complaining.

Therewith she basically said to me that my complaint and unhappiness is invalid.

Before I sold my house, I was a professional planter and supplier to nurseries in the Vaal Triangle. I always ONLY used Culterra, however I will be sure to no longer use their products.

Not only have I lost in terms of seeds, but I have lost planting time.

I planted basil seeds in Culterra potting soil and compost mix on 2023.08.29 and some in normal garden soil TWO WEEKS AFTER when I saw the Culterra plants took so long to germinate and grow. The plants in the garden soil - planted two weeks later - is about four times the size of that in the Culterra soil. Exact same seeds, exact same water. Same sunlight.

Never in my life have I had such a low germination success rate and never before have I struggled to get my plants to grow, as I have since using this Culterra potting soil mix. Elsie told me to use the Culterra germination soil, but even though my plants germinated, they are not growing in the Culterra mix.

I am SORELY disappointed and will NEVER use Culterra products again. I will rather buy topsoil for much cheaper, at the local sand and stone company.

Furthermore, I will be posting negative reviews on FaceBook and elsewhere to warn other planters to be careful of the Culterra product.

People are so tired of having to fight for justice, good products and service delivery. Perhaps I am not the only one who is unhappy, just the only one to take the time to point out my concerns with their product.