if you really want to go low on budget id recomend an organic potting soil substrate capped with sand or grvael at a 1:1 ratio ( 1 in of soil for 1in of sand) For an iron source most people mix in a little bit of laterite. This is just a brief "explaination" if you can call it that.If you do choose to go wil the brand name stuff then im not too sure about that.