Potting Soil/Mix Recommendations
Hi, y’all! Okay, so I would love some opinions here. What, to you, is the absolute BEST indoor plant soil to use for your plants? Not trying to go by plant type, but just a general brand. If you happen to be the type of plant parent who makes their own solution, please share that as well!
As for add-ins, I’ve heard some say orchid bark is a good thing as well as perlite/vermiculite. Any suggestions on moisture wicking would be fabulous. I don’t want to have any moisture retaining soil preferably. Thank you in advance!!
#SoilMix
As for add-ins, I’ve heard some say orchid bark is a good thing as well as perlite/vermiculite. Any suggestions on moisture wicking would be fabulous. I don’t want to have any moisture retaining soil preferably. Thank you in advance!!
#SoilMix
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I mix my own because I like being able to adjust for the needs of the plant and depending on the type of pot I'm using (porous or not porous) and how much light the plant will be getting, but I always aim for something that's well draining while still retaining the amount of moisture the plant needs (more for say, calatheas than succulents). I have predominantly various aroids, so most of my mixes are a combination of orchid bark, coco coir, pumice and/vermiculite, activated charcoal, and worm castings. Usually I'll do a pretty even split of bark, coir, and pumice (or vermiculite for plants that want more moisture with their aeration, like my calatheas), then maybe 10% charcoal and 10% worm castings? If it's a plant that is going into a porous pot and that hates drying out, like a peace lily in clay, I will go a bit heavier on the coir. If it's a plant that I'm really worried about root rot with, like a scindapsus moonlight, I'll go heavier on the bark and pumice because I'd rather it dry out faster than rot. And what I use for succulents and cacti is a totally different ballgame, but I haven't had to mix any in a while so I'd have to go look up my recipe 😂
As far as brands of soil, I've heard good things about Fox Farms potting mix, but it's going to be too heavy on its own for pretty much any house plant and will need added aeration/chunkiness via pumice, vermiculite, bark, etc.
As far as brands of soil, I've heard good things about Fox Farms potting mix, but it's going to be too heavy on its own for pretty much any house plant and will need added aeration/chunkiness via pumice, vermiculite, bark, etc.
@Bunny413 @RelentlessZebra thank you both! I’ve heard of Fox Farm before, but haven’t seen it in my area lol. I’ll be on the lookout and will start saving up if I find it. Plants + broke college student = broker college student. 😂
@PlantLadyChar. I'm not in college, but plants are breaking me. 🤣 My husband may divorce me if I get another plant related delivery.
@Bunny413 my husband told me after I got my silver sword last week that the next plant I spend money on, I have to pay him $200 to bring it into the house too 😂 Which makes me wonder, does it count if it's a plant that lives outside? 🤔
@PlantLadyChar you can honestly use any houseplant/container potting soil and do the same thing as far as mixing it with something chunky to aerate and add drainage. I've used the in-house mix from my local nursery chain, and even Miracle-Gro, but I don't recommend Miracle-Gro if you can help it because I've had too many issues with root rot and fungus gnats from their soil just because it can come too wet if stored outside at the garden center or wherever, and it often does not ever want to dry out due to some of their ingredients.
@PlantLadyChar you can honestly use any houseplant/container potting soil and do the same thing as far as mixing it with something chunky to aerate and add drainage. I've used the in-house mix from my local nursery chain, and even Miracle-Gro, but I don't recommend Miracle-Gro if you can help it because I've had too many issues with root rot and fungus gnats from their soil just because it can come too wet if stored outside at the garden center or wherever, and it often does not ever want to dry out due to some of their ingredients.
@RelentlessZebra that’s exactly why I made this post. My mom insists on MG cause it’s cheap, but I just can’t deal with the dang gnats anymore. 🥴
Leca perlite lava rocks orchid bark on vermiculite for my philodendrons coco core worm casting is what I keep on hand an soil is just what 8 find on sale I try to stay clear of Miracle-Gro potting soil as it kind of breathes gnats they really like that so when I go to Walmart I get the good housekeeping organic cuz where I live it's only 750 a bag for a one cubic foot if I go to Lowe's I just get their container garden off-brand and you can get two cubic feet for like 12 bucks bings that I don't use very much of it I don't really think it's that big of a deal I use the leca so then that way I can see and give my plants the oxygen they need for the roots I have a lot of airoids but I just mix it per plant you know I just keep all those things on hand I do make a big container of aeroid mix and then that way I don't have to keep doing it this is kind of what it looks like The one in the white is my aeroid and the one in the black is my philodendron it's finer it's got a lot more vermiculite in it but those are just you know kind of keep all these things on hand
@PlantLadyChar there are other cheap options out there, for sure. Check the nurseries near you and see if they have their own brand of soil mixes and try a small bag of the container mix as a base, see how it works. If the nursery is any good, the mix is bound to be better than MG and it should still be pretty affordable.
@RelentlessZebra if I can find any nurseries willing to sell, I will check! My local ones are wholesale nurseries so they don’t allow “outsiders.” 😂