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- Last Updated: February 20, 2023
- 1:47 am
Best Soil For Indoor Plants – TOP 6 Indoor Plant Soil Mixes
Finding the best soil for indoor plants can seem like a tricky task but these tips in our gardening guides will help you to make sure your houseplants are happy in the soil they are potted in. There are a few different options to choose from, so this guide will help.
Remember that all houseplants will have different needs so no matter what soil they are planted in if the plant is in an unfavorable position it might not thrive. Always check the label and be sure to know what your plant needs.
Using the wrong potting mix indoor plant soil can be disastrous for your indoor and outdoor plants, which is why it is paramount to do a little bit of research and find the best potting soil for your beloved plants.
In this article, we will discuss the best soil for indoor plants that you can use for your indoor home garden. We also provide a range of factors to consider before you invest in the best indoor plant soil for your container garden! Keep on reading!
Top Picks for Indoor Potting Soil
- 1. Best Choice - WONDER SOIL Organic Potting Soil
- 2. Editor's Choice - Sun Gro Horticulture Black Gold African Violet Mix
- 3. Best Overall - Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
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1. WONDER SOIL Organic Potting Soil
The majority of best soil for indoor plants already has the necessary nutrients to give new growth a strong start. This is done by Wonder Soil Premium Organic Potting Mix, which also includes additional elements to assist indoor plants in growing healthy and well.
It is also an incredibly versatile soil mix which can be used with almost any plant. This is also why the Wonder Soil organic potting mix is overall the best soil for indoor plants.
Wonder Soil also includes coco coir, a frequent bonus-type growth medium, besides premium quality organic elements such as earthworm castings, kelp, and perlite, all of which give indoor plants the nutrients they need to thrive.
The coco coir in this product swells, keeping plants hydrated for a longer period of time so you need to water them less regularly, which is why we prefer it. As claimed by the manufacturers, it expands from 3 pounds to 12 quarts of indoor soil when combined with water.
Additionally, the product contains mycorrhizae, which are fungal roots that might aid plants in better nutrient uptake and possibly add protection against soil-borne diseases. 1 Wonder Soil doubles as a plant starter because it is already blended with garden soil.
2. Sun Gro Horticulture Black Gold African Violet Mix
Even though this brilliant Sun Gro Horticulture African Violet Mix was created specifically for African violets, any indoor flowering plant can benefit from it. It has high-quality components designed to provide nutrients and maintain the ideal amount of moisture.
Earthworm castings, volcanic pumice, and sphagnum peat moss combine to create a wholesome and nutrient-packed mixture that is extremely light and airy. This potting soil for indoor plants also consists of excellent quality peat moss ranking it as one of the best potting soil.
3. Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
Understanding the importance of a scheduled watering cycle for your indoor plants may sound simple but for most growers, it remains one of the most daunting skills to learn. When the top few inches of soil become dry to the touch, you know it’s time to water this soil. Espoma Organic Potting Soil uses up to 30% less water than regular soil thanks to the root symbiotic mycorrhizae fungi that are part of the mixture, which helps you spend less time watering your plants.
Espoma Organic Potting Mix provides you with healthy and strong plants all season long by enhancing the general soil structure and gradually feeding plants as it decomposes. In addition, it enhances the viability of plant cuttings and transplants, making it a great option for amateur plant propagators.
4. Noot Organic Indoor Plant Soilless Potting Mix
This best potting soil for indoor plants is from a small business but remains unmatched when it comes to its premium ingredients and blend. It combines coconut husk, coco coir, as well as wood chips, pine bark, and perlite that help create a fluffy texture to promote airflow for the roots of your indoor plants.
This indoor plant potting soil is packed by hand and carefully inspected for its quality. Additionally, this Noot plant soil mix is pre-soaked with the bio-organic plant food with an NPK ratio of 10-15-12 and is packed in a resealable bag that is easy to store.
With this, your indoor plants can resist even the most severe root damage from root rot diseases and also helps create a better shield against temperature damages. It works better than any other ordinary indoor or outdoor soil mixes.
Some gardeners have complained about its strong, pungent smell but you can leave the bag open outside overnight and the smell will be gone! Finally, this indoor plant soil is also pet and child-safe and 100% organic and sustainably sourced!
5. Fertilome Ultimate Potting Mix
This inexpensive soil mixture is ideal if you like tropical plants. This is because Fertilome lacks moisture-retentive bark or coconut coir, which several tropical plants and cacti are susceptible to, if kept in an excessively moist environment. This can lead to severe root rot otherwise.
The soil mixture is airy, wholesome, and clean and can be used for any plant project you can think of, including seed germination and propagation. The peat moss decomposes gradually, improving the soil and feeding your plants.
6. Houseplant Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil Premium All Purpose Blend
Are you in search of the best soil for indoor plants? We bring to you one of the top quality potting soils available in the market: the Professional Fiddle Leaf Fig Soil. It is pre-mixed and completely ready to use, saving you precious time and making the gardening process a lot of fun.
It is prepared with premium inorganic, all-purpose mix and fits all varieties of house plants. It promotes better aeration and drainage and also retains enough moisture so the roots of your plants don’t just dry out.
Different Types of Best Soil for Indoor Plants
Cactus and Succulent Potting Mix
Cactus or Succulent potting mix usually contain peat moss as a key ingredient. This is thanks to its excellent absorption characteristics as well as its brilliant moisture retention and drainage.
The reason why this is a key ingredient in indoor plant soil for succulents is because it dries out fairly quickly and is hard to saturate so this prevents your delicate cacti and succulents from getting flooded or suffocated with excess water retention.
If you are picking the best soil for indoor plants, specifically succulents and cacti, then the potting mixes should ideally include well draining rocky and coarse substances such as pumice.
Potting Soil for Indoor Plants
Soil that is much thicker than a potting mix and contains actual, garden dirt is referred to as potting soil. Vegetable gardening or flowering beds frequently use potting soil.
Additionally, regular potting soil may contain soilless components like perlite, vermiculite, or sphagnum peat moss.
Even though some indoor plant potting soil mixes contain these beneficial indoor potting ingredients, potting soil has a much higher propensity to retain moisture, constrict the root ball, become waterlogged, and obstruct the correct ventilation that many houseplants require.
Potting Mix for Indoor Plants
Plants that grow in pots or containers require potting mix. It improves and promotes ventilation and drainage, and it prevents the “soil” from being too compact because of its airy and light texture.
A number of soilless potting mediums are included in potting mixes, including perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, sand, etc.
Factors to Consider Before You Buy the Best Soil for Indoor Plants
Indoor plants grow in a very different environment than outdoor garden plants; hence, they have different needs altogether. One of the key factors that determines lifespan and overall health is the best soil for indoor plants.
Below are some factors you should always consider before you invest in the best indoor plant soil:
Key Ingredients for Best Indoor Plant Soil
The range of indoor potting soil’s ingredients varies, with some having a remarkably small diversity and others comprising components that absorb moisture, like coconut coir. Heavy feeders, such as blooms, herbs, and vegetables, prefer rich materials, such as sea minerals and earthworm castings.
The natural habitat of a plant is a strong indicator of its preferred soil. Succulents like the string of pearls, prefer a soil mixture that is porous, such as one that includes more perlite. This reduces the chance of flooding by allowing water to pass through quickly and avoid the roots to rot. You can read more about the best soil for string of pearls here.
However, because they thrive in moist soil, plants native to more tropical climates like ferns require a mixture with more peat. So bear in mind the natural environments of your plants while choosing a potting mix.
Purpose of the Best Soil for Indoor Plant Garden
For indoor plants, it is always better to purchase soil that has been pH-adjusted, sufficient drainage, and growth-supporting additions. What you grow determines what kind of potting soil you require.
Many of the above-mentioned suggested mixes are all-purpose which makes them a great option for various plant species. Succulents have different moisture absorption requirements than regular flowers, so if you have a sunroom filled with them, acquire something specifically made for them.
Peace lilies and other indoor plants are known for not tolerating flooded roots and need a well-draining combination. Read more about the best soil for peace lilies here.
Nutrient-Packed Soil for Indoor Plants
There are certain indoor plant soil mixes that also serve the purpose of a fertilizer. This helps the plants suck in the nutrients quicker instead of waiting for the soil to pump in the minerals overtime.
More importantly, these nutrients packed in the best soil for indoor plants are slow-releasing to ensure that your plants get an even and balanced feet over time, instead of burning due to over-fertilization. The best soil for indoor plants ideally comes with this unique characteristic.
FAQs About Best Indoor Potting Soils
Can you use garden soil for indoor plants?
No, you cannot use garden soil for indoor plants. For potted plants, including indoor plants, most garden soil or topsoil is excessively thick and dense. It will eventually compact inside the pots, suffocating the plant roots. Instead, a true potting mix is required.
How often should you change soil for indoor plants?
You should change the soil for indoor plants every 12-15 months. This is also depending on how quickly the plant is developing. Some slow-growing plants, like cactus, can live for years in the same pot with only a soil resupply.
Abigail Clemente
To say that Abigail is passionate about gardening and landscaping would be an understatement. Abigail came to Your House Your Garden team with an already exceptional portfolio as an experienced writer.
Abigail Clemente
To say that Abigail is passionate about gardening and landscaping would be an understatement. Abigail came to Your House Your Garden team with an already exceptional portfolio as an experienced writer.
