What Makes a Good Potting Mix  

A good mix does two things at once: it holds enough moisture and nutrients for roots to use, while still draining freely and letting air reach the roots. Regular garden soil fails at this indoors — it compacts in a pot, drains poorly, and can introduce pests, which is why houseplants need a specially formulated potting mix rather than soil dug from the yard. 

Soil Types for Different Plants  

• Standard potting mix: works for most tropical foliage plants — pothos, philodendron, fiddle leaf fig. 

• Succulent and cactus mix: gritty and fast-draining, for plants that need to dry out quickly. 

• Orchid bark mix: chunky and airy, for orchids that need air around their roots.

• Aroid mix: a chunkier, well-aerated blend for plants like monstera and philodendron that grow epiphytically in nature.   

Ingredients Worth Knowing  

• Peat moss or coco coir: the moisture-retaining base of most mixes. 

• Perlite: light white granules that improve drainage and aeration. 

• Vermiculite: improves water and nutrient retention. 

• Bark or charcoal: adds chunkiness and airflow for orchids and aroids.  

Signs Your Soil Isn't Working  

If water pools on the surface instead of soaking in, if the soil looks compacted and hard, or if a plant is struggling despite correct light and watering, the soil itself may be the problem. Refreshing or replacing the mix at repotting time often solves issues that seem, at first, like a watering or light problem. 

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