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The type of soil or potting mix you need depends on what you're planting. He notes that all-purpose blends are probably what you'll use most of the time. However, a sandy blend is going to be better for cacti and succulents while finer or lighter blends are the best potting soils for starting seeds. Most potting soil, especially if the product name includes “all-purpose,” can be used indoors and outdoors. These special indoor potting soils are designed to compensate for the lack of humidity in homes, and the specific moisture needs of indoor plants. Potting soil differs from topsoil in that it is meant to be used in raised beds and containers instead of in the ground, which makes it applicable to indoor and outdoor environments.
After planting, barely firm the mix – don’t pack it down – and water gently to settle in place. In growing mediums, the pea-sized pebbles are an excellent conditioner, adding air pockets that prevent compaction and aid drainage. If possible, try to also avoid synthetic fertilizers like hydrogel. Instead, fertilize plants with compost or buy organic fertilizer. This article was researched and written by Amanda Rose Newton, a freelance garden reviewer for The Spruce.
What to Look For in Indoor Potting Soil
Brittany VanDerBill has been writing copy and content for businesses and publications since 2016. She began writing for Dotdash Meredith in 2021, covering a variety of topics including pets, clothing, and product guides. Her work has been published with several Dotdash Meredith brands, including Travel + Leisure, People, Allrecipes, and Paw Print magazine.
Nardozzi advises composting the soil if the plants that had been growing in it were diseased or infested with insects. When planting directly into the ground, consider whether the soil you have promotes drainage or retention of water. If you're not sure, you can test drainage by digging a 12- to 18-inch hole and filling it with water. Once it drains, fill it again and observe how quickly the water drains.
Scotts Organic Group Top Soil — Premium Choice
You'll want to use a specially formulated potting mix if you plan to grow orchids. Traditionally, these mixes will either contain peat moss or bark. The mix contains enough plant food to last plants for about two months. Make sure to have additional food on hand if you're growing plants that will need a longer-lasting boost of nutrients.
A plant’s native environment is a great indicator of their soil preference as well. “On the other hand, plants native to more tropical and semi-tropical environments like ferns pay prefer a mix with more peat, since it helps the soil stay moist. So when looking for a potting mix, keep your plants’ natural habitats in mind. Does your plant call the dry desert or the tropical rainforest home? Special mixes have been developed for these different classes of plants."
Buying Good Potting Soil at Home Depot
Our favorite potting soil is the PittMoss Plentiful Organic Potting Mix because it’s a peat-free, all-purpose blend potting mix. This mix can also be used for seed starting, propagation, and any other plant project you dream up. The peat moss breaks down slowly, acting as a soil conditioner and providing food to your plants. Tank’s Pro Potting Mix is made of compost and coconut coir and serves as a good recipe base for growing succulents. And in a planting medium that’s wet from heavy watering, they develop problems like root rot, which is usually fatal. Many ingredients go into potting mixes, but you'll want to keep a few specifics in mind.
Try it for flowers as well as fruits and vegetables that need to be grown in the ground rather than in a container. The Fiddle-Leaf Fig Plant Resource created soil that drains well, feeds the plant, and gives plenty of space for growing roots. Avoiding moisture-locking ingredients like coconut coir, this airy mix is well suited to finicky houseplants besides fiddle-leaf figs, including monsteras, dracaenas, and scheffleras. Scotts Turf Builder LawnSoil is a great choice when you need soil that holds moisture.
Espoma Organic Potting Mix
Some of these links may be affiliate in nature, meaning we earn small commissions if items are purchased. Use any combination of materials you like based on the above recommendations, but maintain the outlined ratio to keep the portions of drainage, porous, and nutritious materials in balance. Landscape sand, crusher dust, and granite grit are readily available at landscape depots.
As you put your plant in the ground, you'll mix in more garden soil with a bit of the natural dirt. As noted earlier, there are lots of factors at play when it comes to outdoor soil. It could be too dense or light, acidic or alkaline, sandy or clay-rich, etc.
This professional formula can be used for traditional desert cacti, as well as jungle cacti. This important distinction means succulents, which cannot stand to have “wet feet,” can be kept dry. The organic mix contains plenty of perlite to keep the soil light and airy, just how cacti like it. This aeration also provides exceptional drainage, helping to prevent root rot, common in succulents and cacti. Despite the heaps of nutrients, the mix is lightweight and offers plenty of aeration, allowing for effective moisture retention.
If you don't catch him writing, you can usually find Ed working in the garden or taking on DIY projects around the house. Ed’s also a talented musician, spending time composing music for independent films or helping people fix their guitars. The downside to Scotts Turf Builder is that it is expensive and might be too dense to use in indoor pots if you don’t mix it with another brand first.
It's also formulated to need less water, adding to its sustainable appeal—and helping to guarantee that your plants are still alive and thriving after you return from a summer vacation. Our choice for the overall best potting soil, PittMoss' Plentiful Organic Potting Mix is OMRI listed, which means it's been independently reviewed to adhere to organic standards. Most potting soil for indoor plants contains the essential nutrients to give new greenery a good jump start, or transplants the food they need. Wonder Soil Premium Organic Potting Mix does this, adds more ingredients and more to help indoor plants thrive, and it can be used with just about any plant. We evaluated the many potting soil products for their intended use, as well as their added ingredients, such as fertilizer, and other attributes such as water retention. Our top choice was Wonder Soil Organic for its unique blend of slow-release organic nutrients, sterility, and pet-friendly formula.
It is awesome for grass, but you can also use it for indoor plants. Its ingredients help it retain moisture and provide plenty of nutrients to help your grass and plants grow faster and stronger. The high-quality soil won’t clump and can easily spread where needed. This is a good option for those who'd like a controlled release fertilizer for added convenience. It may come with a slightly higher price tag, but it's a versatile soil mix that can be used indoors, outdoors, in pots, and in gardens.
Espoma 4qt. Organic Potting Soil Mix
It's also free of weeds, so you won't have to worry about unwanted plants growing in your planter. The mix contains readily available carbon to promote healthy biology for growing plants, and it requires less fertilizer and watering than other potting soils, saving you time and money. So instead of waiting for the soil to add nutrition as it slowly breaks down, these are available for plants to use when they need them.
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