The perfect potting soil for house plants varies as the original habitat of each plant determines its soil preference. Preparing DIY homemade potting soil for your house plants may sound difficult, but it is quite simple! You just need to know the right potting ingredients and what proportions they should be mixed, and you are all set to nurture your house plants. Below are some potting soil ingredients that you can use to help your plants grow faster and healthier.
Coco coir or peat moss
Peat moss can be your base ingredient as it enables the soil to retain moisture. The only major difference between peat moss and coco coir is that the former takes longer to renew and is not as sustainable as the latter.
Perlite
The white pieces that you find in most potting soil mixes are basically perlite. It helps add drainage and prevents compaction. If you don’t get perlite, then replace it with pumice. Both of the options serve the same purpose.
Pumice
Pumice is another good porous volcanic leftover and a natural soil conditioner that serves the same purpose as perlite. It is heavier and more manageable than perlite, and it stays in the soil instead of floating up.
Vermiculite
It is an all-natural mineral that can prevent soil compaction by keeping the soil mix fluffy and light. Vermiculite also helps retain moisture and is very lightweight. It does not add extra heft to the soil mix.
Dried sphagnum moss
This moss is harvested live and dried. Sphagnum moss is usually sold with its long brown, grey, or green fibres intact and can be seen in hanging baskets. Sometimes you may also find it chopped for easier mixing.
Charcoal
You can put charcoal in the bottom of your pots or simply mix it in the soil. Adding charcoal can help reduce odours and offers limited aeration.
Bark
Adding bark to your soil can provide aeration, but it is non-absorbent. The bark contains wax that can protect the tree by repelling water. Unlike wood, it does not break down easily, but it uses nitrogen during the decaying process and adds acidity to the soil.
Wood Chips
You can add fresh wood chips to the potting soil to provide aeration and enhance the absorption capacity. It decomposes rapidly and uses soil nitrogen in the process. Pinewood chips are more desirable than hardwoods because it consumes less nitrogen.
Now that you know about potting soil ingredients for house plants, the possibilities are endless.
