It can be difficult to find the perfect houseplant potting mix…
So I figured out a way to make my own that’s both easy and budget friendly!
It is my goal to demonstrate exactly how to make potting soil…
… for indoor plants, from scratch, in the following post.
Hear it from Bianca!
It’s always a more friendly option to DIY…
DIY can contribute to the reusing of used materials…
… or simply just knowing what you put inside a product you DIY-ed.
In other words, it’s mostly a common environmental friendly choice…
… and it saves budget too! It’s a smart choice indeed…
In the gardening realm, I like to DIY my potting soil. Why?
This is because I know exactly what I put in my mix…
… so that my plants receive the best nutrients and material based on their needs.
At first I thought that it would be hard to do, especially on ratio measurements…
… but it’s actually not. There’s a bunch of guide to doing it in the internet!
That’s right! This post is one of them…
It might seem complicated to make your own indoor potting soil, but the process is actually simple…
All you need is three ingredients, and the soil is perfect for growing houseplants…
You’ll find below detailed instructions on how to create a homemade houseplant potting mix…
If that’s what you’re looking for, then you’ve come to the right place…
The Best Soil For Houseplants
Most of my life has been spent growing indoor plants…
… so I have probably tried most of the retail houseplant soil mixes there are.
You can buy the same product under different brands and the results are often different…
The commercial mixes I’ve tried do not drain well, don’t retain water well…
… contain too much sand, or have large chunks of rocks or sticks in them (so annoying!).
Usually…
Houseplants require a light and fluffy mix from which they can properly drain and retain moisture…
Otherwise, the soil could become compacted, leaving it incapable of retaining moisture…
Or it could hold as much water as it can, leaving the soil over saturated…
Houseplants will suffer in both of these situations, and you’ll struggle for their survival…
But, if you don’t have time to make your own, this is a good product that you can use instead…
Benefits Of Making Potting Mix For Houseplants
It’s easy to make houseplant potting soil at home whenever you need it, but there are other benefits as well…
It is cheaper to buy the ingredients in bulk and mix them yourself than to buy pre-made stuff…
Moreover, you create your own mix, so you know exactly what’s in it…
… especially since soil is a very important medium for plants to grow.
Therefore…
As long as you know what’s in it, you can utilize it for all of your indoor plants!
Moreover, since you control the ingredients, you can easily experiment with my recipe to develop your own…
That way, you can ensure all of your houseplants have the exact variety of soil they need…
How To Make Potting Soil For Indoor Plants
My houseplant potting soil has become a bit of an irritant over the years…
Yes, I admit it…
And that’s what has led me to make my own mix…
Moreover, I utilize these ingredients in other soil mixes I make, so they won’t go to waste…
… and I always have them handy when making fresh batches for my houseplants.
Houseplant Potting Soil Ingredients
It only takes three ingredients to make this simple!
You can easily find all of these at any home improvement store…
… and garden center where house plants are sold. Here’s a quick description of each…
Peat Moss or Coco Coir
This is your basic soil ingredient, which contributes to moisture retention…
Compared with coco coir, peat moss can take a very long time to regenerate…
… so it is not as sustainable as coco coir (which is obtained by processing coconut shells).
Personally, I prefer using coir, but you are free to use either of them…
Perlite or Pumice
The white pieces in potting mixes are composed of perlite…
… a material that helps prevent compaction and adds drainage.
For those who can not find it, pumice will work just as well…
Both of these options are natural, so there’s nothing to worry about there…
Vermiculite
Vermiculite is a mica-like mineral that serves as a soil amendment. It is mined out of the ground and, when heated, curls up. The resulting worm-like, curly appearance is responsible for its name, which comes from the Latin vermiculus, meaning “insect larva” (ultimately from the Latin vermis, meaning “worm”).
David Beaulieu from The Spruce
A natural stone, vermiculite keeps the mix fluffy and prevents soil compaction, while it also retains moisture…
It is very lightweight, so won’t add to the mix’s weight…
Supplies Needed
- Measuring container (I use a 1 gallon bucket, but you can use any size measure you want)
- Soil scoop
- Water
DIY Indoor Plant Potting Mix Recipe
Peat moss, coco coir, pumice, perlite and 1/4 – 1/2 part vermiculite are mixed together in equal parts…
Most houseplants prefer an alkaline soil over peat moss because it is acidic…
In general…
You should add one tablespoon of garden lime to every gallon of peat moss to balance it out…
If you want, you can test it with a pH meter to make sure it is neutral…
What does “part” mean?
One part is just a generic unit of measure. It can be a cup, a gallon, or even a scoop…
It’s just a matter of what makes the most sense for your situation, and the quantity of your recipe…
How To Mix Potting Soil For Houseplants
To prepare your potting mix, put all the ingredients into a potting tray or bucket…
… and then mix them together using a soil scoop, trowel or your hands.
In the case of a small batch, you can shake the container with the lid once the ingredients have been combined…
Once you’re finished mixing everything together evenly…
… you can repot houseplants with this soil right away, or you can store it for later.
If you plan on using it immediately, then now will be the time to use an all-purpose granular fertilizer…
Make sure you follow the package instructions to find out exactly how much to add…
Storing Leftover DIY Houseplant Soil
It is easier for me to make large batches of my DIY houseplant potting mix…
… and to store the leftovers so I always have some on hand.
Keeping it on a shelf in your garage, basement, or shed is simple…
… and you can store it in any of these places.
Please make sure you place your indoor plants into an airtight container…
Soil is an ideal breeding ground for indoor plant bugs…
… and even things that just sit in storage can become infested. Yuk, that’s not nice.
My supplies are kept in a five gallon bucket with an airtight lid…
If your bucket does not have a lid with a tight seal, then you can use plastic lids…
… which fit on a few different sizes of buckets.
Homemade indoor plant soil is simple, cost-effective, and suitable for most types of houseplants…
You can either use this recipe or modify it to meet the requirements of your specific plants…
After figuring out how to make potting soil for indoor plants, the options are endless…
To sum it up…
DIY-ing potting soil is easy, now that you’ve read on this article…
You only need three main potting soil ingredients…
… and your mix is ready to go!
The guide has already been stated above too, so referring to this guide is always an option…
Conclusion
If you still have any queries or in need of further information…
Comment down below or let us know by contacting us here.
Check out more posts on our website like this one here!
Have an awesome gardening journey fellas!