Soil For Indoor Plants
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Best Soil For Indoor Plants
One of these potting mixes is the right soil for your indoor plants! Maybe you’ve been planting indoors for some time but none of your efforts seem to work. Let me tell you something – it’s not you… It’s the soil! And among so many potting soil options, we found the top ten best potting soil for indoor plants! We’re going to take apart every detail on this topic, including:- Their components, pH levels, texture, water-holding capacity, and other descriptions and specs;
- Whether they’re affordable, resistant to pests, well-aerated, moisture-retaining, helpful to plant growth, and other qualities;
- Which ones are made for specific plant types or whether its an all-purpose potting soil you have; and
- Loads more!
Introduction
Most beginner planters often take this for granted, thinking they can just take outdoor soil in and plant on it. But even though plants are quiet beings that keep to themselves, they’re more complicated than that. In fact… Different plant types require different soil conditions. That’s why soil builders put great effort and research into their products. So, if you have orchids, different flowers, fiddle leaf fig tree, pothos, whatever else – you need this guide to know which one is best for your plant babies. Let’s get going…Table Of Contents
Table of Contents
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1 - Best All-Purpose Soil For Indoor Plants - Editor’s Choice Award
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted 12 Quarts Potting Soil
- Manufacturer: FoxFarm
- Components: Compost, humus, sandy loam, sphagnum peat moss
- Texture: Light, aerated
- Soil pH: 6.3 to 6.8
- Water Retention Capacity: High
Bottom Line: Aquarium plants, potted and container plants, etc. - name it, FoxFarm FX14053 potting soil can grow it!
Pros
- Its compost mixture provides adequate nutrients
- Environment friendly
- Sturdy, firm root, and branch growth
- Great for aquarium plants and potted plants
- Adequate pH level, aeration and moisture-holding capacity
Cons
- Needs to be appropriately drained
- Attracts insects
SUMMARY:
The FoxFarm FX14053 potting soil comprises sphagnum peat moss, sandy loam, forest humus, and compost. The last one is a combination of bat guano, earthworm castings, crab meal, and fish.
FoxFarm has more nutrients than your regular potting soil with that much organic material. Your plants will surely flourish under the care of this potting soil.
Also…
FoxFarm is well-textured. It feels light on the palm but not so much that it’s gravelly. You can be sure that plant roots will hold firm under it but still get the right aeration.
So, it’s great for container plants – but be sure that the container has adequate drainage. This mix tends to hold too much moisture and invites gnats and other insects to live.
Because…
FoxFarm has a high water-holding capacity. That makes it an ideal soil for aquariums. This potting mix will sit well at the bottom of the glass after you fill it up with water. And then, you’ll only have to wait for your hydro plants to grow.
So yes, there might be cheaper potting soils. But FoxFarm FX14053 has the right pH level, composition, moisture retention, and aeration where most plant types can thrive.
On top of those…
There’s no perlite! If you’re keen on mother nature, this mix is as environment friendly as can be.
So, you can’t go wrong with our Editor’s Choice FoxFarm FX14053 potting soil!
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2 - Best Budget Soil For Indoor Plants - Best Value Award
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
- Manufacturer: Miracle-Gro
- Components: Canadian sphagnum peat moss, perlite, wetting agent, fertilizer
- Texture: Light
- Soil pH: 6.3 to 6.8
- Water Retention Capacity: High
Bottom Line: Your budget shouldn’t stop you from planting on a high-quality potting soil - so get a Miracle-Gro indoor potting mix now!
Pros
- Very affordable
- Contains fertilizer for added nutrition
- Contains coco coir for better water-holding capacity and aeration
- Balanced pH level for many plant types
- Fungus-resistant
Cons
- Might be prone to gnats
- The soil itself lacks nutrients if not for the fertilizer
SUMMARY:
Miracle-Gro comprises sphagnum moss, perlite, and fertilizer. The last one is already a bonus because most potting mixes don’t already have it. Surprisingly, it’s one of the cheapest potting mixes on the market!
But besides that…
They added coconut coir, which helps the soil retain moisture, re-wet, and drain whenever the plant needs it. That cycle continues for up to six months. Only then will you have to replenish the soil.
Miracle-Gro makes watering easier and less hassle for you. And even though it’s already affordable, it also helps you save money from buying more soil and fertilizer.
Also…
Miracle-Gro potting soil doesn’t have compost bark in its mix. That should be why this soil seems to have fewer nutrients than the others that we tried. But thanks to the fertilizer – those little yellow-orange globules – our plants still got what they needed.
And the absence of compost makes Miracle-Gro resistant to fungus and most other pests. And that is equally important.
Lastly…
This is our Best Value potting soil because its blend, pH level, light texture, aeration, and overall quality make it conducive for many types of container plants!
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3 - Best Aerated Soil For Indoor Plants -Top Pick Award
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
- Manufacturer: Perfect Plants
- Components: Charcoal, pine bark chips, coconut chips, sponge rock
- Texture: Textured
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
- Water Retention Capacity: Low
Bottom Line: Your orchids deserve the aeration and nutrition that the Perfect Plants All-Natural potting mix provides.
Pros
- Best texture and aeration for growing orchids
- Good resistance to fungus and insects
- Great drainage
- Neutral pH levels
- Made with organic ingredients
Cons
- Needs fertilizer
- Relatively expensive
SUMMARY:
If you’re big on growing orchids, you must know that those flowering plants love textured, aerated, and properly drained soil. They don’t demand too much from their caregivers, but you have to give them a controlled environment to thrive.
Good for you…
Perfect Plants All-Natural orchid potting soil is here! It’s super textured with coconut chips that its root system can get adequate oxygen. And you know how those orchid roots climb – well, this mix will allow that too!
The pine bark ingredient also allows just the right amount of moisture to hold for the plant. And when there’s excess water, it’s draining just as easily. Other plants won’t like this trait but it’s excellent for this soil’s specific purpose.
Not to mention…
The Perfect Plants orchid potting soil has pH levels conducive specifically for orchids. Thanks to the sponge rock! And as for the charcoal, it cleans the soil up by filtering bacteria that may cause pest infestation.
You might have to add some fertilizer, though. We found out that it was the only thing missing on our first try.
But overall, Perfect Plants is our Top Pick because it’s well-aerated, making it the best potting soil for orchids.
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4 - Best Quality Soil For Indoor Plants
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
- Manufacturer: Miracle-Gro
- Components: Sphagnum peat moss, aged bark fines, perlite, plant food, wetting agent
- Texture: Light, aerated
- Soil pH: 6 to 6.5
- Water Retention Capacity: Average
Bottom Line: Unique flowers need a unique, fresh soil like Miracle-Gro African Violet potting mix.
Pros
- Contains adequate nutrition
- Good water-holding capacity and drainage
- Balanced pH levels
- Excellent texture and aeration for African violets
- Pest resistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Not for starting seeds
SUMMARY:
Do you plant or are you planning on planting African violets? You should know that it’s one of the easiest to grow indoor flowering plants. That’s why it’s also commonly overlooked.
If you don’t want to make the very same mistake, you should plant them on this Miracle-Gro potting soil. It’s mixed and blended for the African violets’ specific needs.
And what are those?
It should be everything in moderation with African violets. So, Miracle-Gro made this lightly textured and well-aerated soil that can hold adequate moisture. This plotting mix includes perlite, which regulates the amount of water retained in the soil.
It doesn’t have actual soil and composted manure, which is unnecessary and possibly even harmful to African violets. Instead, this mix already contains plant food to compensate for the missing nutrients.
Also…
It’s balanced in pH level so your blooms can thrive to their full potential. Only, we found out that this is too concentrated for seedlings. So, it’s an ideal potting mix for replanting seedlings or older plants.
Don’t you worry about pests too. It’s mostly resistant, especially if you take proper care and check it now and then.
5 - Best MYCO-TONE Soil For Indoor Plants
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix - All Natural Potting Mix For Indoor & Outdoor Containers
- Manufacturer: Espoma
- Components: Sphagnum peat moss, perlite, humus, compost
- Texture: Light
- Soil pH: 6.1 to 6.5
- Water Retention Capacity: High
Bottom Line: Even sensitive herbs, vegetables, and other indoor and outdoor plants love to grow on the Espoma organic potting mix.
Pros
- Affordable
- The innovative Myco-Tone feature helps plants grow faster
- The organic ingredients provide more nutrients than most soil blends
- Environment-friendly
Cons
- Weak resistance to pests
- Inadequate drainage
- It can be clumpy when moist
SUMMARY:
This potting soil from Espoma mixed alfalfa, kelp, and feather meal with earthworm castings. You can rely on this all-organic compost to give your plants the nutrients that they need.
But that’s not all…
This potting soil is conducive even for sensitive plants. If you’ve ever grown herbs and spices, you’ll know what we mean. They rot and die down at the slightest disturbance.
But not with Espoma and its Myco-tone feature. Don’t be intimidated by the term! It’s just what the manufacturer calls their patented blend of ecto and endo mycorrhizae, which is very effective in promoting plant growth.
How so?
These soil microbes help the plants to adjust to new environments faster. So, you can freely transplant your herbs without stressing them out.
Plus, Myco-Tone hastens root growth and increases the plant’s ability to take on water. That’s why we recommend it for outdoor potted plants too. Those roots will get the water first before the soil dries out under the sun.
But take note:
Espoma excellently holds water. So, make sure that your pots or containers have a good drainage system. Or else, you’ll have gnat infestation in no time. Since this is organic, there’s no pesticide or insecticide in the ingredients, which requires your careful attention.
Also, its texture is light at first, but once moistened, you’ll find it gets heavy. It might impede aeration, so you better cultivate to free up some space for your roots to breathe.
But overall, it’s a great buy for such an affordable price.
6 - Best Lightweight Soil For Indoor Plants
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
- Manufacturer: Hoffman
- Components: Perlite
- Texture: Course
- Soil pH: 7 to 7.5
- Water Retention Capacity: Very low
Bottom Line: Making your DIY potting soil can be a hassle - but not with the dust-free and high-quality Hoffman perlite.
Pros
- Affordable
- Not dusty
- Its coarse texture is excellent for aeration
- Great excess moisture drainage
Cons
- Too fine for net pots
- High pH level
SUMMARY:
Let’s take a break from potting mixes because this perlite is worth mentioning. If you want to make the best potting soil yourself, you’ll need great perlite to loosen it up and reduce moisture-holding capacity.
We recommend Hoffman!
It won’t add nutrients to your potting soil so we didn’t consider that when judging by the Performance metric. Instead, we tested how well it added texture to our soil mix and improved its drainage.
At first, we thought it was too fine to be effective. But surprisingly, it did its job well! We compared the results against other perlites and one control pot (soil mix without perlite). The ones we planted on the potting soil with Hoffman had healthy root growth.
Also…
We expected it to be dusty because all the others are. But each pack of Hoffman perlite that we opened was clean with very minimal dust particles. That’s a huge plus because cleaning it up can be a real inconvenience!
The only downside is that the ones we got have higher pH levels than other perlite brands we tried. This may affect the overall pH of your final results. But you can adjust that by using ingredients with balanced pH levels.
Besides…
Hoffman is very affordable, especially when compared to other brands. So, we highly recommend this if you’re making a succulent soil mix or other soil mixes for indoor potted plants that require average water-holding capacity and excellent aeration.
7 - Best Epiphyte Mix Soil For Indoor Plants
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
- Manufacturer: rePotme
- Components: Pine bark, hydroton, sponge rock, New Zealand sphagnum moss
- Texture: Course
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 6.5
- Water Retention Capacity: Low
Bottom Line: With rePotme, your orchids will feel just like they’re under a tree canopy instead of in hanging baskets.
Pros
- Freshly made and hand-blended per order
- Low water-holding capacity, which is great for orchids
- Great aeration for epiphyte orchids
- Contains all-natural and unique ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
- Not the best for hot climates
SUMMARY:
Orchid lovers would know that each type needs different potting soil mixes. And we found one for epiphyte orchids!
If you’re growing dancing lady orchids, moth orchids, dendrobium, or the likes – rePotme’s Monterey dark imperial is the best potting soil for them.
Why is that?
rePotme made this soil mix thinking about those orchids that require very minimum moisture and as much oxygen as possible. The abovementioned examples are the most common ones. That’s why this potting soil contains large sponge rocks so that it won’t hold that much water.
If your location has a rather hot climate, the rePotme potting mix might dehydrate your plants. But that’s nothing a good watering schedule can’t fix.
But the best thing is…
The manufacturer mixes each bag by hand and upon order. So, you can be sure that you’ll get a fresh batch every time.
Plus, even though it’s not certified organic potting soil, it’s obvious that the ingredients are natural – unique, even. The sphagnum peat moss is from New Zealand and the bark is of Monterey pine. All these combined make a great place for orchids to thrive.
So, even if it’s more expensive than most potting mixes, we recommend this one.
8 - Best Moisture Retention Soil For Indoor Plants
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
- Manufacturer: Espoma
- Components: Sphagnum peat moss, peat humus, perlite, dolomitic limestone, sand, worm castings
- Texture: Light, clumpy
- Soil pH: 5 to 6
- Water Retention Capacity: High
Bottom Line: If you’re looking for the best potting soil for your water-loving plants, look no further than Espoma CA4!
Pros
- Affordable
- High water-holding capacity, which is great for water-loving plants
- Consists of organic material
- Adequate nutrition for plants
Cons
- Not enough drainage for cactus plants
- Weak pest resistance
- Clumpy, which is not good for aeration
SUMMARY:
Espoma markets the CA4 as an organic cactus soil mix. But as far as we know about cactus potting soils, it’s not supposed to be this clumpy when moist. If you want to use this for your succulent plants, you might add more perlite.
Still, we recommend Espoma CA4!
Aside from its affordable price, it has other great qualities. Its ability to retain moisture may not be the best for cactus, but it is for water-loving plants. For example, pothos, philodendron, Boston fern, etc.
You just have to loosen the soil to give the plant roots better aeration. And keep visiting it now and then because moist potting soil can attract gnats and fungus, especially with organic ingredients.
And if you must know…
Espoma CA4 is an organic potting mix. Its compost component is worm castings. And this is great for your plants’ nutrition.
Plus…
Like other Espoma products, CA4 has its patented Myco-Tone blend. So, this potting soil will help your plant take up the water they need and grow to their full potential.
9 - Best Balanced Soil For Indoor Plants
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
- Manufacturer: BFG Supply
- Components: Perlite or pumice, compost
- Texture: Course, aerated
- Soil pH: 5 to 6.5
- Water Retention Capacity: Low
Bottom Line: The Sun Gro cactus soil mix will give your succulents and cacti the perfect drainage and aeration that they need to thrive.
Pros
- Adequate aeration for succulents
- Low water-holding capacity and great drainage for succulents
- Gritty texture
- Pest resistant
Cons
- Expensive
- Inconsistent with its ingredients
- Needs soil amendments
SUMMARY:
We had high expectations from Sun Gro. After all, it’s an expensive brand with a good reputation.
Sure enough…
We weren’t disappointed! It says that it’s a cactus soil mix and it definitely is. There are enough worm castings and compost to keep its soil stability and provide nutrition to the plants. But it’s balanced by perlite so excess water can drain properly.
Also, we didn’t experience pest infestation, which is a huge plus. And since it’s dry most of the time, it doesn’t clump up, so the roots receive ample oxygen.
So…
It could’ve been the best potting soil. But after a few more orders, we noticed that the composition wasn’t consistent. Some days, it’s perlite. Other days, it’s pumice. That change might be insignificant, but that’s not all!
We once received a bag with peat moss. Other bags don’t have as much compost as before, so the nutrients aren’t as much. But with just the right amount of fertilizer, we were able to fix that.
That’s why we had to take a few points off its Performance and Value for Money metric scores.
Still…
It’s a great succulent mix – probably even the best for this specific purpose. Your cacti will surely thrive with Sun Gro.
10 - Best Loose Texture Soil For Indoor Plants
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil - Perfect for Indoor Plants
- Manufacturer: Houseplant Resource Center
- Components: Organic aged bark, coconut coir, perlite
- Texture: Light, aerated
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 7
- Water Retention Capacity: Average
Bottom Line: Your fiddle leaf fig tree and other indoor potted plants deserve the premium texture and drainage of this indoor potting mix from Houseplant Resource Center.
Pros
- Average water-holding capacity balanced with adequate drainage
- Sterilized to prevent pests
- With IBI-certified Biochar
- Organic potting soil
Cons
- Expensive
- Gets clumpy when watered
SUMMARY:
The fiddle leaf fig tree is a high-maintenance plant. Aside from its specific sunlight schedule, it also has specific watering and draining needs. Simply put – fiddle leaf fig trees love water, but wet soil will cause root rot, weak leaves, and brown spots.
Lucky you…
Houseplant Resource Center formulated this potting soil specifically for growing fiddle leaf fig trees. We also tried it with other indoor and outdoor plants, and it also works great with indoor ones.
This potting soil has IBI-certified Biochar, which promotes plant growth even without fertilizers. So even if this is an expensive soil mix, you don’t have to shell out more for plant food and amendments.
Also…
This premium potting mix is sterilized at a high temperature. There were little to no pest infestations when we used it. This feature is one of the most important for indoor plant growers.
But the best thing…
Its combination of coco coir, perlite, and aged bark provides the most conducive fiddle leaf fig tree growth. This potting soil can hold enough water for the plant to absorb. But it also drains the excess well enough.
Once dry, you won’t have a problem with aeration. You just need to cultivate it and loosen the soil up while it’s wet. But other than that, we have no complaints at all!
Why Trust Us
They say that planting is for the green-thumbed. We beg to disagree. My friends and I aren’t all naturally inclined to plant. Some of us have this as a hobby and others do this as an alternative income source.
Whatever the case…
We’re saying that we have experience in growing indoor and outdoor plants. And we’ve had our fair share of failures, so we decided to keep exploring with planting tools and essentials. That way we can find the best ones for our babies and help others find the ones for them too.
So, for this particular article we bought a lot of potting soil mixes. We planted on them, propagated, replanted, and re-ordered mixes whenever needed. It took us months and more than a few bucks, but it was worth it once we gathered our observations.
Hopefully…
The information we have in this article can help you have a better planting experience. Then, you won’t have to go through all the trouble we did!
Buyer's Guide:
How To Choose The Best Soil For Indoor Plants
What are the different types of Soil for Indoor Plants?
- All-purpose potting soil – blended with the generally ideal ingredients with no particular plant type; AKA general potting mix.
- Organic – made of natural ingredients.
- Seed starting – specifically blended for germinating seeds.
- Cactus and citrus mix – high drainage and low water-holding capacity mixes specifically for cacti and citrus plants.
Features to look out for:
- Potting soils already mixed with fertilizers, plant food, or other amendments will save you some money.
- Sterilized potting soils are pest resistant.
- Organic potting soils are environment-friendly and more conducive to plant growth.
Indoor potting soil and specifications explained:
Indoor potting mix or soil is a mixture of organic substances used for planting indoors.
- Components – will tell you whether the mix is organic or not, prone or resistant to pests, holds moisture well, has good drainage, etc.
- Texture – will give you a clue about the soil’s aeration.
- Soil pH – will tell you if it’s ideal for the plant type you have.
- Water-retention capacity – will tell you if your particular plant can thrive or if the roots will rot.
These are things to consider:
- Organic mixes are good for the environment but more prone to pests.
- The potting soil is a huge factor affecting plant growth, but there are a lot of others to consider. Namely, light requirement, watering schedule, humidity, etc.
Jargon buster:
- Hydroton – clay pebbles; commonly used for hydroponics.
- Epiphyte – plants that grow on other plants instead of the ground but are not parasitic to other plants.
- Peat moss – decayed sphagnum that comes from natural peat bogs.
- Forest humus – the soil surface of a forest floor; consists of decaying leaves, insects, and other organic material.
Best Soil for Indoor Plants Top Tips:
- Soils and mixes that cost more but already have fertilizers will save you more money than cheaper ones that don’t have them.
- If you find it hard to stick to a high-maintenance watering schedule, use soils with peat moss.
- Coco coir holds water and drains well at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: What is potting soil?
A - Potting soil or potting mix is a combination of organic ingredients used to grow potted plants.
Question 2: What makes a good potting soil mix?
A - Generally, the best potting soil consists of 50% vermiculite or perlite, and 50% peat moss. But different plants thrive in different potting mixes. This indoor potting soil top list has detailed reviews to help you find the best indoor potting soil for your planting needs.
Question 3: What’s the difference between indoor and outdoor potting soil?
A - Outdoor potting soil is actual soil, a mixture of clay, rock particles, and organic remains that lie on the outermost surface of the earth. On the other hand, indoor potting soil consists of peat, perlite, and compost.
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
Value for Money
The best potting soil on the market isn’t the most expensive one if you can believe that. In fact, we found the affordable ones gave us more value than expected.
Our award winners topped the list for that!
But…
Just because the others have lower scores doesn’t mean we don’t recommend them. It’s just that when compared to cheaper products, they’re almost of the same quality.
So, if you want to treat your plants with premium brands, go ahead!
Value for Money Rating
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted
100%
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
100%
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
100%
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
90%
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
90%
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
90%
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
90%
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
80%
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil
80%
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
70%
Pest Resistance
This metric is a very important one because plant pests have major consequences. They will ruin your plants and your home. So, we had high standards for this.
We concluded…
No potting soil is perfectly free of the tendency to attract pests. But compared to other potting soils on the market, these products are the most pest resistant.
Pest Resistance Rating
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
90%
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
90%
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
90%
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
90%
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
90%
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted
80%
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
80%
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
80%
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil
80%
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
70%
Performance
We considered a lot of factors. We asked a lot of questions about the Performance metric.
For example…
Is there a significant difference between plant growth in this potting soil and other potting mixes? Are there any plant damages? Is the formula consistent? Etc.
And we found our Editor’s Choice FoxFarm FX14053 towered over the others. But as you can see, these products are our top scorers, so you can rely on them to help your plants thrive.
Performance Rating
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted
100%
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
90%
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
90%
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
90%
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
90%
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
90%
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
90%
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil
90%
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
80%
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
70%
Moisture Holding Capacity
This is the part where it gets a little confusing because not all plants require more water. In fact, others need the minimum amount possible. So, if the potting soil has a high moisture-holding capacity, we ask these questions:
Is it balanced with adequate drainage? Is perlite ratio to other ingredients enough to drain the excess water? Can it retain and drain enough water for this potting soil’s specific purpose?
And the results say…
Our Editor’s Choice FoxFarm and Best Value Miracle-Gro are the best on this front.
Moisture Holding Capacity Rating
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted
100%
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
100%
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
90%
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
90%
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
90%
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
90%
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
90%
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil
90%
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
80%
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
80%
Aeration
Roots need to breathe so aeration is a very important metric. But every plant is different, so we considered the potting soil’s marketed purpose when judging them.
Surprisingly…
FoxFarm, our Editor’s Choice, has such great texture and aeration. After all, it’s an all-purpose potting soil. But Perfect Plants have just the right quality to give orchids the oxygen they need, which is why it’s our Top Pick.
Aeration Rating
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted
100%
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
100%
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
90%
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
90%
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
90%
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
90%
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
90%
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
80%
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
80%
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil
80%
Our Final Verdict: Best Soil for Indoor Plants
As you can see…
FoxFarm FX14053 is our Editor’s Choice because it has the qualities that an all-purpose potting soil should have. But our other award winners aren’t far behind!
The Best Value Miracle-Gro will do wonders for your plants and your wallet. And our Top Pick Perfect Plants will get your orchids growing to their full potential.
And as for the others…
Each one has its specialty. Rest assured, you’ll get your money’s worth!
Best Soil for Indoor Plants
Foxfarm FX14053 Ocean Forest Plant Garden PH Adjusted
96%
Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
94%
All-Natural Orchid Potting Mix 4qts. by Perfect Plants
94%
Miracle-Gro African Violet Potting Mix
90%
Espoma Organic Potting Soil Mix
88%
Hoffman 16504 Horticultural Perlite
86%
RePotme Phalaenopsis Monterey Dark Imperial Orchid Potting Mix
86%
Premium Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree Potting Soil
84%
Espoma CA4 4-Quart Organic Cactus Mix
82%
Sun Gro Horticulture 1410602.Q08P Black Gold Cactus Mix
80%
Conclusion: Best Soil For Indoor Plants
When you try one of these products, you’ll find that not all plant lovers and growers are so-called “green-thumbed.” Sometimes, it’s all in the soil!
You can rely on one of our award winners to get you what you need.
But…
If you’re a succulent grower, Sun Gro is what you’re looking for. But it’s never too late to try growing a fiddle leaf fig tree with the help of Houseplant Resource Center’s premium potting soil.
We hope you find what you’re looking for. Happy planting!
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About Author
Bug Out Bill is an adventurer and survivor through and through. From the time he was just a little boy (Bug Out Willie) running and jumping through the backwoods of the rocky mountains in Colorado, to the man he is today. Backpacking through South America, scaling two 26,000+ ft peaks, sailing across the Mediterranean, surviving a near death 50 foot fall with very little food while waiting 6 days to be rescued in the wilderness, and everything in between. No wonder he wants to Bug Out, hahaha. BO Bill is truly a passionate outdoorsman when it comes to living life to the fullest with no boundaries. The way we were meant to live and survive. He shares that passion here with you in his writing and sharing. We hope you enjoy your stay at the Bug Out Bill website. . Now Bug Out!
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