You know, I have always been quite naive about plants & planting in general. In fact, it was only during Covid that I actually started arranging plants around my desk. Some of them thrived, some didn’t. And despite the correct watering, some got soggy, while some dried up. And eventually, I realized that the main culprit wasn’t in my plant care routine, but in the potting mix!
Turns out that most expert gardeners these days use a soilless potting mix – yes, such a term exists! Trust me, even I was confused between the two. So, I consulted the expert team at the Garden Genie Studio. And here’s what they told me:
“See, potting soil may sound fancy to you, but it’s actually the normal ground soil. Sure, it has compost & wetting agents in it, but so does it have impurities & other things. So, it’s quite dense & cheaper. Soilless potting mix, on the other hand, is light & sterile. So one, it offers better drainage and aeration and two – it offers more styling opportunities. It’s just that you need to check the ingredient quality & plant compatibility first. Like, some plants thrive well in an organic soilless potting mix. While others, like succulents, need precise potting ratios.”
But that’s not all! You know, we had a whole interview with the Garden Genie team, and have compiled all their insights in this article!
Top Insights
- You can use soilless potting mixes to aerate, balance and sterilize container gardening & seedlings. The soil-based ones, on the other hand, are perfect for trees and outdoor plants.
- Soilless potting mixes are usually more expensive per unit volume since they contain specially processed and blended components like coco coir, perlite, and vermiculite.
- If you want to skip the hassle of preparing, fertilizing & testing your potting mix, then Garden Genie’s 5 in 1 potting mix is a must-try! (Link below!)
- Top Insights
- How to Choose the Right Potting Mix for All Your Plants?
- When Does a Soil-Based Mix Work the Best?
- When Do You Use a Soilless Potting Mix?
- Making the Right Choice for Long-Term Plant Health
- 6 Signs Your Plant Needs a Different Potting Mix
- Can You Combine Soil & Soilless Mixes? If Yes, How?
- FAQs
- Conclusion
How to Choose the Right Potting Mix for All Your Plants?
Do you know that potting mixes ain’t generic as such? Like, you need to take care of so many things – your plant needs, nutrition, root structure and so much more before you buy one! So, let’s check how you can do that easily:
1. Analyze the Root Structure & Growth Habits
Well, the Garden Genie team told us that the first and most important potting mix consideration is obviously the root system. See, all plants have different roots. Take herbs, for example. Some have super shallow, fibrous roots, while others have roots that dig way deeper. Shallow-root plants love lighter soilless mixes because they can spread out easily. On the other hand, plants with deep roots need something more substantial – a mix that drains well but also retains water.
Then, there are fast-growing plants too! These are quite aggressive and may quickly become root bound in pots. So, they obviously need a potting mix that balances aeration with structure. Personally, I’ve found that it’s this root behavior that helps us determine if we should use a denser-soil mix or airier soil-less mix for plants.
Quick Tip: Always use soilless mixes for new shoots, cuttings & seedlings to reduce root rot, fungal attack, pest breeding and over moisture in the soil.
2. Check the Moisture & Drainage Requirements
Have you ever overwatered or underwatered any plant? Well, even I have! 1000s of times! But turns out, that it was only because I used the wrong potting mix!
So, the Garden Genie team told me that different plants obviously have different water needs. For example, ferns and peace lilies are total water babies and need a potting mix that can hold onto moisture. On the other hand, cacti and succulents hate being water-logged. So they obviously need a mix with amazing drainage.
Thus, the deets are simple; If you’ve got plants that love moisture, you can stick with the traditional water-retaining soil. But if you’re working with succulents or some flowering plants, consider switching to a soilless potting mix with perlite or pumice – it’s a total lifesaver!
Quick Tip: Always consider your container size. Remember that smaller pots generally go well with soilless mixes since they have less volume & become water-logged easily.
3. Analyze the Nutrient Requirements Over Time
Apart from moisture, different plants have different feeding requirements too! I mean, some houseplants just need a spoonful of fertilizer once a year, while other veggies need consistent nutrients! So, how do you choose between the two?
Well, the hacks are simple. Consider soil-based mixes to be a pre-made meal – they’re packed with organic matter that breaks down over time and releases nutrients. A soilless potting mix, on the other hand, doesn’t have any prior nutrients. So, you have the freedom to choose any organic matter, compost or fertilizers of choice. Trust me, this type of controlled environment is best for seed starting & propagating cuttings!
Quick Note: Always check and analyze the properties of your soilless potting medium. Note that coco-coir based mixes usually need Cal-Mag supplements, while the rockwool ones demand more pH control.
Also, if you want to save yourself from all the perlite & composting hassle, then I recommend getting Garden Genie’s 5 in 1 potting mixture for plants right away!
When Does a Soil-Based Mix Work the Best?
A soil-based potting mix typically works the best for raised flower beds, outdoor plants and some of the other following considerations:
1. Soil-based Potting Mix for Outdoor Containers and Raised Beds
Trust me, big containers and raised garden beds are ever hungry! That means, they need mixes that retain water & supply nutrients 24 X 7. So, it’s best to mix 70% of the garden soil with 30% of organic matter. This combo eventually creates a beautiful, well-drained yet nourishing medium for trees, shrubs, perennials and fruit trees. It’s just that you need to tweak this ratio by reducing the soil content by over 10% and adding sharp sand or grit to lighten it.
Then, for outdoor beds, you can actually pick a mix that’s closer to 50/50, i.e half potting mix & half garden soil. It’ll basically provide the weight & nutrient-holding power your plants need. Think of it this way: the raised bed itself is just a container, but it’s the soil inside that really makes the magic happen. So, with the right potting mix, you’ll eventually get a fresh & pest-free produce, isn’t it?
Quick Tip: Always add 10–20 % of coarse sand, grit, pumice, perlite or calcined clay to balance the drainage, aeration and stability of heavy garden soil.
2. Large Plants & Trees
Well, I just mentioned earlier that small plants, creepers & climbers simply love a soilless potting mix. But that, unfortunately, isn’t the case with large plants & trees like Ixora, Mango & Guava. Well one, these trees need a steady nutrient supply for good health. And two, they need actual mineral soil for support and weight balance in windy conditions. That’s why most experts still suggest going with a soil-based potting mix for them.
Fun Fact: Soil-based mixes help supply phosphate, potash & other trace elements to balance the soil’s natural nutrient reservoir and cation exchange capacity.
3. Soil-based Potting Mix for a Budget-conscious Gardening
Well, one of the most important reasons why most gardeners still love soil-based mixes is obviously the cost! See, not everyone can afford to spend a lot on plants, especially if they have kids & pets at home. And then, store-bought potting mixes can be really costly too. Like, anywhere between ₹ 40–100 per kilo. So, you’ll eventually end up spending anywhere between ₹ 5000–6000 for a small balcony garden with 10–12 pots.
Now, you can obviously reduce this cost by using your own garden soil from the yard or river bed. But, you’ll still need to add organic compost, fertilizers or perlite and so to customize the mix. So if you just want to avoid all these ratios and hassle, then simply grab in Garden Genie’s 5 in 1 potting mix, which gives you a 10kg mix for almost the same cost!
When Do You Use a Soilless Potting Mix?
Basically, you can use a soilless potting mix for container gardening – say with seeds & vegetables at home. And while it improves your pot’s aeration, drainage and stability, it also makes it lighter and easier to move! Here are it’s main constituents:
| Soilless Potting Mix Constituents | Primary Benefits |
| Coconut Coir | Retains moisture & promotes aeration and potassium supply. |
| Perlite | Improves airflow, prevents compaction & oxygenates the roots |
| Vermiculite | Helps with water retention without waterlogging |
| Sphagnum Peat Moss | Increases aeration while holding moisture |
| Worm Castings | Introduces beneficial soil microbes, slow-release nutrients and help bacteria |
So what we mean to say is, these chunkier materials in a soilless potting mix allow better air flow around the roots. Thus, they decrease fungus, root rot and compaction. Moreover, these mixes are slightly acidic too; hence, they oxygenate better!
Now, let’s check some easy ways, tips and hacks on using organic soilless mixes for different types of plants:
How to Use an Organic Soilless Potting Mix for Growing Vegetables?
So, as we mentioned previously, vegetables need organic, nutrient-rich potting mixes, no matter what! So, with soilless potting mixes, you have two options. You can either blend it with coco coir, peat moss, perlite or pumice for drainage. Or, you can simply use liquid organic fertilizers.
Then, if you are using coir, try to add 20 – 30% of decomposed wood, compost or worm castings for the initial nutrients & microbial activity. And if you are using the liquid ones, consider using a compost top-dressing for nutrients. You’ll get a pH-stabilized, pest-free potting mix either way!
Quick Tip: Consider cover-cropping for large, long-term containers. That means, plant a small cover crop around the main plant – say clover perhaps, to add organic matter & nitrogen.
What’s the Best Soilless Potting Mix Ratio for Seed Starting?
Seeds are quite tender & delicate, right? Like, they eventually need the correct drainage, aeration, moisture retention & gentle nutrition. And thus, any seed germination potting mix should be fine-textured & sterile, obviously. In fact, the ideal seed mix should be:
- Free of large clumps that could smother tiny seeds
- Loose when wet to allow air to reach the developing roots
- Somewhat sterile to prevent disease
- Conducive to strong root development
Today, most experts recommend using 2 parts peat moss or coco coir with 1 part vermiculite. This eventually helps balance moisture retention & reduces wilting and fungal diseases like anything! Additionally, you can also add 1 part perlite to create root respiration pockets & prevent soil compaction.
Quick Tip: Remember that seeds contain all the nutrients to develop and nourish their first set of leaves. So, start with a highly diluted fertilizer, typically at 1/4 to 1/2 strength of the recommended dosage, to reduce the fertilizer burn.
How Do You Prepare a Potting Mix for Succulents or Dryness-Loving Plants?
Making exceptionally fast-draining mixes for succulents & cacti is relatively easy. You just need to mix 3 parts regular potting soil with 2 parts coarse sand or poultry grit & 1 part perlite or pumice. That’s all!
But again, feel free to tweak this ratio by adding 1 part fine bark pines, lava rock or coarse sand for rot-prone succulents. This will eventually help maintain the soil’s porosity while providing just the right moisture retention. Also, it keeps things loose and creates something way closer to what these plants are used to in the wild. Think of it like giving them a taste of home!
Caution: Simply avoid any potting mixes that claim to “retain moisture” or have added water-retention crystals; they’ll kill your succulents!
Making the Right Choice for Long-Term Plant Health
If you thought that simply getting & finalizing a potting mix is enough, you might be wrong! See, the right potting mix is quite essential, obviously! But then, it’s only like the first step in your gardening journey. You’ll still need to monitor, adjust and fertilize it once your plants are established. So let’s see, how do you do that:
How to Test and Adjust Your Mix?
We all know that prevention is better than cure, right? And well, regular soil testing works in the same way! It helps you identify potential drain, nutrient and pH issues even before they can damage your plants. Also, here, you have two options!
One, you can conduct a professional lab rest like the Saturated Media Extract (SME) for an accurate, professional and detailed assessment on the pH, soluble salts, and nutrient levels in your potting mix. Such tests usually cost over ₹1265-1687 per sample, with a TAT of 1–2 weeks.
A second, free option, however, is to do home testing! And here’s how you can do that:
- Take a regular pot and fill it with your potting mix completely. Now, water it thoroughly and observe how fast the water drains. Also check if the soil is soggy or completely dry after 1–2 days. If it’s still soggy, then you need to add sand or grit to improve its drainage.
- Buy regular testing strips, digital meters or use home-made vinegar and baking soda testing papers to check your soil’s pH. Remember that the ideal pH falls between 5.5-7.0 for most household plants.
- Conduct bioassays by growing fast-germinating plants like cress, oats, or beans in your mix before using it for your main plants.
Now that you have conducted your tests, it’s time to analyze those, right? So, if you want to increase your soil pH, then add lime. If you want to lower it, then add sulfur or sulfuric compounds. Similarly, incorporate sand or vermiculite in soggy mixes, and crush in some coir or compost to improve moisture in dry mixes. It’s that easy!
Quick Tip: Remember that soil pH can still drift overtime due to rainfall and organic matter decomposition. So, try to re-test it annually or at least once in 2–3 years for proper lime and sulphur adjustments.
6 Signs Your Plant Needs a Different Potting Mix
See, plants are seriously smart! They’ll tell you if they like a potting mix or if you need to make any adjustments. You just need to be active enough and watch out for the following signs:
Quick Tip: Note that at least 20% of your total container volume must have air-filled pore spaces. And anything lesser than that will eventually hamper your plant’s roots & nutrient absorbing capacity.
Can You Combine Soil & Soilless Mixes? If Yes, How?
Yes, you can obviously blend soil & soilless mixes. In fact, I’ve found that most plants actually need a mix of coconut coir (for moisture retention), perlite (for aeration), and high-quality compost (for nutrients) to grow well.
Then, for long-term container plantings, you can actually mix in 30-40% rice hulls or pine bark for better yield and blooms. Alternately, you can also mix traditional soil with vermiculite or coconut coir for better stability and drainage.
Just note that you need to match your mix to your watering & fertilizer feeding schedule. Like, don’t hesitate to repot them with an adjusted mix as per their growth & season. Also, loosen the mix once in every 6–12 months, add fresh, soil-less material and check for root binding or salt buildup. Here’s a trusted potting mix you could try:
FAQs
Conclusion
Now that we have seen the meaning & use-cases of both, soil & soilless mixes, it’s time to decide! Remember that a soil-based potting mix is great for outdoor plants and trees, while the soilless one works well for container gardening. Plus, you can also mix the two and create a unique blend as per your plant’s root structure, moisture requirements and nutrient needs. Just look for any yellowing leaves, wilting or stunted growth and you’ll be okay!
And before you get back to your plants, don’t miss Garden Genie’s full range of certified care—potting mix, pest control, and tools for help!
