Top 5 Potting Soils
Best For Indoor Plants: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix Best For Succulents: Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix Best For Orchids: PERFECT PLANTS Orchid Potting Mix Best Starting Mix: Miracle-Gro Seed-Starting Potting Mix Most Versatile: Burpee Organic Potting Mix
Best For Indoor Plants: Miracle-Gro Indoor Potting Mix
Meant for indoor plants, this soil works well in herb gardens and other windowsill pots. Because it doesn’t contain compost or bark, it’s less likely to bring gnats into your home. Plus, it comes with other plant care supplies, including plant food and leaf shine.
Key Features
Six-quart bag of soil Eight-ounce bottle of plant food Eight-ounce bottle of leaf shine Meant for indoor plants Up to six months of feedings
What Customers Are Saying
Those who left positive reviews for this mix said that it was easy to spread, worked on a variety of plants, and maintained a good level of moisture. However, some customers claimed that it arrived with gnat eggs. Other reviewers refuted this claim, stating that they were prills of nutrients.
Best For Succulents: Miracle-Gro Cactus, Palm, and Citrus Potting Mix
This potting soil has a fast-draining formula to keep cactus, palm, and citrus plants dry the way they like. It’s enriched with sand and perlite to help with soil compaction and drainage. With mixed-in Miracle-Gro plant food, your succulents have the best possible chance of thriving.
Key Features
Eight-quart bag of soil 20-pound bag of plant food Meant for succulent plants Enriched with Miracle-Gro plant food Up to six weeks of feedings
What Customers Are Saying
Happy customers liked that this mix was good for cacti, came in a large bag, and drained quickly. However, some unhappy reviewers said that the bag came with flies or spiders, while others said that the formula contained too much peat moss.
Best For Orchids: PERFECT PLANTS Orchid Potting Mix
This potting soil is hand-mixed in small batches with charcoal, sponge rock, pine bark, coconut chips, and other natural ingredients. Striking the right balance between too much and too little moisture, it encourages both water drainage and retention to help the roots of your orchids grow.
Key Features
Four-quart bag of soil Meant for orchid plants Organic formula
What Customers Are Saying
Customers liked that this mix was made from quality ingredients, saying that it arrived fresh and moist. However, the customers who left negative reviews claimed that it arrived with bugs and was ineffective at holding water.
Best Starting Mix: Miracle-Gro Seed-Starting Potting Mix
Formulated for quick root development, this potting soil mix is an ideal choice for just-planted seeds and leaf, root, or stem cuttings. It’s enriched with plant food, so it’s useful for beginner gardeners who don’t already have food around.
Key Features
Two eight-quart bags of soil Meant for seeds and cuttings Enriched with Miracle-Gro plant food
What Customers Are Saying
Positive reviews said that this soil came in a lightweight bag and had a soft, gentle texture. However, some customers who left negative reviews didn’t like that it contained twigs, sticks, or other large items.
Most Versatile: Burpee Organic Potting Mix
This soil is formulated with a mixture of plant food and coconut coir to control moisture and promote growth. Ideal for those who often forget to feed their plants, it slowly releases nutrients for up to three months.
Key Features
Nine-quart bag of soil Meant for indoor or outdoor plants Organic formula Up to three months of feedings
What Customers Are Saying
Satisfied customers said that this soil was absorbent, effective with outdoor plants, and kept squirrels away. However, those who weren’t satisfied said that it had an unpleasant odor from all of the natural ingredients.
Buyer’s Guide
From ingredients to amount, there are several elements that separate different varieties of potting soil from each other. Before you choose a mix for your plants, consider the following factors.
Plant
Some soils work for a wide range of plants, but many are formulated for specific plants, such as succulents, orchids, houseplants, and vegetables. While using an all-purpose mix may be sufficient if you have a lot of plants around your home, finding a dedicated mix gives your plants the best chance to grow healthy.
Location
In addition to the species of plant, many potting soil mixes are designed for either indoor or outdoor use. Outdoor soil is heavier and coarser than indoor soil, so it can retain more moisture in the sun and resist harsh weather conditions.
Ingredients
Most potting soil mixes contain peat moss, perlite, or both. Peat moss is absorbent and resistant to decay, while perlite has an open structure that allows water and air to circulate freely for drainage. Beyond peat moss and perlite, make note of the other ingredients to see if they’re right for your specific plant. For example, if you’re planting seeds, don’t use a mix with large rocks or twigs that could limit growth.
Moisture Control
The ingredients used to make soil determine how well it retains moisture. For example, peat moss absorbs around 30 times its weight in water, while coconut coir absorbs around nine times its weight. Carefully read a soil’s description to see how well it retains moisture as well as how it eliminates excess moisture.
Amount
To avoid buying too much or too little soil, calculate how much you need for all of the plants in your garden. You can measure the square footage of outdoor areas or count the number of indoor or outdoor pots. Purchase one or more bags to properly fill these spaces.
The Best Plants For Amateur Gardeners
Some plants are trickier to take care of than others. While even beginner gardeners know that food, soil, sunlight, and water are needed to help keep plants alive, some require additional maintenance and care. If you’re new to gardening and unsure what plants are best to help you initially explore your green thumb, choose from our list below.
Golden pothos vine Spider plant Snake plant Moon orchid Silver torch cactus Peace lily Guzmania bromeliad Lucky bamboo ZZ plant Money plant Prayer plant Aloe vera Monstera Corn plant Peperomia Cast iron plant Fiddle leaf fig Dieffenbachia Boston fern Hedgehog cactus Norfolk pine Madagascar dragon Basil
Is there a difference between potting soil and potting mix?
No. Potting soil and potting mix are simply two different names for the same product.
What is potting soil made out of?
Potting soil can be made from a variety of items that provide nutrients to plants. Some common potting soil ingredients include peat moss, pine bark, perlite, vermiculite, sand, grit, and compost.
How do you store potting soil?
The bag that contains your potting soil should be kept sealed in a cool, dry place to last the longest. You can tell when your soil has gone bad if it has a rotting smell, mold, or gnats.
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