Find out how to make your own houseplant soil for houseplants. This custom mix will help you grow healthy, really happy houseplants. Many commercial mixes are just ground up bark, which is not even soil and is inhospitable for houseplants. If you can’t find good potting soil or just want to make your own organic mix, you can with this recipe.
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Hello and welcome to HealthyHouseplants.com, where we teach you all about gardening in The Great Indoors! If you’d like to support our show, please use our Amazon affiliate link below.
Today, I’m going to show you how to make your own potting soil for your houseplants. It’s a lot of fun, similar to making your own food at home instead of going to a restaurant—you know exactly what’s in it. Making your own potting soil lets you add really beneficial ingredients, providing your houseplants with the nutrients they need.
Ingredients & Instructions:
I have a variety of ingredients here, and I’ll explain each one as we go along. I’ll also list the complete recipe and links to the products down below, along with any relevant video links. Let’s get started!
Coconut Coir (4 cups) – A sustainable alternative to peat moss, providing moisture retention. You can use peat moss instead if preferred.
Pumice or Perlite (2 cups) – For good drainage. Use 2.5 cups if using perlite since it’s lighter than pumice.
Worm Compost (1 cup) – Rich in micronutrients for healthy plant growth.
Compost (2 cups) – I’m using one cup of compost from my Lomi composter and one cup from an outdoor compost bin.
Alfalfa Meal (1/3 cup) – Contains a natural growth hormone that promotes faster, healthier growth.
Dolomite Lime (1 tablespoon) – Adds alkalinity to balance the soil’s pH, keeping it close to neutral.
Humic Acid (1 tablespoon) – Beneficial for houseplants, aiding nutrient uptake.
Mycorrhizae (1 teaspoon) – A beneficial fungus that helps plants absorb nutrients more effectively.
Optional: Rock Phosphate
Add 1 tablespoon if you’re creating a mix for flowering and fruiting plants.
Once everything is in the bowl, mix it thoroughly to ensure an even distribution. This is a rich, well-draining soil that provides plenty of moisture retention, perfect for most houseplants.
Final Tips:
You can adjust the recipe by adding more pumice for drainage or reducing it for a heavier mix. You can also scale the recipe up or down depending on your needs.
Thank you for stopping by today! Please let me know in the comments if there are any indoor gardening tutorials you’d like to see. Remember to like, comment, subscribe, and share this video, and hit the bell if you’d like to be notified when new videos are released.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to make your own potting soil?
Making your own potting soil allows you to control the quality of ingredients, ensuring your plants receive optimal nutrients, water retention, and pH balance for healthy growth.What ingredients are included in the homemade potting soil recipe?
The recipe includes coconut coir or peat moss, pumice or perlite, vermicompost, compost, alfalfa meal, dolomite lime, humic acid, and mycorrhizae. Optional rock phosphate can be added for flowering and fruiting plants.Can this soil mix be used for all plants?
This mix is suitable for most indoor plants. However, for cacti and succulents, you may want a different mix with more drainage components.How do I customize the potting soil mix?
You can adjust the ingredients for more or less drainage by increasing or decreasing the pumice or perlite. This mix is versatile and can be scaled up or down as needed.Why is dolomite lime included in the mix?
Dolomite lime is used to balance the pH of the potting soil, making it more neutral to suit the needs of most houseplants.What is the purpose of mycorrhizae in the potting soil mix?
Mycorrhizae are beneficial fungi that help plants grow stronger roots and absorb nutrients more effectively, leading to healthier plants overall.Can I use compost from my kitchen scraps?
Yes! Compost from kitchen scraps, when properly processed, adds valuable nutrients to your potting soil and supports healthy plant growth.What is coconut coir, and why use it instead of peat moss?
Coconut coir is a sustainable alternative to peat moss, providing similar water retention properties and reducing environmental impact.Do you have video tutorials for this potting soil mix?
Yes, HealthyHousePlants.com provides video tutorials for each ingredient and detailed instructions for making the potting soil mix.Patreon: 
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