Best Potting Soil Mix for Planter Box and Planters
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Over time, we have experimented with countless soil blends for planter box and planters and have finally found something that works really well. The result is proven through the performance of our houseplants and potted plants on our property. This combination works well with houseplants, palms, cycads, orchids, Amorphophallus as well as drought tolerant plants such as cactus. The only differences are the ratios of the substrate. This ratios also depend on how frequently you water your plants. The ratios below allows us to skip 3-4 days between waterings outdoors and 5-7 days for indoor plants.
**To buy yourself about 3-4 extra days until your next watering, we recommend putting pebbles over your substrate to slow down evaporation and keep the mix relatively evenly moist.
While many use organic matter in their potting mixes, we found that this ultimately breaks down much quicker leaving you with the need to refresh your soil more quickly relative to the substrate we have compiled. This substrate not only works great and offers the plants a healthy environment to thrive in, but also substantially diminishes the need for additional care beyond watering and fertilizing.
Below are some of the ratios we generally use for these various genus based on average temperatures of 75 degrees Fahrenheit indoors and 85 degrees outdoors.
Indoors
General houseplants: 30% Coco Bark, 30% Leca and 30% Sphagnum Moss. Orchids, Palms and Cycads: 40% Coco Bark, 40% Leca and 20% Sphagnum Moss Amorphophallus: 30% Coco Bark, 65% Leca and 5% Sphagnum Moss Drought Tolerant Plants: 30% Coco Bark, 65% Leca and 5% Sphagnum Moss
Outdoors
Inscrease Sphagnum Moss ratio by 10-15% and decrease Leca and Coco Bark ratio equally to balance the total percentage.
Tips for Best Results
• Add mycorrhizal fungi or beneficial microbes for root health.
• Adjust recipes based on your plant’s natural habitat i.e., more or less sphagnum moss
• Slow-release fertilizer – For steady nutrition.
In Summary, important considerationg for the ideal potting substrate should be:
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- Lightweight: Easy to handle and prevents compaction in pots.
- Excellent Drainage & Aeration: Allows roots to breathe and prevents waterlogging.
- Good Moisture Retention: Holds water well but drains excess moisture.
- Sterile: Free from weed seeds, pests, and plant pathogens.
- Nutrient-Rich: Often contains added slow-release fertilizers.
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