Soil & potting-mix library
The best soil for your plant
— an exact mix for 200 species.
Pick a plant for a part-by-part potting-mix recipe, why that species needs that exact structure, what the wrong mix does, and the pH and drainage that matter. No generic advice — a desert-cactus gritty mix reads nothing like an orchid bark mix or a fern moisture-retentive mix, because every recipe is built from the plant's real roots.
Chunky aroid mix — monstera, philodendron, pothos
Climbing rainforest aroids want roughly half their volume as bark and perlite. Air pockets matter as much as moisture.
Best soil for monstera
Monstera deliciosa
Chunky aroid mix
Best soil for pothos
Epipremnum aureum
Standard potting compost with extra perlite
Best soil for philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Chunky aroid mix
Best soil for anthurium
Anthurium andraeanum
Chunky aroid mix
Best soil for alocasia
Alocasia macrorrhiza
Chunky aroid mix
Best soil for arrowhead plant
Syngonium podophyllum
Aroid mix
Best soil for sweetheart plant
Hoya kerrii
Free-draining cactus or aroid mix
Best soil for golden pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Golden'
Standard houseplant mix
Best soil for marble queen pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Marble Queen'
Standard houseplant mix
Best soil for neon pothos
Epipremnum aureum 'Neon'
Standard houseplant mix
Best soil for silver pothos
Scindapsus pictus
Aroid mix
Best soil for swiss cheese vine
Monstera adansonii
Chunky aroid mix
Best soil for philodendron brasil
Philodendron hederaceum 'Brasil'
Aroid mix
Best soil for heartleaf philodendron
Philodendron hederaceum
Standard houseplant mix
Best soil for philodendron micans
Philodendron hederaceum var. hederaceum
Aroid mix
Best soil for tree philodendron
Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum
Rich aroid mix
Best soil for caladium
Caladium bicolor
Rich free-draining mix
Standard houseplant mix
Easy-going indoor plants that just need a free-draining general mix with added perlite so the rootball can breathe.
Best soil for fiddle leaf fig
Ficus lyrata
Well-draining indoor tree mix
Best soil for dracaena
Dracaena fragrans / marginata
Free-draining potting compost
Best soil for peperomia
Peperomia obtusifolia
Free-draining mix with extra perlite
Best soil for cast iron plant
Aspidistra elatior
Standard potting compost
Best soil for chinese evergreen
Aglaonema commutatum
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for parlor palm
Chamaedorea elegans
Free-draining potting compost
Best soil for rubber plant
Ficus elastica
Free-draining indoor tree mix
Best soil for schefflera
Schefflera arboricola
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for spider plant
Chlorophytum comosum
Standard potting compost
Best soil for croton
Codiaeum variegatum
Rich, well-drained potting compost
Best soil for dieffenbachia
Dieffenbachia seguine
Free-draining potting compost
Best soil for areca palm
Dypsis lutescens
Free-draining potting compost
Best soil for african violet
Saintpaulia ionantha
Light African violet mix
Best soil for english ivy
Hedera helix
Standard potting compost
Best soil for wandering dude
Tradescantia zebrina
Standard potting compost
Best soil for money tree
Pachira aquatica
Free-draining potting compost
Best soil for lucky bamboo
Dracaena sanderiana
Pebble-and-water vase, or standard houseplant mix
Best soil for rex begonia
Begonia rex
Light, peat-free potting mix with perlite
Best soil for chinese money plant
Pilea peperomioides
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for weeping fig
Ficus benjamina
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for dragon tree
Dracaena marginata
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for corn plant
Dracaena fragrans
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for cordyline
Cordyline fruticosa
Rich free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for sago palm
Cycas revoluta
Gritty free-draining mix
Best soil for lady palm
Rhapis excelsa
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for kentia palm
Howea forsteriana
Free-draining loam-based mix
Best soil for fishtail palm
Caryota mitis
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for ming aralia
Polyscias fruticosa
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for wax plant
Hoya carnosa
Free-draining chunky mix
Best soil for ficus audrey
Ficus benghalensis
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for white bird of paradise
Strelitzia nicolai
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for lemon button fern
Nephrolepis cordifolia
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for begonia
Begonia × hortensis
Rich free-draining loam
Moisture-retentive mix — ferns, calathea, fittonia
Forest-floor plants that brown the instant they dry out. They want a mix that holds moisture but still has air in it.
Best soil for prayer plant
Maranta leuconeura
Moisture-retentive but free-draining mix
Best soil for calathea
Calathea (Goeppertia) spp.
Moisture-retentive aroid mix
Best soil for lettuce
Lactuca sativa
Compost-rich, moisture-retentive soil
Best soil for elephant ear
Colocasia esculenta
Rich, moisture-retentive potting compost
Best soil for boston fern
Nephrolepis exaltata
Moisture-retentive houseplant compost
Best soil for maidenhair fern
Adiantum raddianum
Moisture-retentive but airy mix
Best soil for fittonia
Fittonia albivenis
Moisture-retentive houseplant mix
Best soil for mint
Mentha
Rich, moisture-retentive loam
Best soil for parsley
Petroselinum crispum
Rich, moisture-retentive loam
Best soil for hydrangea
Hydrangea macrophylla
Rich, moisture-retentive loam
Best soil for polka dot plant
Hypoestes phyllostachya
Free-draining houseplant mix
Best soil for majesty palm
Ravenea rivularis
Rich water-retentive mix with drainage
Best soil for asparagus fern
Asparagus aethiopicus
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for kimberly queen fern
Nephrolepis obliterata
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for crocodile fern
Microsorum musifolium
Rich free-draining mix
Free-draining succulent mix
Jade, snake plant, echeveria and the string-of crowd store their own water — they need a gritty mix that dries out fully.
Best soil for snake plant
Dracaena trifasciata
Free-draining cactus or succulent mix
Best soil for zz plant
Zamioculcas zamiifolia
Free-draining cactus or houseplant mix
Best soil for jade plant
Crassula ovata
Gritty cactus or succulent mix
Best soil for aloe vera
Aloe barbadensis
Gritty cactus and succulent mix
Best soil for string of pearls
Curio rowleyanus (formerly Senecio rowleyanus)
Gritty cactus or succulent mix
Best soil for yucca
Yucca elephantipes
Free-draining cactus or houseplant mix
Best soil for ponytail palm
Beaucarnea recurvata
Gritty cactus or succulent mix
Best soil for kalanchoe
Kalanchoe blossfeldiana
Free-draining cactus or succulent mix
Best soil for christmas cactus
Schlumbergera bridgesii
Epiphytic cactus or aroid mix
Best soil for echeveria
Echeveria
Gritty cactus mix
Best soil for sedum
Sedum
Gritty, free-draining mix
Best soil for haworthia
Haworthiopsis attenuata
Gritty cactus mix
Best soil for string of hearts
Ceropegia woodii
Free-draining succulent mix
Best soil for string of bananas
Senecio radicans
Free-draining succulent mix
Best soil for string of dolphins
Senecio peregrinus
Free-draining succulent mix
Best soil for burro's tail
Sedum morganianum
Free-draining succulent mix
Gritty mineral mix — cacti & extreme succulents
Desert plants that want a mix that is mostly grit and behaves more like wet gravel than soil.
Orchid bark — epiphytic orchids
Epiphytes whose roots grip bark in open air. They are grown in coarse bark, never in potting soil.
Bromeliad / epiphytic mix
Tank bromeliads drink through the central cup, not the roots. They want a light, open bark mix in a shallow pot.
No soil at all — air plants & mounted epiphytes
These feed through their leaves and are never planted in soil. The "mix" is a mount and good airflow.
Acidic / ericaceous mix
True acid-lovers that physically cannot take up iron above about pH 5.5 — an ericaceous mix is survival, not preference.
Lean Mediterranean mix — rosemary, lavender, thyme
Dry-hillside herbs that want a lean, sharply drained, slightly alkaline mix and rot fast in rich, wet soil.
Best soil for rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
Gritty, free-draining alkaline soil
Best soil for thyme
Thymus vulgaris
Gritty, free-draining alkaline soil
Best soil for oregano
Origanum vulgare
Free-draining alkaline soil
Best soil for sage
Salvia officinalis
Free-draining alkaline soil
Best soil for lavender
Lavandula angustifolia
Lean, free-draining alkaline soil
Best soil for button fern
Pellaea rotundifolia
Free-draining alkaline mix
Best soil for sweet marjoram
Origanum majorana
Free-draining loam
Best soil for summer savory
Satureja hortensis
Free-draining loam
Best soil for winter savory
Satureja montana
Free-draining loam
Rich vegetable & herb loam
Hungry, fast crops and tender herbs that want a rich, moisture-retentive but free-draining, well-fed loam.
Best soil for tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for pepper
Capsicum annuum
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for basil
Ocimum basilicum
Rich free-draining potting compost or garden loam
Best soil for cucumber
Cucumis sativus
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for bean
Phaseolus vulgaris
Average garden loam
Best soil for garlic
Allium sativum
Free-draining loam, raised bed ideal
Best soil for pea
Pisum sativum
Free-draining loam
Best soil for squash
Cucurbita pepo
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for carrot
Daucus carota
Loose, sandy or sandy-loam soil, stone-free
Best soil for herb garden
mixed culinary herbs
Free-draining mix
Best soil for strawberries
Fragaria × ananassa
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for raspberries
Rubus idaeus
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for cilantro / coriander
Coriandrum sativum
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for zucchini / courgette
Cucurbita pepo
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for onions
Allium cepa
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for kale
Brassica oleracea var. sabellica
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for radish
Raphanus sativus
Loose, well-drained loam
Best soil for potato
Solanum tuberosum
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for lemon tree
Citrus limon
Free-draining slightly acidic loam
Best soil for avocado
Persea americana
Free-draining slightly acidic loam
Best soil for pumpkin
Cucurbita pepo
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for butternut squash
Cucurbita moschata
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for acorn squash
Cucurbita pepo
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for spaghetti squash
Cucurbita pepo
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for delicata squash
Cucurbita pepo
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for eggplant / aubergine
Solanum melongena
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for sweet potato
Ipomoea batatas
Sandy free-draining loam
Best soil for bell pepper
Capsicum annuum
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for jalapeño
Capsicum annuum
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for habanero
Capsicum chinense
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for corn
Zea mays
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for pole beans
Phaseolus vulgaris
Free-draining loam
Best soil for lima beans
Phaseolus lunatus
Free-draining loam
Best soil for snap peas
Pisum sativum
Free-draining loam
Best soil for snow peas
Pisum sativum
Free-draining loam
Best soil for watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
Sandy free-draining loam
Best soil for cantaloupe
Cucumis melo
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for honeydew melon
Cucumis melo
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for asparagus
Asparagus officinalis
Free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for rhubarb
Rheum rhabarbarum
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for swiss chard
Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla
Rich well-drained loam
Best soil for beet
Beta vulgaris
Free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for turnip
Brassica rapa
Free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for parsnip
Pastinaca sativa
Deep free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for brussels sprouts
Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Firm rich loam
Best soil for cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
Rich firm loam
Best soil for fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for arugula / rocket
Eruca sativa
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for dill
Anethum graveolens
Free-draining loam
Best soil for chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for french tarragon
Artemisia dracunculus
Free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for lemon balm
Melissa officinalis
Free-draining loam
Best soil for catnip
Nepeta cataria
Free-draining loam
Best soil for lemon verbena
Aloysia citrodora
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for lemongrass
Cymbopogon citratus
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for stevia
Stevia rebaudiana
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for bay laurel
Laurus nobilis
Free-draining loam
Best soil for fenugreek
Trigonella foenum-graecum
Free-draining loam
Best soil for wormwood
Artemisia absinthium
Free-draining loam
Best soil for anise hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Free-draining loam
Rich flowering loam
Roses, dahlias, peonies and border perennials. Rich enough to fuel the display, open enough to never waterlog.
Best soil for peace lily
Spathiphyllum wallisii
Standard potting compost with added perlite
Best soil for bird of paradise
Strelitzia reginae
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for hoya
Hoya carnosa
Chunky free-draining mix
Best soil for chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla
Free-draining loam
Best soil for rose
Rosa
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for tulip
Tulipa
Free-draining loam
Best soil for daffodil
Narcissus
Free-draining loam
Best soil for hibiscus
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for geranium (pelargonium)
Pelargonium × hortorum
Free-draining potting compost
Best soil for petunia
Petunia × hybrida
Rich, well-drained potting compost
Best soil for marigold
Tagetes
Free-draining loam
Best soil for zinnia
Zinnia elegans
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for dahlia
Dahlia pinnata
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for peony
Paeonia
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for sunflower
Helianthus annuus
Rich, well-drained loam
Best soil for clivia
Clivia miniata
Free-draining loam-based mix
Best soil for coleus
Coleus scutellarioides
Rich free-draining mix
Best soil for false shamrock
Oxalis triangularis
Free-draining mix
Best soil for iris
Iris germanica
Free-draining alkaline loam
Best soil for crocus
Crocus vernus
Free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for hyacinth
Hyacinthus orientalis
Free-draining loam
Best soil for lily of the valley
Convallaria majalis
Rich woodland loam
Best soil for snapdragon
Antirrhinum majus
Free-draining loam
Best soil for pansy
Viola × wittrockiana
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for impatiens
Impatiens walleriana
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for flowering coleus
Plectranthus scutellarioides
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Free-draining loam
Best soil for cosmos
Cosmos bipinnatus
Free-draining loam
Best soil for salvia
Salvia splendens
Free-draining loam
Best soil for lupine
Lupinus polyphyllus
Free-draining sandy loam
Best soil for forget-me-not
Myosotis sylvatica
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for sweet pea
Lathyrus odoratus
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for hellebore
Helleborus orientalis
Rich free-draining loam
Best soil for primrose
Primula vulgaris
Rich free-draining loam
Got the mix right? Now nail the watering.
The mix you choose changes how fast the pot dries. Add your plant to the Growli app and I'll learn your exact pot, light and weather and tell you the day to water — not a guess. Or get the full brief at /plant-care.
Open Growli