Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' (Brunnera macrophylla)
Also called Hadspen Cream Siberian Bugloss, False Forget-Me-Not, Great Forget-Me-Not.
More about siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream'
About Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream'
Brunnera macrophylla · also called Hadspen Cream Siberian Bugloss, False Forget-Me-Not · flowering
Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' is a clump-forming shade perennial with large, heart-shaped leaves edged in irregular creamy-white, and delicate sky-blue forget-me-not flowers in spring. A superb ground cover for shaded borders. Prefers cool, moist conditions. Not considered toxic to pets.
Preferred mix: Humus-rich, well-drained but moisture-retentive loam
Watch for — Powdery mildew: May develop in late summer in dry conditions; improve air circulation and water at soil level.
Why siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' needs this mix
Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' hates drying out, so it wants a mix that stays evenly moist — but it still needs perlite so "moist" never tips into "waterlogged".
- Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' comes from damp, shaded forest floors and has fine roots that scorch and brown the moment the rootball dries — the mix has to hold a steady reserve.
- Coir and compost give that reserve, while perlite keeps enough air that the constantly-moist mix does not turn anaerobic.
- Even moisture also keeps its thin leaves from crisping at the edges, which is this plant’s most visible stress signal.
For the full picture on what makes up a good mix, see our guide to the main types of soil and potting media — it explains why each ingredient above behaves the way it does.
What goes wrong with the wrong mix
The wrong soil is one of the most common reasons siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering.
- A pure, airless peat mix swings the other way: it holds water but suffocates the fine roots and rots the crown.
- Letting the mix dry to the point it shrinks from the pot is very hard to re-wet evenly and stresses the plant badly.
Using a sharp, fast-draining "houseplant" or cactus-leaning mix that lets siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' dry out. It needs a moisture-retentive but still airy blend.
pH — does it matter for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream'?
Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' prefers a slightly acidic mix (around pH 5.5-6.5); a peat-free compost-and-coir blend sits there naturally, so routine pH testing is unnecessary.
If you want to check or adjust it, the soil pH guide walks through testing and the safe ways to nudge a mix more acidic or more alkaline.
DIY mix vs a bagged one
A good peat-free houseplant compost works for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' straight from the bag if you mix in some perlite for air. The DIY ratio above gives a more reliable moisture-to-air balance.
Drainage and the pot
Use a pot with a drainage hole but a less-porous material (plastic or glazed) so it does not dry too fast. Bottom-watering keeps the mix evenly moist without sogging the crown.
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream''s mix every 12-18 months to keep air in the rootball even if the pot size is unchanged. When the time comes, our repotting guide for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' covers the timing and technique step by step.
Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream'?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part coco coir : 1 part perlite. Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' comes from damp, shaded forest floors and has fine roots that scorch and brown the moment the rootball dries — the mix has to hold a steady reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream'?
A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering. A good peat-free houseplant compost works for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' straight from the bag if you mix in some perlite for air. The DIY ratio above gives a more reliable moisture-to-air balance.
Does siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' need a special pH?
Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' prefers a slightly acidic mix (around pH 5.5-6.5); a peat-free compost-and-coir blend sits there naturally, so routine pH testing is unnecessary.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream'?
A good peat-free houseplant compost works for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' straight from the bag if you mix in some perlite for air. The DIY ratio above gives a more reliable moisture-to-air balance.
How often should I refresh the soil for siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream'?
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream''s mix every 12-18 months to keep air in the rootball even if the pot size is unchanged. Use a pot with a drainage hole but a less-porous material (plastic or glazed) so it does not dry too fast. Bottom-watering keeps the mix evenly moist without sogging the crown.
Keep reading
- Siberian Bugloss 'Hadspen Cream' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting siberian bugloss 'hadspen cream' — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Underwatered plant — signs and how to rehydrate it
- Why is my plant wilting? Wet vs dry diagnosis
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
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