Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Feijoa (Acca sellowiana)
Also called Feijoa, Pineapple guava, Guavasteen.
More about feijoa
About Feijoa
Acca sellowiana · also called Feijoa, Pineapple guava · tropical
Feijoa is a subtropical evergreen shrub in the myrtle family with silvery-backed leaves, showy red-and-white edible flowers, and aromatic green fruit tasting of pineapple and guava. Hardier than most subtropicals (to about -9°C), it suits mild gardens and large containers, and makes an attractive, drought-tolerant hedge as well as a fruit producer.
Preferred mix: Well-drained, fertile, slightly acidic soil
Watch for — Premature fruit drop: Fruit can drop early due to drought stress or irregular watering during development. Keep soil evenly moist through the fruiting period and mulch to buffer moisture swings.
Why feijoa needs this mix
Feijoa is an easy-going houseplant — it just wants a free-draining general mix that holds some moisture but never stays soggy.
- Feijoa is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
- A little perlite or bark stops ordinary compost compacting into an airless block over time, which is the slow, common cause of decline.
- It is not fussy about pH or special ingredients; getting the air-to-moisture balance right is what matters.
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 feijoa struggles, and the damage often shows up weeks later as a watering problem. For this species specifically:
- Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates feijoa's roots.
- A pure peat mix that dries to a hard, water-repelling block is hard to re-wet and stresses the plant.
- No drainage hole turns even a good mix into a stagnant, root-rotting sump.
Reusing tired, compacted old compost or skipping the perlite. A free-draining mix in a pot with a hole solves most "why is it struggling" cases for feijoa.
pH — does it matter for feijoa?
Feijoa is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
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 decent bagged houseplant compost works for feijoa as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Drainage and the pot
A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all feijoa needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Refresh feijoa's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. When the time comes, our repotting guide for feijoa covers the timing and technique step by step.
Feijoa soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for feijoa?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part perlite : 1 part orchid bark or coco chips (optional). Feijoa is adaptable, but like most houseplants it still needs air at the roots — a mix that drains freely while holding a working moisture reserve.
Can I use normal potting soil for feijoa?
Plain garden soil or a cheap, claggy compost compacts in the pot and slowly suffocates feijoa's roots. A decent bagged houseplant compost works for feijoa as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
Does feijoa need a special pH?
Feijoa is not fussy about pH — a slightly acidic to neutral mix (around pH 6.0-7.0), which a standard peat-free compost provides, is perfectly fine. No testing needed.
Should I buy a bagged mix or make my own for feijoa?
A decent bagged houseplant compost works for feijoa as long as you mix in perlite for air. The simple DIY ratio above is cheap and more reliable than a budget bag alone.
How often should I refresh the soil for feijoa?
Refresh feijoa's mix every 18-24 months; even good compost slumps and compacts, and fresh, airy mix is often the simplest fix for a tired plant. A pot with a drainage hole and a saucer you empty after watering is all feijoa needs — the free-draining mix does the rest.
Keep reading
- Feijoa care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water feijoa — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting feijoa — when and how to refresh the mix
- Soil pH guide — test it and adjust it safely
- Should I water my plant? The simple check first
- Overwatered plant — signs and recovery
- Root rot — how the wrong soil starts it, and how to save the plant
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- All 5561 soil and potting-mix guides in the Growli library