Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' (Geum 'Scarlet Tempest')
Also called Scarlet Tempest avens.
More about geum 'scarlet tempest'
About Geum 'Scarlet Tempest'
Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' · also called Scarlet Tempest avens · flowering
Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' is a compact, long-blooming avens bearing semi-double, ruffled scarlet flowers with subtle apricot tones over neat mounds of fresh green foliage. Flowering generously from late spring well into summer, it is tidy, weather-resistant and reliable in sunny to lightly shaded borders and containers, and it pairs vividly with cool blues and purples.
Preferred mix: Fertile, moisture-retentive, well-drained soil
Watch for — Drought stress: Dry soil scorches leaves and shortens flowering. Keep evenly moist, mulch in summer and water container plants regularly.
Why geum 'scarlet tempest' needs this mix
Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' hates drying out, so it wants a mix that stays evenly moist — but it still needs perlite so "moist" never tips into "waterlogged".
- Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' — 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' dry out. It needs a moisture-retentive but still airy blend.
pH — does it matter for geum 'scarlet tempest'?
Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest''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 geum 'scarlet tempest' covers the timing and technique step by step.
Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for geum 'scarlet tempest'?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part coco coir : 1 part perlite. Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'?
A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for geum 'scarlet tempest' — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering. A good peat-free houseplant compost works for geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest' need a special pH?
Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'?
A good peat-free houseplant compost works for geum 'scarlet tempest' 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 geum 'scarlet tempest'?
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh geum 'scarlet tempest''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
- Geum 'Scarlet Tempest' care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water geum 'scarlet tempest' — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting geum 'scarlet tempest' — 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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