Soil & potting mix
Best soil for Nicholas Hakone Grass (Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas')
Also called nicolas hakone grass, golden japanese forest grass.
More about nicholas hakone grass
About Nicholas Hakone Grass
Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas' · also called nicolas hakone grass, golden japanese forest grass · flowering
Hakonechloa macra 'Nicolas' is a compact Japanese forest grass with slender green blades that flush brilliant orange, red, and burgundy in autumn. Smaller and more upright than gold-variegated forms, it forms tidy cascading mounds in part shade with moist, rich soil. A standout deciduous grass for fiery seasonal colour in shady borders and containers.
Preferred mix: Rich, moisture-retentive, well-drained loam
Watch for — Leaf scorch in sun: Crispy, bleached blades mean too much direct sun or dry soil; relocate to part shade and keep moisture consistent.
Why nicholas hakone grass needs this mix
Nicholas Hakone Grass hates drying out, so it wants a mix that stays evenly moist — but it still needs perlite so "moist" never tips into "waterlogged".
- Nicholas Hakone Grass 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 nicholas hakone grass 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 nicholas hakone grass — 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 nicholas hakone grass dry out. It needs a moisture-retentive but still airy blend.
pH — does it matter for nicholas hakone grass?
Nicholas Hakone Grass 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 nicholas hakone grass 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 nicholas hakone grass'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 nicholas hakone grass covers the timing and technique step by step.
Nicholas Hakone Grass soil — frequently asked questions
What is the best soil mix for nicholas hakone grass?
3 parts peat-free houseplant compost : 1 part coco coir : 1 part perlite. Nicholas Hakone Grass 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 nicholas hakone grass?
A free-draining, gritty mix dries too fast for nicholas hakone grass — you get crispy brown edges and frond or leaf drop within days of one missed watering. A good peat-free houseplant compost works for nicholas hakone grass 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 nicholas hakone grass need a special pH?
Nicholas Hakone Grass 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 nicholas hakone grass?
A good peat-free houseplant compost works for nicholas hakone grass 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 nicholas hakone grass?
Peat-free mixes slump and compact as they hold moisture, so refresh nicholas hakone grass'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
- Nicholas Hakone Grass care — the full brief (light, water, humidity, problems, pet safety)
- How often to water nicholas hakone grass — the schedule the mix feeds into
- Repotting nicholas hakone grass — 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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