Perfect for philodendrons, monsteras, pothos, and more!

Soil plays a huge role in the overall health of plants. It provides nutrients and controls drainage and water retention which factor in to the amount of water the plant gets. While soil conditions are mostly handled by Mother Nature in the garden, when growing houseplants the task is left up to us. If you’re looking for a chunky soil mix to help your houseplants thrive, look no further. This simple DIY chunky soil mix is perfect for aroids and any plant that requires good drainage, aeration, and high organic content.

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Aroids are plants in the family Araceae and are common as houseplants. Popular aroids include philodendrons, pothos, monsteras, ZZ plants, peace lilies, and more. In their natural habitat, aroids are forest understory plants and generally tolerate low light well. They require soil that is porous but also retains water and is high in organic content.

This DIY chunky soil mix for aroids checks all of those boxes and is also easy to make with ingredients you can find anywhere!

Chunky Soil Mix Ingredients:

• Peat moss or coco coir
• Orchid bark/orchid bark mix
• Perlite
• (Optional) All purpose potting soil

Generally, I will mix 1 part peat moss or coco coir, 1 part orchid bark (or an orchid bark mix which usually contains peat and horticultural charcoal) and 1 part perlite with a dash of the all purpose potting soil. Since the basic recipe is equal parts of all three ingredients, you can use whatever measurement works best for the amount of soil you need. For example: 1 cup of peat moss/coco coir, 1 cup of orchid bark, and 1 cup of perlite. I like to mix a big batch together so I have some readily available at all times.

Don’t worry too much about the exact ratio of the ingredients though! You can even change up the ratios depending on the plant you are working with. Understanding the role that each of these ingredients plays in the overall composition of the soil will help you to make those decisions:

Peat moss

Peat moss is an organic material comprised of dead fibrous material. It is beneficial in soil mixes for its water retention and nutrient composition. However, it is not an eco-friendly option due to the harm that peat bog harvesting has on the environment (it’s a major source of atmospheric carbon).

Coco coir

Coco coir is a byproduct that is made from the processed husks of coconuts. It is excellent for improving the porosity of soils and retains water well. In fact, coco coir retains up to 30% more water than peat moss – another case for it’s use! Coco coir comes in a few different forms (the liners in hanging baskets may come to mind!), but when you’re adding it to soil you want the finely ground option.

Orchid bark/orchid mix

Orchid bark and orchid bark mixes are typically used as potting medium for orchids – as the name suggests. It’s chunky and helps to provide aeration in this soil mix and it is also rich in nutrients thanks to the organic content. As mentioned, you can use either pure orchid bark or an orchid bark mix which usually contains amendments other than bark such as horticultural charcoal, lava rock, and/or peat and perlite. I have used both successfully, but usually choose an orchid bark mix so my plants get all the added benefits of charcoal (provides oxygen and absorbs excess moisture).

Perlite

Used to help prevent soil compaction and increase drainage, perlite has high permeability and low water retention. It is a naturally occurring volcanic glass.

All purpose potting soil

Depending on the consistency of the chunky soil mix once the other ingredients have been added, I will usually add a handful or so of all purpose potting soil. This isn’t always necessary, but I find it helps to make the soil mixture more loamy if it’s feeling dry.

Optional: Extra Additives

There are a couple of optional additives that will help to increase the nutrient content in the soil. You can find most of these natural fertilizers at your local nursery or garden center as well as online. Some of them, like compost, can even be made at home!

• Worm castings
• Compost
• Manure
• Fish emulsion
• Bone meal

Grower’s Tips

Using a chunky soil mix with your houseplants is a bit different than using standard potting soil. If it’s your first time using this type of mixture, there are a few things that you should know.

First, you’ll need to ensure that you are watering your plants properly. Since this soil mix is so airy, water poured from a watering can is likely to pour right through the mix without absorbing. If not corrected, your plant’s roots will dry out quickly. Instead, you’ll need to make sure that the chunky soil mix has time to absorb the water. The soak-and-dry method and bottom watering are two great options for making this happen.

Soak-and-dry watering

Soak-and-dry watering involves placing your plant and its pot under a stream of water until the potting mix is soaking wet. Then, you let the excess water drain from the pot’s drainage holes. The stream of water can be a tap, large watering can, hose, etc.

Bottom watering

Bottom watering involves placing the pot in a bowl or sink filled with water and letting the plant absorb the water upwards through the bottom of the pot. Evidently, this only works with plants that are potted in containers with drainage holes (which really should be all of them). Bottom watering is especially convenient if you have multiple plants you are trying to water at once. Simply fill a sink (or even your bathtub) with a few inches of water, put all of the pots in the water, and watch your plants soak it all up!

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